My debut film was T. Rajender’s Mythili Ennai Kaathal. Srividya akka played my dance teacher in the film. I didn’t know her well at the time and hadn’t seen her films either. All I knew was that I would be working with a renowned actor.
What I recall most is the safe space and comfort she provided me as a newcomer. She literally took me under her wing and calmed my nerves with a gentle smile.
I was a dance student at Kalakshetra in Chennai, so my background in classical dance was very different from the kind of dancing required in films. She understood this and was incredibly kind, accommodating and encouraging. Every now and then, when needed, she would whisper suggestions to me, such as, “Don’t raise your eyebrows” or “Look this way, above the camera”.
You see, in Bharatanatyam, our movements are very exaggerated. We use our eyes, eyebrows, hands and entire body to express ourselves. That came very naturally to me. But here, I was facing a close-up camera lens. We didn’t have monitors in those days, when films were shot on celluloid, so you wouldn’t see what you were doing until much, much later.
That was why she would whisper suggestions to me. She would show me the frame and say, “Hold very still, don’t lift your eyebrows, try to speak normally.” All this really helped me as a newcomer.
She was quite selfless and never complained. We worked together for the betterment of the scene. I was a debutante, but she took the time to guide me. She didn’t have to, but she did.
We communicated in a mix of English and Tamil. I remember her beautiful face and enormously expressive eyes. She communicated so beautifully through them. She could convey an entire scene with her eyes without saying a single word.
Since I come from a non-film background, I didn’t know anything about what was written in the tabloids. Perhaps she was secretly relieved about that! We worked together in a couple of other Tamil films, though, unfortunately, I don’t recall their names.
The film I remember fondly is the Malayalam film Ente Sooryaputhrikku. We played a mother and daughter in a troubled relationship. She played a classical singer in the film and probably drew on the wealth of experiences in her own life. I recall someone telling me that she was going through a difficult time personally then. The director, Fazil sir, was compassionate and worked with us to help us feel comfortable with our characters and our relationship.
She was outstanding in her role. You could see that she was deeply introspective because she was barely acting. Akka was so professional that she gave 200 per cent to every scene. Though the Tamil version of the film didn’t do too well, the Malayalam version and its music were hugely successful. For me, it was a landmark film.
After that, we met a couple of times, once at an awards function and another time at the airport. Our interactions were brief but always pleasant.
What will I remember about her? I will always remember her as the co-actor who could tell an entire story through her eyes and the colleague who made my working environment safe and encouraging during my debut film.
Also Read: Director Fazil: “Srividya and I Bonded Greatly Because of Our Shared Interest in Music”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: filmfare.com
