Sweet Bhavana

Interview: Bhavana
Her debut film Nammal was such a phenomenal hit that it had the industry pundits nodding in appreciation. Bhavana had arrived! Her screen presence and realistic portrayal of the role made sure that all eyes were transfixed on this exceptionally talented newcomer. An electrifying assortment of hits followed, and she became the first choice on every producer's wish-list.

Q: Take us back to the sets of Nammal, in which you acted with a bunch of newcomers. Being a new entrant yourself, how was your experience with these artistes?

A: Nammal was a very brave venture on the part of Kamal, as it featured a cast with very little acting experience to fall back on. In fact, most of the artistes including, Siddarth and Jishnu, were performing for the very first time on a movie set. So, though I was a newcomer myself, I was at east right from the start. There were very few retakes, as all of us were very comfortable with each other's style of doing things. But off the sets, I did find myself being questioned by a lot of my friends and relatives, who claimed that entire cast of new actors would never be accepted, especially in Malayalam cinema, where viewers tend to be very selective about their preferences. This got me thinking but I decided to give it a go and concentrate on the job at hand. Looking back on those initial days of uncertainty, I can now safely say that I was able to get the better of the tricky situation.
Q: But you are widely reported to have been disappointed at being given the 'ugly back make-up look' for your character Parimalam, in the movie. You were even said to have been worried that people might think that you have an undesirable complexion in real life. Your comments?

A: Yes, it was so, and I was very, very disappointed at first. The director had told me that everything would be okay. But soon after the make-up test, I had a good look in the mirror, and to be honest, I was shocked ... shattered. I told my father that I could not go ahead with such a badly made-up character. But he would not listen. Finally, the director himself approached me and explained at length, that doing such 'different' roles was what acting was all about. I thought about it and reluctantly agreed. Even at the premiere and other screenings of the movie, people would go up to my co-actors and tell then that they had done an excellent job and wished them all the best for the future. But not me, In fact, even my close relatives kept making fun of me, saying that I would not get any more offers from producers, as nobody would recognize me for my efforts in my debut role. I knew that they were just teasing me, but I could not help but feel sorry for myself. But as time went by, I felt this strange attraction towards my character in the movie - not for her looks, but for here role and how I had managed to essay it so convincingly. Somewhere deep inside, I realized that my talent would click. My happiness at being honoured at the Kerala State Film Awards is simple indescribable. I was over the moon as I began to realize that my director was right. The character might have started out in a supporting role, but it emerged to be the centre of attraction of the movie. So, I never really had much problems adjusting to the 'brownish' make-up in my next film, Kisan.
Q: So, when did your true complexion come to light on screen?
A: To be frank, I wanted to be an actress for as long as I can remember. I still recall telling my mother of this ambition. But I was not really sure about pursuing it as a career. During my school days, however, I realized that I was more inclined towards spending my time in dance classes than studying, simple because I loved to dance. It is from here that my interest progressed towards acting. And the rest, as they say is history!

Q: What about education? How far have progressed your academics?
A: I was very much your average student all along, and never had any aspiration to become a doctor or anything of that sort. I felt that I could not get very far with my studies, as my interests lay elsewhere. So, I am going to go ahead and write my First and Second year. Once those results come out, I am planning to pursue my degree privately.

Q: Your father- Balachandran - a renowned cameraman, who is well known for his unique cinematography. Do you feel that you had an edge over other newcomers as your father was already in the industry?

A: My father had always encouraged me to pursue my interests, so he kept advising me to participate in dance competitions and so on, whenever a new opportunity came my way. He was always there to cheer me on. But I have to make it clear that I never got into this industry because of him, or through any of his contacts, as many would still like to believe.

Q: You have got a strong regional (Trichur) accent. Do you find it difficult to adjust to the requirements of your directors who might prefer a more 'normal' pronunciation?

A: There were no such problems at first. But when it came to the recent hit, Swpnakoodu, my director asked me to speak in a more general style, as this was what was required by the character. I realized that he was right, so I made a conscious effort to modify my delivery and make it sound as natural as I could. Luckily, I had very little trouble adjusting to the flow, and there were no retakes in this regard.

Q: So what do you do when you are not acting, signing autographs, attending premiers or giving interviews?A: I never had a fixed hobby as such - stamp-collecting, chess or anything of that sort. I simply used to spend my free time watching television, listening to some relaxing music and chatting for hours and hours with my friends over the phone. That was before I started out as an actress. Now, I mainly spend the little leisure time that I get wasting movies ... old movies in particular.

Q: That much be rally boring...
A: No, no ... I am not the dull or anything. Its just that by watching these movies, I get to learn a lot about the different aspects of my profession - how those actors played their roles, how they managed to keep up their image, their sudden change of expressions with regards to the situation ... those little details that might miss the average viewer's eye. To me, it is all about refining my skills and waking up every morning knowing that I have learnt something new.

Q: What was the reaction of your friends and colleagues, now that you are a big star?

A: I visited the school where I completed my Class 120, right after the release of CID Moosa. All my teachers and junior school mates were very happy to see me and kept teasing me, saying that I was one among them just a few years back, and now I was acting alongside all the handsome actors in the industry. They seemed proud of my accomplishments and very supportive of my future prospects. My friends still call me and tell me what they think about a particular character and point out to something they think I should improve upon. I am very open to such criticism. It means a lot to me.

Q: So, what does the future hold?

A: Well, its not in my hands or anyone else's. I feel that life itself is one big movie that is played out over an individual's life-span. There are heights: there are lows .... ups and downs, and thankfully, loads of pleasant surprises on the way. So my philosophy is to just wait and see what happens.