There was a lot of walking to do, a lot of travelling. In between her lines, Reenu Mathews would gasp for breath sometimes. She had to remember those gasps later when she dubbed the same lines in a recording studio.
That was exciting, to dub for herself. Usually, her sweet voice would come in the way of the bold and mature roles she played on screen. But here, in Lord Livingstone 7000 Kandi, her character — bold and emotional Madhumita — spoke with Reenu’s voice. Anil Radhakrishnan Menon, the director, told her she could do it.
Director Anil also got her to overcome her fear to drive. She drove from the hotel to the location through the roads of Idukki, which would turn at every corner. “Then we would go in jeeps and walk long. But no one would know the hardships we went through, while watching the film,” she says, laughing.
This was a film she enjoyed a lot. She was in the set for more than 40 days, unlike her earlier films, where she gets leave for a few days.
The set of Ennum Eppozhum was also fun-packed. “I met Lalettan in a lift, and when I saw him, I exclaimed ‘Oh, Lalettan!’ and he said, ‘Oh, you are the girl!’”
Having to yell at him, she found the first few takes very difficult. “Yell like at an irritating passenger, he told me.” Mohanlal was referring to her other job, as an airhostess, which she is not willing to leave yet.
“Every time, I think I will make a decision after the next film. If I have two or three big nice projects lined up, I will think about it.” But for now, she is happy with the films she gets to do, sneaking off leaves every now and then.
She finished her leaves for this year with Lord Livingstone. Her character Madhumita too is a working woman — independent and emotional. She is the only girl in a gang of seven who are together on a mission.
This time, the crew is younger, with Kunchacko Boban, Sunny Wayne and Bharath among the cast. “When we climb the hills, it is Venu chettan (Nedumudi Venu) who moves the fastest! And then in between the sets, we’d all sing together, tease one another and check each other’s legs for leeches!” The technicians were a big help too, she sums up.
