It’s been two years since the release of Su.. Su... Sudhi Vathmeekam but film buffs are yet to forget that pretty speech therapist who motivates Sudhi. For most Malayalis, Sshivada is still ‘Kalyani’, even after back-to-back releases of her two Malayalam movies Lakshaym and Achanyans.
But for Sshivada, it’s a role reversal in Lakshyam in which she plays the role of a speech-impaired girl. And it made a lot of difference to her as an actor in Malayalam, which till then offered her the role of stereotypical village lass. “First of all it was Jithu Joseph’s script, and that always comes with a surprise element,” she recalls her entry into the film. “The team in Lakshyam was made of experienced people and hence I had no doubt about taking it up. When the story was narrated I was told that my character comes in a flashback but it is of importance. My character forms the main thread of the movie.” Indrajith and Biju Menon play the lead roles in the film.
Sudhi Vathmeekam is not her first project, Sshivada clarifies. “My first movie was Kerala Café, released in 2010. Then I was part of Fazil sir’s movie Living Together the next year. But there was a big gap after that till Sudhi in 2015. I have been around for so many years but there are only a handful of Malayalam movies that I’ve been part of here.”
A software engineer by profession, Sshivada says she entered the industry without any demands and idea. “But now I can say with pride that I have come so far because of my hard work alone,” she said. “I had no backing of any kind. My family members are not in the industry. And I am very happy with my position, especially in the Tamil film industry.”
Tamil offers scope for strong female characters, she elaborates. “Complaints are rife that there are not many Tamil movies that give importance to its female leads, but all the movies that I was part of — Nedunchaalai, Zero or Adhe Kangal – had the female lead getting equal importance. So in a way I can say that Tamil industry is giving ‘Sshivada the actress’ more opportunity to experiment.” The ‘girl next door’ image has offered her little to experiment in Malayalam. “I played village belle of the 80’s in Nedunchaalai but in Zero I played a psychic and possessed character which had many shades to it.” Adhe Kangal which was a huge hit saw her play a negative shade. “I was the villain,” she chuckles.
“I was pretty scared to do a negative character. But once the movie came out, the role was accepted and I received plenty of positive reviews. So once again it was Tamil industry that gives me the chance to explore myself as an actor.”
While the roles she got in Malayalam were stereotypical ‘sweet girl’, she was careful in her picks in Tamil. “I was careful about it in T’wood. After Neduncahaalai I was continuously getting offers of the ‘village belle’ roles but I decided to wait for different ones. I am not scared to take up roles where I will have to strain a lot. In fact I took acting seriously after Nedunchaalai. I am very happy with the works I get from T’wood. It is not very often that we are offered experimental roles. I have not committed to any new Malayalam movies because I am waiting for a script that lets me push myself.”
“My latest work is Iravaakalam with S.J. Suryah directed by Ashwin Saravanan of Maya fame,” she said. “Here again my character is given a different treatment. I will begin shooting for another Tamil movie in July.”
Sshivada’s tryst with dance started as a young girl, and after learning it for 12 years she is currently a student of the Dhananjayans. “In case I did not continue my profession as a software engineer, I would have been a dancer.” Her voice cheers up as she talks about her new gurus. “The latest Vodafone couple? It’s them. I love going to their institute. All the gurus there breathe natyam and are full of energy all the time.”
She welcomes the newly started Women in Cinema Collective in Kerala. “I am most happy that it started here in Malayalam film industry, spearheaded by a group of able women,” she says. “I don’t know the details yet but I would love to be a part of it.”
