I've learned and grown with every project I've worked on: Shriya Saran

Shriya Saran will soon be seen alongside Sharman Joshi in Music School. Directed by Paparao Biyyala, the film will be released soon. Three out of 11 songs from the all-time classic The Sound of Music (1965) have been adapted for the film, which is an Ilaiyaraaja musical. DC had a tête-à-tête with the actress.

Excerpts

What is music to you?

Music means a lot to me. I love dance, it’s part of my life, and music and dance go hand-in-hand. Music teaches us discipline. It teaches you to be happy. Art and culture should be an integral part of everyone’s life.

Did you find this latest character difficult?

It is a well-sketched character. I love dance and music. It’s my life. This is a serious topic but dealt very well. I enjoyed performing this character. The Sound of Music was the first English film I watched. I watched it again and again. I was excited, as the songs in this film have been adapted from The Sound of Music. The songs inspired me. The film has beautifully brought out the fact that people have pressure from the time they are born. it’s a musical about kids trapped in a war zone.

Did your parents put pressure on you as a child?

My parents were unusual. They were content if I got enough marks to pass in all my subjects. Even though I come from an educated background, they didn’t pressure me to get good marks in examinations. I didn’t have much interest in studies. I loved dancing so my parents encouraged that. I learned dancing from my guru. My parents were happy with whatever I wanted to pursue and helped me. But I have friends whose parents put pressure on them for studies. Watching this film, you will recognise someone or the other who has faced the pressures depicted in it.

Were you targeted unfairly by any of your teachers?

All my teachers were very good to me. I was a good kid and I had great teachers who helped me. I remember that my history teacher could make out that I had no interest in her class. She would call my mom and complain. But finally she understood that if history was told to me in story form, I grasped it easily. She then helped me learn history that way. My English teacher helped me as I used to stammer. I am lucky to have had such wonderful teachers and parents.

How have your strengths grown over many years?

When I began, I didn’t have an understanding of cinema. I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t understand what I was doing right, or wrong. But there was a sense of honesty and a pure joy in whatever I was doing. It was nice and fresh. As time progressed, I started getting scared about whether what I had opted for was right or wrong. As you go forward, you learn integral aspects of your craft — how to deliver dialogues understand characters better, how to write the back story. You start imagining, and that’s how you do a better job. I feel it is a slow process and you learn gradually. I have been a student of cinema. I have learned and grown with every project. It’s been a beautiful journey. I am very grateful I am part of Cinema.