It is Chandini Sreedharan’s sixth movie in her career and the third one in Malayalam. She is excited as she talks about Pallavi, her character in Comrade in America (CIA), which has hit theatres recently. She plays a woman who travels to the US and says that she was happy to do that role. “It was in 2015 while I was doing the movie Darvinte Parinamam that I got this offer. I got a call from Amal sir.
Later when he told me the story, I was really excited to do Pallavi, who is independent and emotionally strong. She is a tomboy, exactly opposite to me,” laughs Chandini. “So far, I have done three movies in Malayalam and have been fortunate enough to portray totally different characters in each one. I played the role of a Muslim woman in KL 10 Pathu. In Darwinte Parinamam, it was the role of a matured woman.
It is for the first time I am acting as someone of my age,” she chuckles.
Chandini had a great time shooting for CIA. She appears in the second half that takes places in the US-Mexico border. Going to the location was like a picnic for Chandini, who is settled in the US.
“I live in America but have never seen such a terrain in the US and hence it was exciting. It was like an expedition—the cactus, trees and the entire landscape was mesmerising. Mother Nature was very moody there. We were ready to confront new things every day,” says Chandini, who had to get tanned for the character.
“Pallavi is a traveller. Amal sir had told me to get tanned. But, since I was in the US, it didn’t happen. I have a fair skin tone and finally, we had to use dark makeup to get the look right. However, by the end of the shoot, I really got tanned,” smiles Chandini.
She also loves her ragged look in CIA. “I had to wear boyfriend shirts and jeans for that. Another thing I liked the most was the fight sequences. I really enjoyed doing them.”
It is her first movie with Dulquer Salmaan. “He is a person who gets totally involved in what he is doing. He has inspired me in that way. I was happy to be a part of this different script and to do Pallavi,” she signs off.
