It is a well known fact that actresses have a much shorter shelf life than actors. The constant demand for fresh faces, competition or marriage and motherhood make the going tough. While some actresses fade away to obscurity there are others who continue to keep the flames of their artistic talent burning.
Neena Kurup is a known face to the Malayali audiences having been a part of several serials, talk shows, films as well as reality shows. Seen sporadically, Neena has now decided to become more active in films and has signed on some interesting roles. Neena will be playing the mother to a teenage daughter in Nimisham and to a teenage son Gokul Suresh Gopi in his debut film Muthugavu.
The role in Nimisham, Neena informs, looks at the dangers that lurk when a child leaves home.She says, “The character of the father is very paranoid about the safety of his college going daughter and one day what he fears happens— she does not return from college!
I play the mom who is slightly more level-headed and very supportive. Intense emotions come into play when the child disappears which is when the mother completely breaks apart.” Neena talks about a scene where she walks into the bedroom after her daughter disappears and sees her clothes lying around and breaks down completely. Neena’s voice trembles when she narrates this and the reason is that these emotional scenes hit closer home because she has a daughter the same age. “I did not even need glycerin to enact those scenes! It was so easy to identify with the mother’s character and put myself in her place! It was a role very close to my heart.” Muthugavu will have her play an important though small role. Another off beat film that has her excited is Devayanam which has her playing a companion to KPAC Lalitha’s character that fears death.
Though Neena had been active in films and serials at one point of time, she has lately been seen in fewer films and more serials. There is a general talk of serial actors not being very welcome in films. “Most of the filmmakers think serial actors are over exposed and do not recognise their talent though they may be equal if not more talented than film actors. How many serial actors who have become successful in films still continue to act in serials? Not because they do not get offers from serials but because of the tag of a serial actor! Acting in serials at one point was my choice because I was more comfortable with that medium and I
rejected a lot of film offers. My reasoning was that you shoot for a couple of days and after that what comes out is just half a scene. I had some bad experiences and so stayed away at that point.” Also her appearance in the reality show ‘Malayalee House’ made her feel that the viewers needed a break from seeing her every day.
She adds more reasons for doing fewer films - her laidback attitude, bad PR and reluctance to ask for roles. She opines, “That is the way it works here but I just cannot see myself calling up and asking for roles! That may be a big flaw from my part but I am trying to change since I want to become more active in films!”
Aspiring actors are not the only ones who find it difficult to enter films, aspiring directors and scriptwriters too find the going tough.
Neena however is very encouraging of fresh blood and tries to accommodate them. She says “I really don’t know how many of us support newcomers but I like to encourage them. If I have an opportunity between selecting a newcomer or an established director, I would opt for the former because the newcomers have limited opportunities to enter the industry. I have proved this stand by signing a lot of movies with newcomers, those movies may not have seen the light of the day or may have fizzled out. I sometimes don’t even get paid except for my travel expenses but my point is that I have helped someone give wings to his/her dreams”. She adds, “It is not that I am very busy with a lot of films but this is my way of helping someone who is passionate about films.”
