Long before his tryst with the silver screen, Vineeth had already tasted fame when he swept prizes in dance at State school festivals. Perhaps his conversations with his dancer/actor Veliyamma — Padmini of the Travancore Sisters during his childhood imbibed in him a love for dance that has led him to maintain a happy balance between his acting and dancing talents. The upcoming film Kambhoji is one such film that has given Vineeth ample opportunity to portray his acting as well as dancing prowess. Vineeth plays the role of a Kathakali artiste and before you think ‘Vineeth has played this role a hundred times before’, he explains, “I play a Kathakali artiste who comes to learn and then is made to take up the position of a teacher and run the Kalari. What is different about this portrayal is that this story is based on a real life incident which has been adapted for the screen.”
If that fact is not convincing, Vineeth adds, “I play an artiste who gets convicted for murder and then gets hanged wearing his costume; which is very dramatic and intense.” Now that we have your attention, Vineeth elaborates, “There is a portion where my character is asked about his last wish before being hanged and my character says he would like to perform a padam with costume, the accompanying orchestra and a particular artiste to do the makeup. The warden has to arrange all those as it is his last desire and when he starts performing, my character goes into a trance and the warden has to drag him to the gallows. That is a very dramatic moment and very challenging as an actor.”
Vineeth in Kambhoji
Incidentally, Kambhoji is the name of a ragam and Vineeth says that the film is a very spiritual love story of very well-defined characters with the dance forms of Kathakali and Mohiniyattom, both meshed beautifully. Vineeth says that this is not a full-fledged dance-oriented film but the main characters including his co-star Lakshmi Gopalaswamy are dancers. Though a trained classical dancer, Vineeth had to learn some Kathakali steps. He says, “Director Vinod Mankara had conceived the characters so beautifully that I was very clear about what he wanted. For the element of Kathakali, I had to undergo training because we were doing some authentic padams and Vinod did not want to compromise on any aspect. I learnt and performed the entire padam and Vinod took whatever shots he required. The climax has a beautiful padam being sung and performed.”
Also, Vineeth has turned an official choreographer with the song Chenthar Nermukhi in Kambhoji. “Official choreographer because I have a Union card now so now can get my name on the titles,’ he says, adding, “But I have already choreographed the song Mere Dholna featuring Vidya Balan and me in Priyadarshan’s Hindi movie Bhool Bhulaiyya. In Chenthar Nermukhi, right from the first to the last shot was conceived by me, including the costumes and I had planned a script kind of treatment for the song. Kathakali and Mohiniyattom are both represented in this song and the challenge was to make it authentic as well as interesting by sticking to the norms of Kathakali and Mohiniyattom all the while.” The song has been getting good reviews, much to the joy of Vineeth.
Though he has been waiting with bated breath for the audience reaction to Kambhoji, it looks like it will be a long wait. Saddened by the standoff between the producers and the exhibitors which has led to the stalling of Christmas releases, he says, “Along with the big films, those who suffer the most are the small film makers. See, producer Lakshmi M. Padmanabhan is a retired professor who has put all her life earnings into this film just for the sheer love and respect for traditional art and dance. Look at what is happening; she must be so dejected. I hope some positive outcome comes out soon.”
Vineeth has managed to straddle both the mediums of dance and acting with ease. He says, “It is not difficult because once I commit to a dance programme, my seriousness would be concentrated there and if it is a film, I am there with my whole heart. For a dance programme, I make sure that I get enough time to practice. These days, I am not doing too many films so I maintain the balance.”And he naughtily adds, “Sometimes the look for a film would require a beard and I would have to dance in a beard for a performance. It gives a different look, but it makes a dancer more masculine.” Coming to his future plans, Vineeth wants to open a dance school for boys which would happen in a year. He signs off musing, “I want to do it in a proper and scientific way, so it will take some time.”
