When Tamanna spoke to Behindwoods, she had just returned from the Padikaathavan shoot in Mahabhalipuram. Though tired, she agreed to talk to us, saying it would be a nice way to unwind in her hotel room after a long day’s work. Earlier, she had very graciously given us a video interview, where she spoke in depth about her early career.
What are your current projects?
Currently I have a mixed bag of goodies. Ananda Thandavam, an intense love story, Ayan, a commercial film, Padikkadavan, an out and out comedy and a Telugu film, Konchem Ishtamga Konchem Kashtamga, a feel good love story with Siddharth. I play a very sweet character in it.
About Ananda Thandavam?
It is the novel of Sujatha sir and I think the way director Gandhi Krishna has perceived the essence of this novel- Pirivom Sandippom- is really amazing. This film is about unconventional love. It is not your boy meets girls-problems arise- problems diffused-happy ending. In Ananda Thandavam, due to the diverse nature of the lead characters- Raghu and Madhumitha- their love is also different which has not come across in the silver screen for quite some time. The uncommon way in which they perceive love is what makes the film different.
About director Gandhi Krishna?
I think Gandhi sir wanted this story to be his first project and has been at it for a long time. I think the way he shot the film is remarkable and the visual appeal is outstanding.
Locations in Ananda Thandavam?
We shot a lot of scenes next to the water falls in Papanasam, Ooty; we also went to the US for a month to shoot for the second half. Normally, people go to overseas locales for a song to add glamour or color to the film but in Ananda Thandavam, most of the scenes were shot at very difficult locations. In one of the scenes, the entire crew was in knee deep water near a dam. Everyone worked very hard to beautify every scene. The locations aided to get the feel and flavor of the scene and played a pivotal role in bringing out the emotions while focusing around the two lead characters and their lives.
Any interesting anecdotes from the Ananda Thandavam shoot?
We were shooting in New York for the climax of Ananda Thandavam. It was an important and lengthy scene and we just had a day to complete this. I was preparing for this for quite some time. When I went to the sets and started performing my scenes I struck the right note and was completing my portion in just a single take. In the second or third shot, tears welled up in Gandhi sir’s eyes and he started crying. He was wearing glares and did not want me to see that he was crying. The light crew is from the US and though they did not understand the language, they were also moved. Basically the scene and content was such. I don’t want to go in detail as it would be like revealing the film. Gandhi sir was moved and I was glad that I could reach his expectations.
About Madhumitha in Ananda Thandavam?
When I first heard the script of Ananda Thandavam, the character of Madhumitha appealed to me and I thought she was simple to be portrayed. But when I went on the sets, I realized she is far more complicated than what I thought her to be when I heard the script. That’s when I started doing my homework to transform into the Madhumitha of Sujatha’s novel. She has a small beautiful world in which she lives happily and is contented with herself.
What about your role in Ayan?
In Ayan, I play the role of a very strong girl who sticks to her word and is very stubborn. She is self disciplined, independent, street smart and knows what she wants.
About Surya?
When I did Happy Days and Kalloori, the cast and crew was absolutely new. Now I have an opportunity to work with an experienced and talented actor like Surya in Ayan under the able direction of K V Anand sir. I think Surya is an absolute gentleman and a down-to-earth person. He is in the industry for around a decade and is a versatile actor. The most important thing is that he is very very nice human being and I see the way he moves with his fans outside the shooting hours. His fans love him very much. He is somebody I look up to and I have lots to learn from him. I am really fortunate to be working for A V M banner. We are all working hard and I am sure Ayan will be an enjoyable film.
About Padikkadavan and Dhanush?
Another film I am working currently is Padikkadavan with Dhanush and it is an out and out comedy. “Dhanus is jovial”.Suraaj is directing it. Dhanush is a very jovial and energetic person. He is so natural that when he is talking, you don’t know if he is saying his dialogues or he is talking to you. Comedy comes very naturally to this actor and his timing is fabulous. For me this is my first comedy film and it was nice working with Dhanush. Padikkadavan should hit the screens by December. I am looking forward to that film too.
Your character in Padikkadavan?
In Padikkadavan, I play this bubbly cheerful character. It is again based on a love story but within a commercial framework. It is a film where you can take your popcorn, relax, laugh your heart out and have a three hour entertainment away from your worldly worries. I have not done comedy before and it was new to me especially after doing a very serious and intense role in Ananda Thandavam, this was very different and the audience will get to see a different me.
Which is the most difficult role so far in your career?
I am playing as many different characters as possible right now. I am choosing it in such a way to ensure that I am not a mere glam doll who appears for song sequence and disappears. I am looking at characters who have immense potential and scope for performance and there is equal balance of role between hero and heroine. I also look at a strong story line. I will be doing the Tamil version of Jab We Met, about a powerful woman character who loves herself. Kalloori and Happy Days gave me a college going girl image but the present films will showcase me in a different way. In a way, audience will keep seeing me in different dimensions. But by far the most complicated character that I had portrayed in my career will be that of Madhumitha’s in Ananda Thandavam. I had to work on her body language, the way she spoke etc. I worked very cautiously on her character. When you see the movie, especially girls, would relate to some aspect of Madhumitha in themselves. Every woman would go through what Madhumitha goes through in her life at some point, and the film deals with these issues.
If Kamal calls you to join the Marmayogi cast…?
Working with an actor like Kamal Haasan would be great. He has given so much to the film industry and I would love to work with him if any such offer comes my way. As of now I am committed to a few projects and my hands are full. If timing works out, I would love to do a project with Kamal.
What are your future projects?
Right now I have Jab We Met in Tamil and I will be busy till July 2009. I am currently concentrating on the projects that I am involved with. Later on I will hear newer scripts.
Do you face any language problems?
I have been in the Tamil film industry for the past three years. Initially, it was very very difficult to get through my lines in Tamil and I had to work very hard. In those days I used to be sitting with my lines and mugging. But now I am more comfortable and can perform more easily. I now realize that language is not a barrier to emote.
Do you have plans to dub for your films?
I tried my voice for dubbing in Ananda Thandavam and I think Gandhi sir approved it. They are considering whether to use my voice or not. I am working hard towards learning the language and pronunciation. I am going to be trying till I get it perfect. As I have many commitments I am not able to devote much time on this. As regards Telugu, I am learning the language and hopefully I will be dubbing in Telugu soon.
How do you choose your scripts?
When I choose a script, I look at who is the director and then decide. Cinema is a director’s medium and vision unlike theatre which is an actor’s medium. In cinema when the camera rolls on, it is the work of the director and I view it that way. Then I look for my character.
What do you think of the actors of current times?
I think the industry is very fortunate to have so many gifted actors. Right now I am working with Surya and Dhanush who are amazingly versatile. I like Vijay who is a very good dancer and I am a huge fan of his dance. I am going to be working with Bharath and Siddharth in Telugu.
How does Siddharth come across to you?
Siddharth understands the film medium very well. He has years of experience and knowledge behind the camera. He is so involved in every aspect of the shot besides acting. Cinema is basically team work and working with different people is a learning experience and interesting by itself.
Are you dating anyone now?
I have been acting since I was thirteen years old and I have been busy since then. I love my job. It is a new experience every day and I find it very adventurous. I have not had the time to catch up with my friends or be involved in dating. I believe that everything has a time in life and when the time is right and when I am ready I may probably think about these things. Right now my priority is my career and I wish to do as many good films as possible.
What do you do in your free time?
I watch a lot of films in my free time. When I get time I watch movies and catch up on my sleep. That’s what I have been up to.
A film which you saw and liked in the recent times.
Life Or Something Like It. It spoke about life in general and how you should live every moment to its fullest. Any day could be the last day in your life. So live it to the maximum. I think they should make this in our Indian language. It is a wonderful film.
Your message to Behindwoods readers.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently shooting for Padikaathavan. I’m three days into it. Also for Ayan, Ananda Thandavam (which features a new hero, Siddharth) and a few Telugu movies.
Padikaathavan and Ananda Thandavam?
In both films I play characters I have never played before. My role will shock the audience. A pleasant shock. A big surprise.
Your experience of working with Surya?
When we were on the sets of Kalloori my co-stars would tell me, ‘you should work with Surya’ and amazingly the first film I signed up for after Kalloori was with Surya! He’s very professional, very amazing.
How did you feel about your career skyrocketing?
I’m so touched that directors have so much confidence and faith in my acting that they are offering me all these different roles to play.
We hope you are going to use your own voice to dub as soon as you learn Tamil – I think it has an unusual husky tone.
I hope so too. It’s very important for an actor to use her own voice. Like you said, my voice is not the usual sweet, clean voice favored by Tamil cinema. One person whose voice I think resembles mine is Chitra, the RJ. The base in her voice is like the base in my voice. She dubs for me.
You look amazingly so South Indian…
I know, I know. Everyone tells me that.
Do you think you’ll move to Chennai?
I already have. I’m constantly shooting in Chennai and Hyderabad, and now feel they are more home to me than Mumbai.
Tell us also about your experience on the sets with Mr. Balaji Sakthivel: how did he go about shaping your character, which is so different from the hot headed sultry vixen you played in Kedi?
I was lucky to work with good directors back to back – Sakthivel sir and Shekar Kammu la- they trained me, nourished me, and changed my perception of cinema.
In what way did they change your perception?
My background is theatre, and these directors reoriented me to act for the camera – which is a very different thing. For instance, Kalloori was about college life in a small town, and Happy Days was college life in a city. The same subject but both directors had different imaginations of what that would be. And they communicated that to me.
The first half of Kalloori showed how graceful, simple and charming your character Shobana was – but once you had fallen in love with Muthu, and Kayal was in your way, there’s a new intensity and passion that springs up in you. Your performance in these scenes is both subtle and accurate.
Balaji Sir said he would tell me only the first half of the story, because he wanted me it to be a surprise. And then he gave me a short brief on my characterization. I had seen Kadhal and had loved and admired it, so I just trusted his perception. He gave me very precise instructions. I followed them closely and blindly. I was grateful he had done most of my homework for me. I would be thrilled to work with him again.
Could you zero in on one or two scenes and how he directed you or how you prepared for it?
If you remember after that little showdown at the clinic in Kalloori, we are all sitting in this compound, and none of us are talking. And then I burst into tears. To shoot that scene, I was confused. How could I cry so much suddenly, after so much silence? I asked myself and asked Balaji Sir. He explained that my character, Shobana, feels very vulnerable and emotional all the time, and cries when the smallest things move her. He gave me time to imagine my character in that situation and I did cry – I really cried. I did not use glycerin. I believe nowhere in Kalloori did I use glycerin. That was how natural Balaji Sir wanted everything. Doing that scene – being able to cry from just getting into character – was the toughest thing I’ve done in my acting career.
Your other interests?
You know, a lot of people ask me this but acting has been so consuming. I get to dance, travel, meet people. It’s a full life. I don’t need to be doing other things. There isn’t time either. I’m content.
Your fan base?
I guess it’s growing. I received a lot of fan mail after Kalloori and it was very gratifying. The biggest award an actor can get.
Do you miss theatre?
Of course I do. I miss theatre very much. I hope I can occasionally act in some plays, too.
Your favourite films?
Life is Beautiful. Jab We Met. Mughal E Azam and Chak De –to name just a few.
Actors you admire and like to work with?
I’ll mention only Bollywood: Hrithik Roshan! If you see him Jodha Akbar there’s no way you can say he’s not an emperor: he looked like one and acted like one. I also admire Jim Carrey. I think he’s really accomplished.
Is there something you’d like to say – something we have not asked you about?
Yeah! I’d like to dub for an animation film! That’s my new interest. I saw this animated feature Horton Hears a Hoo, and thought, I’d love to give my voice to an animated character.