'Virodhi is special to me'

Kamalinee Mukherjee is known to be selective about her scripts. She invariably chooses roles which interest her, most of which are strongly etched, as in the films Anand, Godavari, and Gopi Gopika Godavari. She also acted in last year's National Award winning Malayalam film Kutty Sranku directed by Shaji N Karun.

Now Kamalinee is back in a Telugu film in Neelakantha's Virodhi. 

In this interview with Radhika Rajamani, the actress throws more light on the film, her role and experience of acting in Virodhi.

How did Virodhi happen?

I am really glad to have finally worked with Neelakanta sir; we had been planning to do a film for a while now. Virodhi presented a perfect opportunity as its content, characterisation and genre attracted me as a whole.

Sometimes you just know that you have to be part of a film and Virodhi is one such. Neelakanta does portray female characters with care, bringing out emotions realistically but besides that, the subject Virodhi deals with is contemporary and very much a part of our daily lives. His take on it was non-judgemental yet lucid. That's why I was hooked.

Did the role in Virodhi fit into the scheme of things for you to sign the film?

Does your character act as the catalyst or take the film forward in any way?

My character presents the common man's point of view. She is one of us, distant with the world around her till things affect her directly. She is also the emotional core of the film, flowing through it like a breath of fresh air.

Did you have to prepare for your character?

No preparation was necessary as the director and I had discussed things before and the picture he had was very similar to the one I had. He was there to guide me and I worked my role instinctively which has added to the rawness of the emotions.

The story has a Naxal-political backdrop. Was it challenging?

It was superlative in terms of experience. So much was learnt on the sets and in conversation. Naxalism is (prevalent in) a huge part of India, especially in Andhra and West Bengal, and it's not something you can brush under the carpet. At some level the layman is caught in this ideological crossfire and Virodhi just reflects the parallel existence of both the government and the movement. It is an honest and unbiased viewpoint and that was refreshing.

What was the experience of working in this movie?

My portions were shot in Hyderabad and are a contrast to the hard look of the rest of the film. The team did go through quite an ordeal and regaled me with their experiences, and I was most jealous but the final result of shooting in such rough terrain is the authenticity.

Have you picked up anything working under director Neelakantha?

Each film teaches you new things. Neelakantha is passionate and sensitive and working with him was fun. He is aware of everything around him but unaware of his own aura and that is a hard combination to find. I hope we have another opportunity to work together as my only complaint against this film is that my shoot was too brief and ended too soon!

This is the first time you are acting with Srikkanth who has done 100 films. How was the experience?

A hundred films and yet Srikkanth has no attitude or issues. He is an extremely generous co-star, always helpful. When your co-star is also looking out for you, it pulls up your confidence and comfort level even more. Srikkanth did that throughout the shoot. That, too, with a ready smile on his face and unbridled enthusiasm. Virodhi is a great film for him and he has played his character from the heart.

What would be the pluses of working in Virodhi?

I don't measure a film in plus-minus or pros-cons. For me, it is an emotional equation. Virodhi is special to me as we made a good film with a lot of truth and concern in it. It does not have an agenda or a message; it is like a mirror, reflecting the reality. That, for me, was terrific. I also worked with a new team all of whom were driven by the story, making the experience most fulfilling.

You also did a mainstream film Maa Annayya Bangaram with Dr Rajasekhar. What made you do that?

I have always done a mix of films, basing my choice mostly on instinct. There have been the so-called commercial films and the ones labelled parallel and even the new age middle path cinema. In Maa Annayya Bangaram for the first time I played a really weak character with no mind of her own. She was like clay, being moulded by everything and everyone around her. That is so very different from me and most of my roles that I could not resist being in her shoes. 

Last year you got the opportunity to work with Shaji N Karun in Kutti Srank, which won the National Award for best film. Are you happy doing such films?

I'm blessed because I've had the opportunity to work with really good talent and Shaji is the tops! It was not a film but a phenomenon and each time I watch it, I learn more. A master like Shaji plus an intimidating power like Mammootty equals to an explosive formula. I'm still in awe of the film and my part in it. It's almost surreal.

Do you feel such scripts are hard to come by in Telugu cinema?

What is supposed to be yours finally comes to you. I have always had a lot of work come to me not only from Telugu but a lot of other languages and I pick the ones that I know will excite me. The Telugu industry is going through a flux and good films are being made by a lot of people. Yes, I do wish that there were more, that the industry encouraged good cinema more and that the audience accepted substance more. But it's a gradual change and I'm happy being a part of it.

What are you doing now?

Right now I'm finishing my comedy Ramachari in Telugu with Venu and will start my first Bengali film Aparajita next month. It's a fabulous team and a great script and I'm burning with excitement.