When seniors grace

Over the past few months, V R Devika has come to be known as ‘Annapoorna paati’. Like many others, the Chennai-based Gandhian scholar and teacher with sparkling eyes and a ready smile was forced to explore several new things during lockdown — from editing her lectures for the online model to learning content sharing software — to engage with her students at Pathashaala KFI.But something that topped most of these first-time endeavours was perhaps playing a neighbourhood paati intent on gifting her young Armenian neighbour a taste of Tirunelveli Puli Kuzhambu, in the latest ad for Annapoorna Masalas by Lemurian Productions.
Even as people across the world documented lockdown life with their newfound love for art, craft and photography on social media, a bunch of older folks in the city decided to take a wilder leap than they have in years, and bagged themselves acting gigs on the silver screen. Sitting at home for months on end with their outdoor and socialising routines uprooted, they rediscovered themselves by going before the camera for the very first time.
Casting director Sharanya Subramaniam says seniors whose lives have undergone a physical and emotional upheaval following the pandemic have often been the easiest to rope into ad films and short films over the last couple of months. “They jump at the idea of trying something new and exciting, and come on board armed with the wisdom of years, coupled with a childlike curiosity to learn and experiment. If there is any concern, it is over safety, and therefore, extra care is taken on every set with masks, sanitizers and regular breaks for these actors,” she says.
Devika, 66, was previously approached by Sharanya for a film that didn’t take off due to the pandemic. She remembered her once again in July while on the lookout for a hearty elderly woman to star in the Annapoorna commercial. Devika was, “instantly touched by the character of the sweet, innocent woman who celebrates her own cooking and goes to great lengths to learn English to let her foreign neighbour have a taste of our cuisine.”
“I had never thought about acting. But, my years of teaching and a forte for public speaking kept me confident and expressive,” says Devika.
Besides taking a refresher class on Armenia and its historic connection to Madras for crew members during breaks, Devika went on to forge beautiful friendships with the unit. “A big revelation was that I could freely emote before the camera, while being amidst people. It infused a new kind of confidence,” she says.
For Kannan Venkatesan, 52, the lockdown, followed by a slump in work, had left him with enough time to reassess his life and look back at the times gone by. Fortunately for him, a young filmmaker and assistant to Mani Ratnam reached out with an offer to star in his lockdown project that also had Kannan’s daughter as one of the main characters. Though he auditioned for fun, he easily made it into the project.
“When I was young, I wouldn’t miss a Kamal Haasan movie for the world. At one point, after watching ‘Indian’, I came out of the theatre so fired up, I picked up a fight with a man who had parked his bike in the middle of the road, because I felt like the vigilante hero who had to question every injustice in the world. It was silly, but that’s how much movies meant to me,” says Kannan, who went on to work with a pharma company and got married. “I didn’t think I would get an opportunity so many years later, when I had mellowed down and was long past that phase,” he says. “But now that it has happened, I’d like to take baby steps and see where it takes me.”
For a few others, the on-screen transition has been a natural but long-due progression that came about in these months. G V Kumar, who had spent three decades trying to build a career in direction, had been looking for small acting gigs over the last few years in order to sustain himself and his family. However, his luck blossomed in the last few months, when casting directors approached him for a series of ads, including the Bigg Boss promo.
“The scope for old people in ad films is very niche. Often, they’re used metaphorically; for instance, to convey the strength of an aged building in a construction company ad or a healthcare service,” says Kumar. “And that’s why, I strive to maintain a fit body along with shiny grey hair, which I refuse to dye despite repeated requests from my wife. I’m 57 years old, but have to look at least a decade older in order to fit the bill.”
Going on camera also comes with the challenge of standing out, says 69-year-old stage actor Jayashree Pritham, who has kept busy with short films and ads this year. “In an ad, the product is the star. But there are socially relevant and wellthought-out ad films that offer you a chance to showcase your acting. The challenge is to be able to do this within a short duration,” she says. “I also believe venturing onto the screen at my age is liberating, because I don’t have to prove anything, I am comfortable in my skin and can have a lot of fun without any unnecessary pressure. And this shows in the work.”