Gayathrie Shankar: My debut film in Malayalam was well worth the wait

The first Malayalam offer that Tamil actress

Gayathrie Shankar

got was way back in 2012.

It was supposed to be a remake of her film Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom, which was her second movie. She was supposed to share the screen with Nivin Pauly in the film. However, when he backed out from the project to do the Abrid Shine directorial 1983, Gayathrie too opted out of it. We saw her in notable roles in Tamil in the following years, especially in movies like

Super Deluxx

, in which she impressively essayed Vijay Sethupathi’s wife’s character.

About 10 years later, she will soon be seen in her Malayalam debut film Nna Than Case Kodu, a court room drama directed by Android Kunjappan fame Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval, starring Kunchacko Boban. It took a long time for this half-Malayali to do a film here, but she says it was a wait well worth it. In conversation with the actress:

How did this project happen?
I had a couple of offers from Malayalam in the past few years, but they didn’t materialise. But, I am happy that this is my debut project and it is well worth the wait! It is something that came to me as a ray of hope during the first lockdown in 2020.

I guess Ratheesh sir happened to watch Super Deluxx around then, and liked my performance. He reached out to me — even as I was staring cluelessly at the future, like many other artistes — thinking what would happen to all our projects. I was happy that this script came along at that time, but as I can’t read Malayalam, my mom was reading it out to me. And I remember her often bursting into laughter. I can understand Malayalam but there were quite a few play on words in the script that eluded me, but my mom explained them to me and I, too, found them quite entertaining.

I met Ratheesh sir, finally, in 2021 when I was in Kochi for an ad shoot with Lalettan (Mohanlal). Another lockdown followed and I was worried about what would happen to the film, but they got in touch with me again and said the film would kick-off once the lockdown was over, and Kunchacko Boban finishes his pending films.

The story has evolved a lot over time and I’m happy to say that I have a meatier role now (smiles). My mom too helped me a lot in understanding how to connect with its humour and double entendres!

And your debut film is with Kunchacko Boban!
Yes, and his name triggers quite a few interesting memories in my family! I remember this incident around the release of his first film Aniyathipraavu, which earned him many female fans. My cousin, who was a teenaged schoolgirl at the time, was a big fan and happened to stick his poster in his cupboard. My grandfather, a strict disciplinarian, wasn’t impressed and he tore it away, alongside giving her a proper spanking and we remember it so vividly. Her love for Chackochan only grew regardless, and she was thrilled when I told her I am doing a film with him.

Despite being an actor who has been around for 25 years and with around 99 movies to his credit, he gives you no ‘senior airs’ and is extremely dedicated. He helps all his co-stars even after his shots are done, with cue dialogues and suggestions, and never runs back to the caravan. I should also say that was the attitude of the whole crew, as well. This is one of those films in which I was thrilled to go back to the set every single day, despite gruelling work hours or other
challenges.

Tell us about your character in the film and how it was to perform the role
My character Devi is a Tamil girl who has moved to Kerala, with her dad. As their life progresses, Rajeevan, played by Kunchacko, comes along and everyone’s life takes an interesting turn. From the looks of it, you would feel that it is a story set in the rural background. However, it is quite progressive in its treatment and is humorous too. One thing that challenged me, though, is the Kasaragod Malayalam in the film. Initially I couldn’t understand even a single word of it, especially because it is often spoken very fast. But now, I am slowly getting a hang of it. I also learnt to write Malayalam during this film, and can now read a few boards and the like (smiles).

Have you taken up any other Malayalam film at the moment?
Not yet. As I was shooting for this film, however, I have shifted base to Thiruvananthapuram, where my parents also stay now. The plan was to leave the city after the shoot but now, I don’t feel like it! There are about five of my films in other languages (including Prabhu Deva’s Bagheera and Vijay Sethupathi’s Maamanithan), which should be out soon.