They have ruled the roost in the 80s and 90s as bankable lead heroines and continue to rule the hearts of audience with the character roles they play on screen. So, with
Oorvasi, Bhanupriya and
Saranya Ponvannan teaming up with
Jyotika for
Magalir Mattum
, expectations around the film has spiked.
“When director
Bramma
narrated the script, and told me that he found Magalir Mattum an apt title for it, I was quite thrilled. With a title like this, you don’t really need to explain the concept,” says Oorvasi, who had played one of the leads in Magalir Mattum way back in 1994. She adds, “It has taken me almost 20 years to do a women-oriented film. Of course, there have been films in which the hero and the heroine have equal importance, and directors like K Balachander have done films in which the heroine had a meaty role and was not just a prop. But it’s nice to work in a film in which
women
’s problems are being explored in an impactful and entertaining way. With
Nasser and I being part of this film, too, many assumed that this film is a sequel to the 1994 film. But this is a fresh script. ”
Bhanupriya says, “The way Bramma narrated the story and the casting convinced me that this was a film I shouldn’t miss out on. I play a home bird, someone who is committed to her family and keeps them in mind while deciding anything. But when she meets her friends, she discovers herself,” she says.
She adds that working with the other three heroines was a pleasant experience. “They are all versatile and we never had a dull moment on the set,” she smiles. Oorvasi adds, “Bhanupriya and I’ve done probably one scene together in Shivalinga. And with Saranya, I’ve done a
Malayalam
film long back. So, we had mutual respect for each other. Jyotika is also a solid performer and we four had a lot of fun.”
Ask her if there is a ‘magalir mattum’ moment for her, an issue that she wish every woman addressed, and she says, “Fear. We all have freedom, but it’s restricted. We are financially sound, but are afraid of so many things. We should step out of that barrier and only then can we be liberated.”