Amma Makal actress Mithra Kurian: Breaking the shield and entering TV was a tough decision

Remember the 'untrustworthy' friend who snatched Jayakrishnan from Ammu in 'Body Guard'? A section of audiences might have hated 'Sethulakshmi' for quite some time, but actress Mithra got her breakthrough with this Siddique Lal directorial. However, years later, the same ‘Mithra’ is the much-admired as ‘Sangeetha’ by the telly audience. The exceptional mother, who gave up her biological baby for the sake of her adopted daughter. ETimes TV recently got Mithra Kurian talking about the tough decision of switching from movies to serials, her layered character Sangeetha, the changing trends in TV, and more. Excerpts…

Mithra shared that her Malayalam TV debut was one of the toughest decisions to make.

"Yes, it was a tough decision to make and I took my time to reach there. To break that shield of the movies and come to TV was never an easy decision to make. Even though I had a dilemma about it, I was sure that I wanted to be acting. No matter whether it's big screen or small screen, I wanted to be back in the world of acting. Maybe that passion brought me here. However, it was during the pandemic that I got to hear the story of Amma Makal, I was attracted to the plot line- the unique bond between a daughter and young mom. I took my time, weighed the pros and cons, then decided to give it a shot. I was told until the 40th episode, it will not be revealed that Anu is not Sangeetha's biological daughter. So, I thought it would save me from getting 'typecasted', but unfortunately, that didn't happen. Anyway, I enjoy the work here," she said.

(Photo: Instagram)

Even though she has a handful of movies and Tamil serials in her filmography, Mithra opened up that she was tensed when she started working for 'Amma Makal'.

"I was so tensed whether TV serials would work for me. It's true that we know to face the camera but the world is entirely different here. I was worried if I would end up being melodramatic. However, thanks to Siddique sir's school of making, I was trained by the best in natural acting," the actress added.

(Photo: Instagram)

"I enjoyed every variation in Sangeetha. However, the delivery sequence was the toughest. The pregnancy phase was relatable to me as I still cherish the moments with my toddler. But, what challenged me was the sequence in which Sangeetha decides to give her baby to Anu. I don't think any mother would be as selfless as Sangeetha. So, it took me some time to convince myself that there are doting mothers like her, who would do anything for their kids. But, to get under the skin of the sequence and emote was tough. During the sequence, I didn't even bother about my makeup or hair. Anyway, my hard work paid off, I got much appreciation for the same. The satisfaction I got after performing that sequence is priceless," she shared.

(Photo: Instagram)

Amid criticism that Malayalam serials are showcasing extramarital affairs and over-dramatic family events, Mithra opined that 'stories don't come from outer space'.

"Be it cinema or serial, the story is something a writer gets from his life and surroundings. We read a lot about Avihithams and mothers murdering their own kids in newspapers every day. Serials are also inspired by the happenings around us, it is not something that pops up in a writer's brain. I strongly believe that the critics are not the ones who watch the serials. The audience is different here and they enjoy it. If the audience don't like the usual masala, why isn't it reflected in the TRP charts? A serial can never be like a movie; the infrastructure and consumers are different," she pointed out.

(Photo: Instagram)

However, Mithra predicts that Malayalam TV serials will soon have a complete changeover.

"I feel that there is a change happening in the industry as youngsters have also started watching serials lately. When the younger generation, who are fans of web series and other diverse content, watch TV, everything will change," she added.

(Photo: Instagram)

"There are a lot of changes. An entire episode of a TV serial will be shot for about 45 minutes in a day. When filmmakers take one or two scenes a day, the serial races against time to complete one or more episodes in a day. Another thing that I have noticed in serials is the dialogue prompting. I think it makes you lazy and also affects your acting skills. In movies, you read the script, learn it and then enact it. So, it's more natural. Once when I was having a chat with Siddique sir, I told him about prompting and he said, 'Oh you are slowly becoming lazy'. But, we don't have a choice, we need it. The industry's speed demands it. Hope it doesn't affect me in future projects," she shared.

On the other hand, she also added that TV is a small industry where people have a closer and tight bonding.

"It's a small world. It isn't a space where you get to hold on to jealousy and grudges. You may have to see the same people over and over again. It's always advised not to get into gossip and ruin good bonds," she added.

(Photo: Instagram)

As 'Amma Makal' is inching towards its climax, we asked Mithra if she would take up another project in Malayalam TV, she readily replied, "If the storyline fascinates me, why not!"