“I can tolerate my husband having an extra-marital affair but will never bear him smoking a cigarette,” a rather interesting and punch dialogue that Aparna, an IT professional says in the recently released Roopesh Peethambaran’s ‘You Too Brutus’.
Basking in the warm reception of the movie is Rachana Narayanankutty who essayed the role of Aparna. “I am so happy that people are noticing me for my character in ‘You Too Brutus’. I have never done a role like that.”
Aparna, who plays Asif Ali’s wife, shows her extreme care and concern for her husband,” says Rachana, who appears in a new look in the film. “The character demanded a makeover of a professional and I was happy to cut my hair for it. Usually, my mother used to be emotional regarding these things but she was happy to see me in my new hairstyle.”
It seems 2015 is panning out nicely for Rachana. In Siddharth Siva’s ‘Ain’, which won the Best Malayalam film in the 62nd National Film Awards last week, Rachana plays a prominent role. She shares her happiness to be part of such a beautiful movie. “I know Siddhu (Siddharth Siva) right from my ‘Marimaayam’ days. He is a close friend. In fact, he is one of the reasons that I came to films. He gave a small role in his ‘101 Chodyangal’. Usually I commit to projects only after listening to the script but when Siddhu approached me for ‘Ain’, I immediately said yes. I feel a sense of salvation while dancing but ‘Ain’ is a movie in which I experienced a fulfillment while acting. The movie, made on a shoe-string budget, made each one of us to don the role of actors to light boys,” says Rachana who plays an Arabic teacher Saira Baanu in ‘Ain’.
“Saira is a strong character who helps Maanu (played by Musthafa) to evolve as a bold and confident person through her motivation,” says Rachana. “Even the dialogues were penned and improvised on the spot.”
Even though she took a short break after ‘Punnyalan Agarbathis’ in 2013, Rachana’s bag is full with around six upcoming Mollywood releases. “After ‘Punnyalan’, I was getting similar roles and I didn’t want to be typecast. So I waited for the right script and roles,” says Rachana, who has already finished shooting for Lijo Jose Pellisery’s ‘Double Barrel’. “Like all films of Lijo Jose’s every character is perfectly placed. I play Kochu Mary who elopes with her husband on the same night when they get married,” says Rachana.
She will also be seen as the lady love of Dileep in the upcoming Jeethu Joseph film, ‘Life of Josekutty’. “I portray a normal village belle Jessy and love interest of Dileepettan’s character,” says the actor.
Rachana will also be seen in female-oriented projects like debutant Ajmal’s ‘Kanthari’, and ‘Thilothama’ which is directed by Preethi Panicker. “’Kanthari’ is a woman-centric film where Shekhar Menon will play the lead role while in ‘Thilothama’ I play a bar dancer,” she says.
Meanwhile, the actor, who is currently shooting for debutant Vishnu Vijayan Kaaraattu’s ‘Adoorum Thoppilumallatha Oru Bhasi’ (ATOB), likes to explore more dimensions of acting. “ATOB is a fun movie with a family-oriented story. Indrajith will be playing the lead,” says Rachana who will also play a cameo in Jayaram-Rimi Tomy starrer ‘Thinkal Muthal Velli Vare’.
The actor for whom dance means everything takes her time out from her busy film schedules to pursue a course in kuchipudi. “I completed my first semester in kuchipudi from Alliance University Bangalore. I wish to take a doctorate in dancing,” says Rachana.