It’s not everyday that a heroine gets a movie titled after her screen name. But that’s what happened to a lucky Tollywood actor Anandhi with Kayal. And what’s more, she bagged the film even before her debut Tamil film Poriyaalan released. In a chat with CE, she reveals how being part of a Prabhu Solomon film has changed her outlook on cinema completely.
“Seeing myself on screen in a film like Kayal is like a dream. And I’m still getting used to it,” says the chirpy, smiling and soft-spoken Anandhi after the grand audio launch. The screening of the trailer has already left the audiences awed and breathless with anticipation.
Prabhu Solomon is known to lovingly craft each magnum opus with passion, making it a visual and musical delight. So, it’s no surprise that Kayal has changed Anandhi’s whole attitude towards cinema. So how did this journey begin? “I was shooting for Poriyaalan, when I took some selfies. My manager showed them to Prabhu Solomon, who called me for an audition. Apparently, he was looking out for someone like me and I bagged the role,” she recalls.
And life hasn’t been the same ever since. “I’ve done three movies in Telugu. But nothing prepared me for the awesome experience of Kayal. I felt like it’s my first film. Earlier, I took up acting as a profession. After Kayal, cinema has become my passion.”
The travel film, starring newbie Chandran as hero, has V Mahendran debuting as cameraman. From Leh to the North-East and down South to Kanyakumari, the film has traversed thousands of miles.
But the tough terrain hasn’t diminished her enthusiasm, “In Cherrapunji, I had to climb six thousand steps on a mountain for a shot. It was challenging and exhilarating at the same time,” she says. Prabhu Solomon is known for the vast landscapes he brings to life and here, it’s a tsunami backdrop, for a love story. Anandhi went through the rollercoaster of emotions. “Kayal helped me come out of my shell. I’m a very shy person. During the climax scenes in Kanyakumari I had to emote before a crowd of a thousand bystanders. It was very tough. But Prabhu sir’s words inspired me. He said, ‘it’s your career that’s more important. Don’t focus on the crowds. Focus on your work’.”
Anandhi’s next is an untitled film with Atharva, but the Kayal magic lingers. “I really love my screen name so much that I react only when I’m called Kayal even off-screen,” she signs off.