She was just ten years old when she played the role of a boy in the iconic yesteryear hit Sankarabharanam. Today, actor Thulasi, is more than 300 movies old as a child artiste, heroine and mother in various films. Sankarabharanam, is now being digitised and re-released in Tamil this week. Thulasi who took a 20-year sabbatical post marriage, made a comeback in K’Town with meaty roles in Eesan, Adhalal Kadhal Seiveer, Pannaiyarum Padminiyum and Pandiyanaadu. She has two more big Tamil movies up her sleeve. But though the Telugu and Kannada industries are lapping up her talent, she feels that Kollywood ‘s offers are few and far between.
“Though my performances in recent Tamil films were noticed, people still harbour wrong notions about costs and don’t approach me for more work here. They think that I live in Bangalore so they would have to fund my travel and stay in Chennai, if they sign me up. But its not so. If the role is good, I can fly down myself. I also have three houses here to accommodate me. So costs shouldn’t stop them from approaching me. I want to do more work in Kollywood.” Another grouse that people have is that she’s not reachable. “I cant post my number online can I? If a director wants to approach me, they can always contact the production house of my recent releases and get my number!” she reasons.
“Sankarabharanam, changed my life completely,” she recalls, about the movie directed by K Vishvanath. “I was chosen to play a boy’s role that won me great plaudits. After the release, I attended around 600 felicitation and award events! I got innumerable gold coins and gifts. Such was the reach of the movie which had hit music and performances. The industry waited for me to grow up and when I was 13 I already played my first role as a heroine!” she laughs.
The actor now has the Vishal-starrer Aambalai directed by Sundar C in her kitty. “Vishal and I worked together in Pandiayanaadu and he approached me for the role of the heroine’s mother. We share a good rapport. The shoot begins in October. Zero, is her other film starring Shivada and Ashwin Kakumanu, directed by Arun.