CHENNAI: I may be an established woman producer, but I still have to battle gender bias every day, says actor-producer Radhika Sarathkumar. City Express caught up with Radhika on the sets of her latest production Vani Rani.
“There is no level-play for women anywhere and TV or films is no exception. Just the other day my friend Sripriya was telling me that a few people couldn’t believe that she had directed the Telugu blockbuster Drushyam, a remake of the Malayalam original starring Mohanlal. They thought it was impossible for an actor to make such a brilliant film because most often heroines are portrayed as someone dumb. They said that she might have roped in her cameraperson to direct it,” she says.
The actor, who started her production house Radaan Mediaworks almost 15 years ago, adds that the bigger challenge for established producers is the need to be updated. “Every day is a challenge. I have been n the industry for over four decades, yet I have to evolve with every passing day,” she adds
Foraying into TV at a time when she was a single parent, Radhika says that she turned to production to be in control of her life. Turning the trend and portraying women with the power to be in control of her life, the Kizhake Pogum Rail actor shifted the spotlight on contemporary issues.
Now, after eight successful serials, she believes that her maiden production Chitthi has made a lot of difference with a woman protagonist, who wields the strength to make decisions. “Then there has been a trend of stories on lower-middle class and that did well. For me, the focus was women and it was challenging. For eg Vani Rani is the story of two women-- an educated and an uneducated one—and their approach to life, without either of them losing their identity” she says.
Observing that the number of women producers have increased the years, she says that when compared to the TV industry in Mumbai and Hyderabad, Tamil industry is still behind. “In Tamil, Kutty Padmini was the first to make a mark and she came in very early. We too have a lot of women in this production house. But it is in Mumbai and Hyderabad that you will see more number of women. I would say here women aren’t forthcoming. It is the same for films; there is a dearth of girls who can speak the language. In the coming years, there may not be anyone,” she says.
She adds that it is a stark contrast to her days, when there were a number of actors who spoke the language. “That is why even today filmmakers write roles with substance for us. I have been offered very good roles, but I am unable to accept all of them due to other commitments,” she adds.
An accidental actor, she doesn’t rule out the possibility of donning the director’s hat. “I don’t have the time for direction and at the moment, I am on top of everything with film roles and the serials. But sometimes, you just have to take the curve,” she adds. If there is something that she has ruled out, it is politics. “I support my husband and stand with him on his vision. He works very hard for it. If I can give that sort of commitment I would talk about it,” she signs off.