Vennira Aadai Nirmala’s bond with cinema and dance is something she cherishes till today. “If dance and cinema could be the language of the world, we would all be happy forever,” she smiles. Born as AB Shanthi in Kumbakonam, she made her acting debut in Tamil cinema with CV Sridhar’s Vennira Aadai (1965).
More than 50 years since her debut, her smile hasn’t lost its charm. “Maybe that’s because I am not married,” she laughs. “Besides me, the film was a launch-pad to many actors including our late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, late Srikanth, and comedian-lawyer Moorthy. Those were definitely golden times,” she adds.
Ask her about Jayalalithaa and her face lights up. “When we were together, I used to be in awe of her. She was always polite and pleasant. She was a born actor and a well-read person. “She respected time and was never late. She was always ready 15 minutes before a shoot. She never kept anyone waiting.”
She recalls that the work culture on the set was different then. “Unlike these days, in the 1960s, actors didn’t get the opportunity to interact much on the sets. So after our respective shots were over, we would read books. No gossip at all!” she shares. “I didn’t know I’d join the AIADMK later. Looking back, everything was like a dream. Nobody knew she’d become a Chief Minister. Also, nobody knew she’d die this soon.”
Nirmala had acted with stalwarts of Tamil cinema like MGR, Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Muthuraman, Sowcar Janaki, Rajinikanth, and so on. “Though I have been fortunate enough to have acted with all top actors of my era, I didn’t act in many films. I have always been choosy about films and special appearances,” she avers.
Though she has done 50 films with the screen name Usha Kumari in Malayalam, it was her character in Veguli Penn (1971) that got the National Award for the Best Feature Film. “I did more films in Malayalam than Tamil. The irony is that I loved being a part of K’town. Every role that I did is close to my heart, but I never expected that my film will get a National Award,” she chuckles.
Quiz her on her favourite actors, she says, “I always looked up to MGR. He was my role model then. He was an amazing human being. Nobody can be like him and it’s unfortunate that he passed away early. He has a loyal fan base even today, and that’s because of how he lived. It’s easy to fall in love with him. His work and smile were genuine. Most of his audience clapped, whistled and went berserk seeing him on screen, and it used to be difficult to watch the film amid all the first-day hungama. He’s an ideal matinee idol any day. I stood transfixed as I watched him. I can still recall most of them, frame by frame.”
Why is she not acting anymore? “I’m focussing more on politics and dance. I was doing a dance programme on Doordarshan called Konjum Salangai. It’s open to children in the age group seven to 14. Though it was based on classical and folk dance, we gave preference to Bharatanatyam. Dance isn’t about the performance or just moving the limbs; it must adhere to the Natyasastra. Wherever I went, kids would recognise me and congratulate me. I am doing a few TV serials as well,” she explains. But is she open to interesting roles in Tamil cinema? “Definitely! I’m game. But I don’t want to do the typical mother, and grandmother characters. I can pull off roles that suit my taste. Maybe, a ‘dignified’ doctor, lawyer, politician or a business woman. Why not?””