Geetha Kailasam delivers an impactful performance in the titular role of director Vipin Radhakrishnan’s film Angammal, which is based on Perumal Murugan’s story, Kodithuni. After doing the festival rounds, the film hits theatres this Friday. Last year, Vipin told us that he cast Geetha in the film thanks to her impressive performance in director Pa Ranjith’s Natchathiram Nagargirathu. Vipin made special note of the assertive screen presence and body language that Geetha brought to the role in Natchathiram Nagargirathu and called her “an intelligent actor and a powerful performer”. However, Geetha likes to remain humble and grounded. In an exclusive conversation with CE, she states, “I must thank Pa Ranjith for showing my work as a sample for others in Natchathiram Nagargirathu. I played a bold, forthright character in it similar to Angammal. Until now, I have received opportunities because of Natchathiram Nagargirathu."
Excerpts:
How has the reception to Angammal been? Especially since it was quite the rage in film festival circuit...
I still cannot believe that people are liking my character in Angammal! I have gained fans across India. I wonder what I have done in the film for people to like it so much?
I think, sometimes, you do not have to give the perfect expression for each moment. Many things are on our mind as actors, and everything eventually falls into place at the time we perform. I think it is some magic at the end of the day.
More than the humour, anger, resentment, and compassion in your role, there's a sense of swag to Angammal...
I had to look at the dictionary to learn the right usage of swag in cinema and even asked my co-stars and crew members about it. I faced plenty of challenges because of having to integrate it into performance. I was already trained to portray all the different facets of the character, and I wondered how to bring that element in my performance.
If I had brought it into my character’s style, walk or mannerisms, it would not look natural. So I took it out of my mind, and while the director and the cinematographer were cognizant of getting it out of me, they also had many production-related headaches to deal with. Ultimately, I think I immersed myself in the character and everything worked out naturally. That said, I do feel very happy to hear audiences say that my character has swag in Angammal.
You also come from a family of filmmakers, and you've also been a successful producer. Do the two passions ever collide?
See, I stay in character as long as I am wearing the costume. I cannot do it the whole time due to my busy work schedule. But honestly, there is still a producer in me. I was into production a long time ago and worked on TV shows such as Ramany vs Ramany and Marmadesam under the Minbimbangal banner. So, I do get involved in production matters whenever I get some time on set. However, my friends advise me against getting into the producer’s shoes and to invest my time more in acting.
You have played different kind of mothers in films like Amaran, Lubber Pandhu, and recently, Idli Kadai. How different was it in Angammal?
When her son (Saran Sakthi) comes from the city to meet her for the first time, we see Angammal on her motorcycle and smoking a cigarette. As he approaches, she throws it away and embraces him. Someone told me that this is refreshing and different from the situation where a mother welcomes a son home with the traditional Aarati ritual.
How do you detach the personal from the professional while playing such strong and distinct mothers?
Excluding Angammal, I generally act with those who play my onscreen children only for a few days. The scenes where I act with them stay with me for just a few days. There is a likelihood of some emotional impact only if I act with them for 20 or 30 days. However, it has happened with me in one film: Natchathiram Nagargiradhu. My character emotionally blackmails her son (Kalaiyarasan), and Ranjith shot that whole sequence in a realistic way for three consecutive days. That impacted me for quite a few days.