Even as Anupama Parameswaran gears up for the release of her next film, Paradha, this week, the actor can’t stop gushing about her other big project, Bison Kaalamaadan, directed by Mari Selvaraj.
In a recent interview with Galatta Plus, Anupama shared how working on Bison has been a transformative experience for her. "Bison is one of the most special projects I have been a part of. I became a fan of Mari sir’s work after watching Pariyerum Perumal. In fact, he had narrated that story to me, but I couldn’t take it up then, as I was tied up with multiple Telugu projects. I regretted missing out on it. Later, when Maamannan happened, he offered me a very important role, but I was busy then too. So when he finally called me for Bison, I was genuinely excited,” she revealed.
Calling Bison “a beautiful film with a powerful story,” she added, “I believe it’s one of Mari sir’s best works. The film has helped me grow a lot as an actor. He has a very unique style of working. For instance, I had never been through a workshop before, but with Bison, I was asked to spend time at the shoot location, interact with the people there, and learn from them. We stayed for nearly two months, and it was a wonderful, grounding experience.”
The actor admitted that the process reshaped her approach to acting. “Even in the films I’m working on now, I feel much more prepared to handle any situation or scene, thanks to what I learnt on Bison. Mari sir is brutally honest; he never hesitates to point out when something isn’t right. It can break you in the moment, but ultimately, it shapes you and makes you better,” she said.
Helmed by Mari Selvaraj, Bison Kaalamaadan stars Dhruv Vikram and Anupama Parameswaran in the lead. Reportedly a sports drama centred on kabaddi, the film is produced by Pa Ranjith and Aditi Anand under Neelam Studios, in association with Applause Entertainment’s Sameer Nair and Deepak Segal.
The supporting cast includes Lal, Pasupathy, Rajisha Vijayan, Kalaiyarasan, Hari Krishnan Anbudurai, Azhagam Perumal, and Madhan Dhakshinamoorthy. Though reports suggest the film draws from the life of Arjuna Awardee Manathi Ganesan, the makers are yet to confirm the same.
Bison Kaalamaadan marks the reunion of Mari Selvaraj and Pa Ranjith after their acclaimed 2018 collaboration, Pariyerum Perumal. The film introduces editor Sakthi Thiru, who previously assisted Selva RK on Mari’s Pariyerum Perumal, Karnan and Maamannan. The technical crew also features Nivas K Prasanna on music, Ezhil Arasu K on cinematography, Dhilip Subbarayan handling action choreography, and Kumar Gangappan as the art director.