After making an impression with Sirai and Youth, Anishma Anilkumar is now set to explore a more emotionally mature character with Modha Rathiri. The actor, who has been choosing varied roles early in her career, says it was the emotional complexity of her character that drew her to the film.
Speaking about what attracted her to the project, Anishma says, “What attracted me to Modha Rathiri was the emotional space of my character. She is a woman who carries many thoughts and feelings within her, but she doesn't necessarily express everything openly. I feel there is something very beautiful about portraying such a character because women often experience many emotions simultaneously, especially when they find themselves in an unfamiliar situation.”
Rather than approaching the role as a conventional heroine, Anishma wanted to understand the character's emotional world and portray her with honesty. “I wanted to approach her with honesty rather than simply playing her as a conventional heroine,” she adds.
The actor also feels that the film gave her an opportunity to move beyond the kind of characters she has played so far. While Modha Rathiri has humour and entertainment at its core, Anishma says the story also explores the more grounded emotions that exist beneath its situations. “This film gave me an opportunity to explore a more mature side of myself as an actor. There is humour and entertainment in the story, but beneath those situations are very real emotions, particularly the expectations, nervousness and uncertainties that can surround a woman entering a new phase of her life,” she says.
This emotional layer appears to be an important part of Anishma's character in the film. Instead of merely being positioned within the comic situations, her perspective allows the story to explore the quieter emotions associated with relationships, family dynamics and major changes in one's life. Anishma credits director Raja Karuppasamy for trusting her with the role. “I am grateful to Raja for trusting me with this character and to our producers for giving me the opportunity,” she says.
The actor also has words of praise for her co-star Rishikanth, with whom she shares the lead. “Rishikanth has been a wonderful co-star, and I believe audiences will connect with the emotional side of our characters,” she says.
Directed by debutant Raja Karuppasamy, Modha Rathiri stars Rishikanth and Anishma Anilkumar in the lead, alongside Chetan, A Venkatesh, Bagavathi Perumal, Abdool Lee, Shelly Kishore, Sangeetha Balan, Banupriya, Sumithra Devi L, Varshini Karmegham, Karthikeyan, Velan and Kowshik Kabilan.
Bharath Sankar has composed the music, with Surendran Paranjothi handling cinematography and Ashok Arjunan taking care of the editing. Poornima Ramaswamy is the costume designer, while A Balumahendra is the art director. Produced by Naveen Yerneni and Y Ravi Shankar under Mythri Movie Makers, Modha Rathiri is set to release worldwide on August 21.