I don't believe in switching but evolving: Ester Noronha

Ester Noronha is a multi-talented individual, exploring the realm of cinema. A singer since childhood and a dancer, she has faced the camera in over 40 films across seven languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Tulu, Konkani, Telugu, and Tamil. Now, she is set to embark on her directorial journey with The Vacant House, produced by her mother under the banner Janet Noronha Productions.

Ester shares her thoughts with CE ahead of the film’s release this week.

To begin with, Ester reveals her passion for cinema, stating, “When I started off, I didn’t know anything about cinema, but since my young age, I enjoyed everything about art, not knowing where it was taking me because it made me happy. Today, my love for art has lead me to cinema.”

After a decade as an actor, Ester explains her decision to direct, stating, “I don’t believe in switching but evolving. I was a singer, and people thought I might leave it the moment I focused on dancing, and it was the case when I became an actor too.  Society often tells us that we can only do one thing, which is something I don’t agree with. I am someone who likes to explore, not be confined. I evolved with each art, explored every aspect of my talent, and saw how far I could reach, and how better I can be from yesterday. I feel being stuck in one thing might be frustrating, monotonous, and saturating at one point. So only when we question ourselves and reinvent ourselves, can we enjoy our journey,” she says.

According to Ester, The Vacant House, for which she has written the story, screenplay, and dialogues, is based on things she has observed, connecting with today’s generation. “It’s a love story but with a new perspective combined with fear. It is about how people deal with promises, and emotions without analyzing the consequences. It is not just ghosts that bring fear; it is a person killing another person while they are alive. When someone gives an empty promise to someone, anybody watching The Vacant House will realise what was going through my mind,” she says.

Bringing her wholesome experience to direction, Ester emphasises the importance of  ‘clarity,’ which she has been learning through the process. “Every six months, technology has been upgrading. So does the way of storytelling, and as actors, we need to upgrade every month,” says Ester, who is happy to have the best support coming from her parents. “My films are produced by my mother; I act, and my father claps. So everything about cinema exists in the family,” she concludes.