Actor Kalyani Panicker, who recently made her big-screen debut with the Sharaf U Dheen-starrer Madhuvidhu, has said in a recent interview that Vaazha 2: Biopic of a Billion Bros accurately captured the struggles faced by students who move abroad for higher studies.
One of the most discussed portions of the blockbuster Malayalam film, which has become the highest-grossing film in Kerala, was its portrayal of young people leaving Kerala with dreams of building a better future in countries such as the UK, only to face a far harsher reality after arrival. The sequences struck a chord with many viewers, especially those who have lived overseas.
Speaking about the film, Kalyani said the scenes felt deeply personal because she had experienced similar circumstances while studying abroad. “What they showed in Vaazha 2 is absolutely true. Watching it can emotionally break you. Only those who have gone through it will understand. I could not watch those scenes without tearing up,” she said.
The actor also pointed to the film’s depiction of healthcare difficulties faced by international students, saying it reflected real-life conditions. “To be honest, even the part where someone with a fever cannot easily go to the hospital reflects the reality there. Unless you have breathing difficulty or some serious issue, they will not admit you,” she said.
Recalling one of her own difficult experiences, Kalyani added, “I once suffered severe food poisoning and had to lie there acting as though I was fine. It is that difficult. It is quite a frightening situation.”
She contrasted that experience with the healthcare access available in Kerala. “Here, we have emergency casualty services. We can rush there and reach within 20 minutes. I realised only after going there that such things are a blessing in life,” she said.
Kalyani also revealed that the experience changed her outlook on settling abroad permanently. “That was when I decided there is no real life for me there. If I am going to live, it will be here. I can always visit if needed, but I cannot live there,” she said.
Housing, she added, was another major challenge. “The greatest difficulty for me was housing. We had to shift every two months. It was a very stressful situation. There is more freedom than necessary there, but freedom alone is not enough,” she said.
