Mamta : Going Places

Young Mamta is all thrilled. Mamta Mohandas, who began as an actress in Malayalam, has crossed boundaries and has made her presence felt in Tamil with Sivapathikaaram. And now, she is all set to move into Telugu terrain too. The interesting thing is that while she is preparing to make her entry into Telugu as an actress, she has already done so as a singer, crooning for the Krishnavamsi-directed Rakhi.

Mamta Mohandas, who has acted in half-a-dozen Malayalam films including Mayookham (her debut film directed by Hariharan), Bus Conductor, Lanka, Madhuchandralekha, Albhutham and Baba Kalyani, tells us about her varied experiences in this interview given to Unni Nair of nowrunning.com.

To begin with, tell us about your education and your entry into films?

Though I hail from Kozhikode in Kerala, I was born and brought up in Bahrain. I had my schooling there itself and then came over to India, where I planned to go for my higher studies. In the meantime, I did some modeling assignments too. But I never planned to get into films as an actress. It was at a party that I met Sreedevi Aunty, the mother of the late Monisha, who introduced me to Hariharan sir. He offered me a role in his new film and that is how Mayookham happened.

How did you feel when you were offered the role in Mayookham?

To be frank, I was not so sure that I could do it. I had always wanted to be a singer and didn't know that I could act as well. I was reluctant to accept it, but my parents gave me the confidence I needed. When the shoot for the film started, everything went smoothly especially since I had earlier experience in modeling and I went on doing things as per the directions given by Hariharan sir.

You said you wanted to be a singer. Have you got trained in singing?

Yes. I have been trained in Karnatic and Hindustani classical music and I have been doing it with all seriousness. I have sung Bhajans at various venues and have now sung for a Telugu film too.

After playing the heroine in Mayookham, you did a sister's role in Bus Conductor. Why so?

The release of Mayookham was getting delayed. I got busy with my modeling assignments. It was then that V.M. Vinu sir offered me the role in Bus Conductor. And though it could be called just a sister's role, it was not so. I played Mammookka's sister and that was the main attraction of the role.

How was it, acting with Mammootty?

I was very tense because he was one of the biggest stars in the Indian film industry itself. But Mammookka was very encouraging and very helpful too. He helped me with all kinds of acting tips and suggestions. V.M. Vinu sir too helped me a lot and that was how I could do the role convincingly.

Tell us about your experience working in Lanka, Albhutham and Baba Kalyani?

The character that I played in Lanka, named Lanka Lekshmi, was a very different and challenging character. I had to portray different emotions and my character passed from intense love to the aggressiveness of terrorism. And I had to speak like Sri Lankan Tamilians too, for which I had to do some hard work. The director had convinced me that it was going to be a good role which would do good to my career. And I am really sad that the film wasn't accepted that well.

As for Albhutham, it was a great experience being a part of a film that was finished in record time, just over 2 hours 45 minutes. And working with Jayaraj sir was a great experience. We did well-panned rehearsals and then only went for the shoot. My character Maria had a key role in the progress of the plot and my work was appreciated too.

Working in Baba Kalyani was a thrilling experience as I was working for the first time with Mohanlal, one of the most reputed actors in the country. He gave me full support and I enjoyed working with him and Shaji sir too (Shaji Kailas, the director of Baba Kalyani). Though it was an action film, my character had a definite role in it and was therefore well received.

So, you sang a song in the Telugu film Rakhi. How did it happen?

It was quite accidental. I was doing a photo session in the AVM studio at Chennai for a Tamil film. In between, when I was getting ready for the photo session, I hummed some songs to myself. After some time, someone approached asking who it was that had sung the song. It was Devi Sri Prasad, the music director from Andhra Pradesh. On knowing that it was I who had hummed the songs, he asked me to sing a few more songs. Then he asked if I was interested in playback singing. When I answered in the affirmative, he asked me to go to him the next day for an audition. And it was thus that the song happened.

How was it, singing for a film?

It was a very enjoyable experience. And the highlight of the song was that it was rendered to the accompaniment of typical Kerala music and I really enjoyed singing it.

Suppose you get more offers as a singer, will you focus on singing as a career or leave it and focus more on acting?

I cannot say any thing about that with certainty. As of now, I would try to focus on both. Suppose I get more opportunities as a singer and I get accepted by all, I may focus more on it. But, as of now, I intend to go on as such, focusing equally on both sides. It is only because of my being an actress that I got a chance to sing. And I wouldn't forget that.

Which are your forthcoming films?

I have got some good offers from Telugu as well as from Malayalam. Things are looking up.

Click the Movie button below for more info:
Baba Kalyani

Mamta Mohandas Pictures