“I confirmed from multiple sources to ensure that our documentary had won the award. I didn’t want to get embarrassed later! You know like what happened to La La Land at the Oscars?” Soumya says with a hearty laugh. Her documentary film, Chembai — My Discovery of a Legend was given a special mention in the non-feature film category at the 64th National Film Awards.
“Vinu Janardanan, one of the scriptwriters of the film, called me with the good news. I had to wait for confirmation because the jury member couldn’t read it out properly,” says Soumya.
The achievement is a kind of sweet revenge for this actor-cum-anchor. While studying at the College of Engineering Trivandrum, Soumya had written and directed a skit.
“Right through the skit my seniors were howling and hooting. No one knew why they were doing it. So I promised myself that one day I would make all of them queue up to watch my movie. Some of them in West Asia are my close friends. They recently invited me for an alumni meet. I told them I would have liked to go there and tell everybody about how they made fun of my skit. Well, I won’t do it now. I felt that I had had my revenge!” she says.
Proving her mettle
Getting the special mention award was also her way of getting back at organisers who had refused to screen her documentary. “I had sent it to four festivals in Kerala. It was not for any award, I just wanted people to see it. But none of them was willing to show it. So I decided to opt for North India and it won the award for the best documentary at a fete in Allahabad.”
In fact, she had no plans whatsoever to send it for the National Awards. “That involved a long process and I was in two minds about it. However, thanks to my friends, I could raise the money to send the DD and fill the entry form a few hours before the deadline ended,” she says.
The documentary is essentially about the annual Chembai Parthasarathy Temple Ekadasi Music Festival at Chembai village in Palakkad district. It was a visit to the village in March 2014 to hear a concert by KJ Yesudas that motivated her to make the documentary. It was the centenary year of the festival and the couple of days she spent at the agraharam brought her closer to the life and music of Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar and the people of the village. She documented what she saw there on her phone and a year later returned with her friends to make the documentary.
“I am deeply indebted to people of Chembai village. They welcomed me and my friends and were very kind. Now they are very happy,” she says.
However, she says the award has not really helped her to achieve her ambition of occupying the director’s chair. “Many think that I am an intellectual person and now the award seems to have reiterated their belief! I am a fun-loving person, someone who enjoys watching romcoms. My first script is ready. It is a family satire. I have got a producer as well. But because I have won an award, I am not getting the dates of any artistes. Many are reluctant to even read the script. I am trying hard to prove them wrong and I won’t give up,” she says.
Before signing off, she tells us about working in C/O Saira Banu as “language coach” for Amala. “She is amazing. She manages so many things at a time, yet she is down to earth and extremely compassionate. She is a true mentor and when I get to her age I want to be as warm and as elegant as her.”
The way to tinsel town
An engineering graduate, she gave up her job to pursue her dream of becoming a filmmaker. She has assisted in films such as Cinema Company, Idavappathi, Jawan of Vellimala and Olapeepi . She also made a short film online series, Ashanum Ashathiyum .
Her debut as an actor was in David and Goliath. She was seen in Ormayundo Ee Mukham . She anchors the programme Film Lounge on Kappa TV.
