When the Kerala State Television Award for 2015 was being announced in the capital city, Janaki Nair was miles away in the United Kingdom (U.K.), busy in a meeting in her capacity as public relations deputy manager at South Essex College.
Soon she started getting messages on her mobile phone from her parents, friends and cousins back home, asking her to call them immediately. When an anxious Janaki got in touch with them, she was in for a surprise.
“I was surprised to hear that I was chosen the best actress, for I never expected it. In fact, it took a lot of time for reality to sink in,” says Janaki over the phone from the U.K. Janaki, who hails from the city, won the award for her role in the telefilm, River Life , directed by Sivamohan Thampi, her uncle. The story, script and dialogues are by Salin Mankuzhy.
The film is about Jyothi, an environmental activist and theatre artiste. Her story unfolds in flashback. A dedicated artiste, she is labelled immoral by her husband and society. She also has to face the consequences of standing up against a co-artiste who tries to get physical with her. Drawing parallels between nature and woman, the movie compares her life that is in shambles to that of a polluted river.
Janaki is no new face in the industry but she hasn’t been prolific on screen. Except for a children’s film (Varnachirakukal) and a few serials, the 29-year-old has been more into dance, especially Kathakali. Initiated into the art form at the age of five, she was a disciple of thespian Nelliyodu Vasudevan Namboodiri for 15 years.
She has won accolades for essaying male characters in Kathakali.
“It is challenging to play male characters for I have to adopt a totally different body language. Equally difficult are technicalities such as certain kalashams and the scream,” she adds. Janaki is also trained in Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam and Kuchipudi. “But Kathakali gives me more satisfaction,” believes Janaki.
Being a dancer helped her in playing Jyothi, she says. “Theatrical aspects and body movements in Kathakali came handy when I did the theatre segment in the film. My training in kalaripayattu and yoga also helped. Then there were scenes where I had to do realistic acting. It was heartening when the jury observed that I could effectively portray both Natyadharmi and Lokadharmi,” says Janaki.
She is the creative head of the film, besides conceptualising and choreographing certain scenes in it. The concept of the short film evolved after discussions with her uncle who has many serials and documentaries to his credit.
“I have a diploma in filmmaking and have been planning to do a short film or documentary. I wanted to handle a women-oriented subject and it gradually evolved into the story of Jyothi,” says the newly-married Janaki, who is currently settled in London with her husband, Gelu Varghese, a fuel scientist.
A graduate in videography and mass communication from Mar Ivanios College, she went to the U.K. to do her post graduation in media and public relations from Newcastle University. She got employed on completing her course. “I have always tried to balance my profession and my passion. My father has told me that a career is important and it shouldn’t be compromised with at any cost. That’s why I have not been a full-time performer,” says Janaki, who is doing her doctorate in semiotic communication.
“Whether it is dance or media, it is all about getting your point across to someone and it is this aspect of communication that attracted me to media. The field throws up challenges every day. I get bored easily doing the same kind of stuff and this job keeps me busy and fresh,” signs off Janaki.
