“I was stuck with so many things…,” Miya George says quite unapologetically about not being able to find the time for an interview over the phone. There is still a distance that is difficult to bridge as we finally manage to catch up with the actress. It could be because the actress is juggling many projects at the same time– a Tamil movie in Pollachi, a dance programme at a mega show in Thiruvananthapuram and a Malayalam movie in Palakkad.
The actress is certainly going places with some plum roles in her kitty. The year is ending on a cheerful note with her character in Sachy’s Anarkali winning her many good reviews. She played Sherin Mathew, a no-nonsense doctor in the flick shot mostly in Lakshadweep. “I am happy that people loved my character,” she says.
Meanwhile, she is acting with versatile Sasikumar in her new Tamil film, Vetrivel . “I play Janani, a Malayali girl. This is my fourth Tamil movie. I have a different get-up in this one compared to other Tamil movies I have done. Acting with Sasikumar sir is a learning experience. He knows all aspects of movie making,” says Miya.
It seems like she has found a firm footing in Tamil films – she won over Kollywood with her debut flick, Amarakaviyam , a hard-core romantic story; the second movie Indru Netru Nalai that released early this year endeared herself to the audience and up next is Oru Naal Koothu . “People there still remember my character Karthika from Amarakaviyam . Recently somebody posted a video on my Facebook page featuring shots from the movie. I was aghast that somebody had taken so much trouble! I am not yet fluent in Tamil, but I hope to dub for myself one day,” she says.
Back in Kerala, she will be seen in Pavada opposite Prithviraj and in Hello Namasthe , which has Vinay Forrt and Bhavana in the cast.
Looking back at her career, the actress says that she has made slow but steady progress. “I don’t know what worked in my favour. It is just that I did all the roles to the best of my ability. Although I didn’t start out as a leading lady, I eventually got lead roles. I was lucky in many aspects. In fact my acting stint itself was quite accidental,” Miya says referring to her debut in a serial, Alphonsamma . “I was into dance and music and learnt music for a couple of years. I was not planning to travel to tinsel town. The crew of the serial had come to my school at Bharananganam, near Pala, looking for a new face and it was my teachers who suggested my name,” she says. After that came the serial, Kunjali Marakkar .
Soon she got her first movie, Oru Small Family . Small roles in Ee Adutha Kalathu and Doctor Love came next. She got her big break in Chettayees , playing Biju Menon’s wife. “I was nervous when I got the role, because I was sharing screen space with big names like Biju Menon and Lal. They were aware that I was anxious and so they asked me to be on the sets for a couple of days just to get the feel of the whole thing. That was very helpful. After that movie, I started taking acting quite seriously and felt that I should improve myself and do good work. I have started observing established artistes, their voice modulation, body language et al. The role in Vishudhan was another turning point,” Miya says.
Has she found her comfort zone? “(Laughs) I think it is quite easy to play sentimental, emotional characters. But then I have not restricted myself as an artiste. I want to adapt myself to any kind of role,” she says.
Any dream roles? “Not really. I want to leave behind a body of memorable roles. I have a lot of favourite actors and actresses with whom I want to work with….”
Short takes
* Miya’s real name is Gimi George. She changed it after Chettayees because “people were pronouncing and writing it the wrong way. Miya is the name of my character in Chettayees and it was the team that christened me Miya.”
* Born in Mumbai, Miya came back to her hometown Pala when she was four years old. She recently completed her post graduation in English from St. Thomas College, Pala. “I have never compromised on my studies on account of my films.”
