Saranya Ponvannan is a familiar face in Telugu films . Last seen in Vedam after Puli, she now has super hit movie OKOK ( Oru Kal Oru Kannadi in Tamil), released in Telugu with the same title to her credit. The actor surprised everyone with her comic act as a doting mother of Udayanidhi Stalin and had the audience in splits with her innocent humour.
She sounds worried, “I didn’t know the film is releasing in Telugu, aiyyo …who is dubbing for me?”
She goes on, “I actually don’t promote myself for anything, I wait for opportunities to land and then I decide whether to do or not. Actually I have done two fun films Em Magan and Kalavani ; they were both big hits, now OKOK has joined that league. I got the same feedback — that I do a good job of comedy. But while working, I had my own doubts; Santhanam is a comedy star, Rajesh’s work is based on humour, I wondered if I would meet their pace. I was a bit insecure.”
Speaking of Telugu films, she reveals, “I like doing Telugu films and I have a flair for languages. Actually I didn’t get any Telugu film when I was free and when I had date issues, I would be asked to do one.”
A beautiful actor with a face ideal for soft roles, she has completed 22 years in the industry. Her father A.B. Raj, a director in Malayalam movies has directed over 75 films. She is married to a fellow actor and has two daughters. “ Nayagan was my first film but I wasn’t successful as a heroine, but now I’m crossing films and all of them have me playing a mother. I have been a very successful mother onscreen and at home. Most people complain that teens don’t listen, but my girls are completely disciplined and well behaved. I multi-task, play double and triple roles and ensure my family runs smoothly. I work hard but I would never take it seriously as a career. I thought I would do some timepass and earn some money, never thought I would turn this popular. Now my folks say ‘don’t stop this work’. The girls are grown up and so it’s a bit easy now. I’m enjoying it.”
Saranya says she is a good cook and also tailors her clothes and her children’s. A graduate in nutrition and dietetics, the lady who played screen mom 50 times won a national award too for being the best actor. She doesn’t crowd herself with several films and is highly selective. She explains, “Unless the role really deserves me, I don’t do it. These days I make them wait and run behind me and only when I’m fully assured that it is a good role I do the film. Crying comes naturally to me, but comedy …I have to use my brain. There is a risk of audience getting bored seeing me always serve tea and cry, but I’m lucky to get varied roles.”
She adds, “All the people think I’m very busy doing many movies, but that’s not true. All the films I’m working in are doing well so that is the reason for the misconception. My mother died early and she wanted me to be an actor. I became one much later, I guess she is up there giving me her blessings and guiding me.”
Her most memorable moment was when she went to a shop and a 70-year-old-man held her hand and said she reminded him of his mother. She signs off, “Twenty-year-old boys who are always making fun of onscreen mothers are also appreciating me, what more do I want?”
