Singer Monali Thakur was regaling everyone with her songs at Abbas Tyrewala’s pre-Christmas party two years ago, when she realised a pair of eyes following her everywhere. They belonged to Nagesh Kukunoor. “I thought I was having some serious wardrobe malfunction or something!” she says, remembering the moment. “I was totally surprised when, a month later, he personally called to ask me if I’d audition for a film he had in mind.” Monali, who by that time had Abbas’s Mango (2014) under her belt, was thrilled to hear from the director, and her enthusiasm did not abate even when he told her that the film was on sexual exploitation and child trafficking. “It only grew. I was aware that it was a serious subject and the fact that Nagesh sir had thought of me made me feel proud,” says the daughter of Bengali singer Shakti Thakur.
Director’s visionLakshmi (tentative release date is January 17, 2014) is the story of a 13-year-old who is sold into prostitution. Raped and brutally beaten, the girl shows a resilient spirit by fighting against the establishment and choosing a path never travelled. “It was gruesome just to read the script. It definitely was not an easy film to do. But Nagesh sir helped me. There are several stomach-churning scenes in the film; some are shown in the trailer too. The language was not easy either. None of us on the sets had spoken such crass stuff, so it was mighty difficult to do that too. I guess, we just followed our director’s vision,” she says.
Monali has some acting experience too. She has acted in Raja Sen’s Bengali film Krishnakanter Will (2007). “Approximately three years ago, I was encouraged to act by some lovely people in the industry. But it was a great responsibility to take on, and I thought I should give it some time. Tanuja Chandra, Anurag Basu and his wife have all been encouraging and supportive always,” she says.
Lakshmi was shot in just 22 days a year ago, true to Nagesh’s style. “The emotions were strong and painful. In fact, the moment we entered Gulabi House, a brothel in AP where we shot in a small, dingy room, it made me cringe. It was scary to be exposed to this place even for a moment.”
A romcom nextThe girl says her parents are not too worried about her playing Lakshmi. “My father, in fact, told me that this was the best opportunity life could offer me, and that I should seize it with both hands. Now I only hope people like what we have done.” Monali says that her next film Mango is a romantic comedy, where she will play someone who is just like her in real life. “I am playing someone my age and in a more relaxed atmosphere! And even playback singing is not taking a backseat. You have to wait and watch out for my new songs,” says the singer of such diverse yet popular numbers as ‘Zara Zara Touch Me’ from Race and ‘Sawaar Loon’ from Lootera .
