Steady climb to recognition

With her performances now getting noticed, Madhu Shalini looks for ward to the release of ‘Seethavalokanam’.

January 29, 2015 04:36 pm | Updated 04:36 pm IST

Madhu Shalini.

Madhu Shalini.

All those who saw the trailer of Seethavalokanam are heaping praise on Madhu Shalini. She looked just not pretty but carried herself with grace, poise and was every inch an embodiment of Seetha. When director Madala Venu said it would be sent to the film festivals she couldn't say no. Seethavalokanam is not just a mere interpretation of Ramayana from Seetha's point of view, it has been worked on and filmed just as one would for a feature film, with a good budget and qualified technicians; which is why everyone's talking about it.

Madhu Shalini tells us how she bagged the role, “Director Venu Madala came to me with a script meant for a Kuchipudi ballet which would last for an hour but later he developed it as a script for a small film. There are only three characters — Seetha, Bhoodevi and Ahilya. A lot of people thought I was doing a mythological film. Thanks to producer Priyanka Tummu, everything fell in place. Art director Ramakrishna created the sets, music is by Vishwa. Every detail was taken care of from costumes to jewellery; it was all real jewellery sponsored by Sooraj Bhanu.” The actor claims director K. Vishwanath, after seeing the film, said she looked like the real Seetha.

The language spoken was Grandhikam (literary), so her mother would help her with the diction. She says Seetha is not just about wearing a plain simple sari or going through hardship from Valmiki's point of view. She avers, “She knows it is Maya and if Ravana were to be killed, anyone could do it, but it had to be done for a cause. On the flip side, one particular day I felt like Seetha. I wondered how they wore all the jewellery, carried themselves with so much patience, they had to be decked all the time. The sevas they were used to... ten people giving a bath, washing her hair.” Now she is simply waiting for the release and result.

After winning a beauty contract, Madhu Shalini had to be with a television channel due to a contract. She was never comfortable with anchoring; she didn’t want to talk at random and continue a conversation just for the camera. “I started my career in films in 2010 but wasn't sure of sticking to it either. I don't mind doing Kuchipudi classes and painting.”

The actor's recent work was Anukshanam and Gopala Gopala and she is relieved that people appreciated her performance. Though her role was brief, what matters is that she has been a part of a big, successful film. In an industry ridden by sentiments, this is what people look at. "Moreover I am doing stuff that I want to do rather than what I have to do or what is offered to me. There are some films where you do good work but it goes unnoticed because of its fate at the box office. I am not competing with any actor; just for some screen space in the film. I am in a happy space, am growing slowly and steadily though I am not completely satisfied. Every actor aspires for something more. I climb a step higher but never go beyond what I had done earlier.”

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