C hitra Shenoy is another addition to the long list of mean and greedy mothers-in-law on the mini screen. The Bangalore-based actress is now playing Sethulakshmi, the monstrous mother-in-law in ‘Sthreedhanam’, a serial on Asianet. She is amused by the fact that it is the first ever negative role in her 24-year-long acting career during which she has done over 500 films, a majority of them in Kannada, and the rest in Tamil and Malayalam, and many serials too. Familiar to Malayalis as Mammootty’s mother in Rajamanikyam , Chitra has acted in movies such as The Don, Alibai, Calcutta News, Rock n’ roll, Kanchi and Orissa . Excerpts from an interview with the actress…
As Sethulakshmi
I was taken aback when the makers of ‘Sthreedhanam’ approached me with the role, because, till then, writers and producers in Kannada had never even made me a member of the villain’s family, let alone give me a negative character! Krishnamoorthy, director of the serial, had to convince me to take up the role. Also, my family, felt that it was time I tried my hand at new roles. That is how I became Sethulakshmi.
Breaking the image
Thanks to many Hindi serials, the vicious mother-in-law is always shown decked from head to toe, with heavy make-up, glittering bindis, lot of jewellery, and flashy saris. But I wanted to be different. So, I created the look of Sethulakshmi, which was approved by the makers. She has glamour but it never goes overboard.
Reception from the audience
I am overwhelmed when people say it is a powerful character. Well, certain senior citizens have asked me why I was torturing my daughter-in-law so much! People say that sometimes I go overboard with my expressions and body language. But I think that is the way the director has visualised it and I am always a director’s actor.
Her journey in tinsel town
I hail from a traditional Tamil Brahmin family where acting was never a career option. But I was destined to come in front of the camera. Once I began working in television, I started getting offers from Kannada cinema. But after doing a dozen films or so, I quit the industry because I wasn’t happy with what I was doing and the films as such weren’t doing well. However, I continued to work in Kannada serials on Doordarshan, alongside my studies. Even after marriage to Gurudas Shenoy, a producer with Doordarshan, I continued to do serials and didn’t accept any film offers. But, I came back to films to get out of the depression after a miscarriage. Plenty of character roles came my way. Since then there has been no looking back. Today I help my husband in running our production house, and take care of our nine-year-old daughter, Kushi, even as I balance my career in Kannada film industry and on Malayalam television.
In Malayalam
My first work in Malayalam, Rajamanikyam , came to me through Sindhu Menon, another Bangalorean, who acted in the movie as my daughter. The language was new, but I didn’t want to miss the opportunity because I have great regard for Malayalam movies and artistes. I had no qualms about playing Mammootty’s mother though I was hardly 30 then. Right now, I am quite comfortable with Malayalam. I love the way the language is spoken and even try to frame my own sentences.
‘Sthreedhanam’ airs on Asianet, Mondays to Fridays, at 6.30 p.m.
