S uby Suresh is not an unfamiliar face on the small screen. She has made many a person laugh with her performance on Asianet’s ‘Cinemala’. The comedienne of the mini-screen is currently hosting a show on Surya TV – ‘Kutty Pattalam’. The actor talks about her journey in television and her new programme. and more. Excerpts from an interview.
Dancing her way to the small screen
As a child, I was enrolled in a class for classical dance. My dance teacher and my parents soon realised, however, that I was not in step with classical dance and so my classes stopped. When I was in school, there was this advertisement which was a craze for its funky moves. The ad was for a particular brand of biscuit. My parents noted how such moves came easy to me and so enrolled me in Kalabhavan, which offered classes for break dance. I was the only girl in the class. I was part of a dance troupe led by Sreejith, when I was introduced to the team of ‘Cinemala’, a spoof on Asianet. We did a couple of programmes together when Tini Tom invited me to be a part of ‘Cinemala’. I was hesitant at first as I had no experience in front of the camera. My mother, Ambika, encouraged me to try it out. It has now been 12 years since I have been a part of the group. When I started out, I was the only female member. So the rest of the members in the group were protective and although some of the cast have changed over the years, we are like a close-knit family.
Hosting a children’s show
The channel had apparently tried out several anchors before they zeroed in on me for ‘Kutty Pattalam’. A friend, who was working in the channel, told me about the opening in the programme. When I heard that it was for kids, I was reluctant to be a part of it, as I do not have much expereince in handling kids. I told him ‘I am a kid myself, how do you expect me to lead a bunch of kids?’ He, however, persuaded me to attend a mock test. Before I knew it, I was hosting the programme and was shooting for the show in Chennai.
The truth
The participants of ‘Kutty Pattalam’ are aged between three and eight. I have shot seven episodes, out of which three have been screened. It has been fun shooting with these kids. That kids can’t lie is so true. No matter, how much their parents coach them, if you ask them a question, the truth eventually comes out. They often come up with gems of replies. For instance, when I asked a kid whether he had a girl friend, he replied matter-of-factly, ‘Don’t you think I am a bit too young for such a question? You should ask this question to someone in their teens’. Although the show is half-an-hour long, we shoot for three to four hours for just one episode because some kids take time to warm up to the camera. Some of the kids are real handfuls. There was this kid who saw me applying lipstick. She took the lipstick from my hand and smeared it all over her face and mine too.
Stage, first
I have been getting several movie offers but have had to forego most as the dates clashed with my stage shows. I dislike being a part of something I can’t give my all to. And besides, my heart lies with the stage. I perform skits and dance performances, both in India and abroad.
Serious at heart
In real life, I am not much of a funny person; I’m quite serious. I don’t have a funny bone in me. However, with years of practice on stage, I am now quick-witted and can make people laugh with just a change of expression.
(‘Kutty Pattalam’ is on Surya TV on Sundays at 7.30 p.m. ‘Cinemala’ is on Asianet on Sundays at 9.30 p.m.)
