K avitha Nair lights up the screen, both as an actor and anchor. Yet, she has not made it big in the industry, which Kavitha herself admits. “May be because I don’t go in search for work,” she says. She was recently seen in a song sequence in Hotel California opposite Anoop Menon. Kavitha talks to FridayReview about her career and what she looks forward to. Excerpts:
In front of the camera
I started my career by anchoring ‘Ponpulari’, the morning show on Surya TV six years ago. I was doing my Plus Two then. Acting has always been part of my school and college life and I used to win prizes as well. A news report based on one such performance gave me the offer. That was too big a break for a student – I was talking about serious topics, philosophy, health etc. But then I had a lot of respect and admiration for television anchors and didn’t want to miss out on that opportunity. Soon I started enjoying it.
As an actor
I did ‘Ponpulari’ for close to two years. That was when I got my first serial, ‘Kaliveedu’ (Surya TV). I was actually a replacement for an artiste who played actor Menaka’s sister in the serial. I haven’t done too many serials, but whatever little I’ve done have been noticed, be it my role in ‘Aparichitha’ (on Doordarshan), ‘Rahasyam’ on Asianet or a telefilm ‘Vadakakku Oru Hridayam’ on Amrita TV.
Choice of roles
After I played Priyamvada, a police officer in ‘Rahasyam’, I got a lot of offers to play police characters, all of which I declined. Also, I have consciously stayed away from mega serials, because I didn’t find it exciting. I don't want to get typecast. For two years I concentrated on anchoring. I hosted award shows and interviewed celebrities for many channels. ‘Ningalkkariyamo’, a film-based live show, was the last show I did (on Surya).
Cinema
I love cinema but my biggest problem has been that I do television and cinema at the same time and so I’m neither here nor there. VKP (filmmaker V.K.Prakash) keeps telling me that I should concentrate on either television or cinema. I’ve acted in movies such as Mambazhakkalam, Kurukshethra and Swapnasanchari . I did Hotel California knowing fully well that it was just for that song sequence (‘Manjuthirum ravinullil…). It was an impulsive decision and I don’t regret it at all because that was the only song in the movie.
Her future
Cinema, these days, doesn’t differentiate much between actors from serials or stage. I’m open to cinema, but would also like to do a full on entertainment programme on television. All said and done, I won’t go around asking for roles! I don't have a god father in the industry. I belong to a family which has little connection with the field and it took a lot of effort from my part to convince my parents. I don’t want to tag myself as a serial actor or film actor. I want to keep on doing something creative. Currently I’m working on my book, a collection of short stories. I used to write for a web magazine, Kanikonna . When I found people appreciating my works, I decided to make it into a book. It should be out by the end of the year. Between cinema, television and writing, I hope something will click. I’m waiting for that!
