A ctor Lakshmipriya was in her element on the other side of the phone. A livewire, on and off screen, the artiste has carried off with ease whatever roles that have come her way in tinsel town.A television anchor as well, she is now hosting a children’s show, ‘Super Kids’, on Kairali TV. Aired Monday to Thursday at 7 p.m., the show is for children between the ages of three and seven, who can be cute, naughty and unbelievably outspoken. Excerpts from an interview…
With the ‘Super Kids’
I have still not got over the ‘shock treatment’ they gave me with their replies during the promo shoot. Handling the kids is a big challenge! Interacting with them gave me many surprises. Where do they learn to say such things? There is innocence but at the same time their big talk seems out of place. People wonder whether it is similar to a show on another channel. The format is the same – that is getting the children to talk. But we’ve incorporated many interesting elements, such as interactions with parents, giving the kids a platform to show their talent, if they have any, and an outdoor segment too.
On television
I enjoy being an anchor. I made my debut as an anchor on People TV, with ‘Phone n’ Fun’. Then I anchored ‘Swararagam’ on Surya TV, live shows on Kiran TV, initial episodes of ‘Amma Ammayiamma’ on Kairali and many other shows.
As an actor
My childhood ambition was to become a film actor and Sobhana has been my inspiration. But I didn’t know how to go about it. However things changed after I got married to Jayesh (he is the son of the late Pattanakkad Purushothaman, a well-known musician). It was my mother-in-law, Ratnamma, an actor, who first got me a chance to act in a serial, ‘Sthreedhanam’, on Jeevan TV. I did 30-odd serials before I got my first movie – Naran, in which I played Bhavana’s sister. It was the role in Nivedyam that tested my skills in handling humour.
My character Radhamani was appreciated. I kept getting similar roles, most of them insignificant and I wasn’t very happy about that. But things changed with the serial ‘Aranazhikaneram’, directed by Sivamohan Thampy for Amrita TV. Reethamma, my character in the serial, was not a major character in the book, but it was converted into a full-fledged role for television. Sathyan Anthikad saw me in that role and cast me in Bhagyadevatha and then Katha Thudarunnu . I started getting good roles from then on. I’ve done 65 movies so far.
Being tagged as a comedienne
I feel sad at times because I know I can do better. But then I don’t have a godfather in the industry. However, I have not lost hope.
The real Lakshmipriya
I come across as a chilled out person. But I’m quite a serious person in real life. I love reading, being a home-maker, and am quite a disciplinarian when it comes to managing cash.
