Sharada Ammal a.k.a. Manacaud Sharadambal, an 89-year-old theatre artiste and singer is full of life when you ask her about the good old days. Born in a family reputed for its artistic aptitude, Sharada saw her brother leave the family to join the Golden Theatre Company. From young age Sharada had learned music in the traditional way under Karamana Kuttan Bhagavathar, and her cousin, the famed Kanada Subbayya Bhagavathar.
The senior drama artiste cherishes the memory of her meeting with Kalaivanar N.S. Krishnan, the ‘Charlie Chaplin of India’, which according to her was a turning point in her life. “It was my father Neelakantan Achari who came running to the house announcing that N.S.K. had come to Manacaud, to his nephew’s studio,” says Sharada.
Neelakantan’s nephew, K. Ramakrishnan Achari was a famed artiste who ran a busy studio at Manacaud. “I sneaked out of my house and ran to the studio. The studio and its precincts were already crowded with people who had gathered to get a glimpse of their favourite actor”, says Sharada.
With great difficulty, young Sharada managed to get inside. On seeing Sharada, Ramakrishnan Achari asked her to step inside and offered her a seat. “I sat down and observed them for some time. I gathered from their talks that N.S.K. wanted Ramakrishnan Achari to paint a portrait of his mother,” recalls Sharada.
As N.S.K. was about to leave, Ramakrishnan asked him why he did not bring T.A. Madhuram (N.S.K.’s wife and the famed actress). With a smile, N.S.K. said that he would bring along Madhuram the next time he comes to the city. “That was the last time I saw him”, says Sharada. The young girl looked forward for N.S.K.’s visit to the studio with his wife, but they never came.
This meeting with N.S.K. had a profound influence on young Sharada. “I was awestruck by the modesty of the great artiste. N.S.K. was hailed as the most successful comedian of south Indian cinema. Yet, he was humble and soft-spoken. For a young girl like me he was a hero and it was then that I made up my mind to become an actress,” says Sharada.
However, Sharada had to face stiff opposition from her family when she told them about her ambition. A letter from Merryland Studio asking Sharada to attend an interview for the movie Nalla Thanka was thrown into the dustbin by her brother. Dejected, Sharada even made up her mind not to pursue her dreams. Finally, with her elder sister’s consent she did manage to act in plays.
Sharada, with her good looks, sweet voice and natural acting skills became a star. She donned lead roles in Communist plays such as Sthithisamathwam and Rakthasakshi , staged at various places in Thiruvananthapuram. However, other members of Sharada’s family were unaware of her association with the theatre. According to Sharada, it was the thick layer of makeup and the different vocal tone she adapted on stage that probably saved her from being spotted by her relatives who were living in the same town.
“Once when I was returning from Chirayinkeezh after a play, I saw posters on the fort wall bearing my pseudonym ‘Manacaud Sharadambal’. It was sheer luck that it was not spotted by family members,” she adds with a grin.
(This article is based on an interview with Sharada Ammal)
