Versatile beyond doubt and the first Malayali woman actor to receive Silver Peacock at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Parvathy Thiruvoth has come a long way in her 11-year-old career.
It was her poignant portrayal of Sameera in Take Off , a hostage drama unravelling in war-torn Tikrit, that won her the award in the prestigious film festival.
“In Take Off we could break this illogical myth that certain genres cannot be considered mainstream,” she says about the Mahesh Narayan directorial, which also received a special jury award at the IFFI.
Take Off is built on a true story, the ordeal of 46 Malayali nurses held captive by the Islamic State and their precarious journey from Tikrit to Mosul to Kurdistan and finally freedom.
“They had to go to a foreign, war-ravaged country as they lack basic job benefits in India. It is their absolute paltry salary that drives them to risk their lives, relocating to unsafe zones in search of financial security,” says Parvathy.
In the film, Sameera, a mother expecting her second child, is eventually thrown into this web of conflict, desperation and gloom. She says playing a pregnant woman is not all about prosthetics and be in Sameera’s shoes was an emotionally harrowing experience.
“She is the representative of a lot of women who cannot think about what is happening in their lives because they don’t have the luxury to think. They are so lost in the chaos of daily chores,” she says.
Parvathy adds that the film also explores the situation of an average working woman and what she has to brave through on a daily basis.
“There are phases in Sameera’s life when she is denied freedom and financial independence. But when a woman becomes a mother there is this incredible strength that comes to her very naturally,” she says.
“Director Mahesh Narayan had done a lot of research on the subject, meeting nurses and examining their background. We spent time with them during night shifts, observed their lifestyle closely and interacted with doctors to find out how crucial their job is. So I was well-informed what their choices would be,” she says.
