Grill Mill – M. Bhanumathi

Actor M. Bhanumathi. Photo: Special Arrangement

You started with small roles and went on to play the lead in films such as Kadhal Jothi .

That's right! It was the dancer in me that brought me to the big screen. I started with Nee . I was appreciated for my role as a nurse in Thillana Mohanambal . I've done nearly 50 films in Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam.

It's been a while since we saw you on the big screen.

True. I have done a few significant roles in films. As I said, only a few. May be there aren't relevant roles for me in today's films. But then, I've been active on television.

How active?

I've done over two dozen serials. I feel what I've done on the small screen is significant too, particularly considering I've had good roles in AVM's productions and serials such as ‘Anni'.

You are not into theatre anymore.

I stopped mainly because I was not able to go out of the city. I started with Sivaji Nadaga Mandram, where I was part of ‘Jahangir', ‘Neethiyin Nizhal', ‘Kalam Kanda Kavingan', ‘Vengayin Maindhan' and ‘Vietnam Veedu'. I've done shows with the likes of Cho, Jaishankar, V. Gopalakrishnan, Major Sundararajan, V.S. Ragavan and Sheshadri.

Your take on comedy in today's movies

In those days, we had impressive comedy sequences from Thangavelu, Chandrababu, Nagesh, Thengai Srinivasan and others. As for today, what matters is whether the comedy works for the current generation; they seem to be enjoying it, so it must be good!

Will you take up assignments in films, if approached?

Why not? Irrespective of the genre, I'm eager to do roles that will show my potential.