She is the reigning queen of the marquee. The 14-year gap vanished when How Old Are You was released. Manju Warrier was once again the toast of Mollywood. She also makes headlines through her philanthropic initiatives. However, she chooses to be away from the media glare and interacts through social media to voice her opinions and views. So, on the eve of the release of Aashiq Abu’s Rani Padmini , when Manju agrees to talk to FridayReview , there is plenty to ask her…
There is nothing intimate about the conversation. Yet, she sounds forthcoming and the guarded, politically correct replies over the phone have a personal touch as well, especially when she talks about Padmini, her character in Rani Padmini .
“When women are the protagonists, one expects the movie to be about women empowerment or their struggles. But this is different. It will be a visual treat for sure, with humour and suspense. It is about Rani (Rima Kallingal) and Padmini, two strangers who travel from Delhi to the Himalayas. For Padmini, the journey begins from Ottappalam, where she is brought up as the daughter of a traditional physician. She moves to Delhi after her marriage. She is naïve but can certainly hold her own. It is one of my favourite roles,” says Manju.
In fact, she has still not got over the hangover of her journey, covering Delhi, Chandigarh, Manali and Jispa. “Jispa, on the way to Leh, is a residential area with few people and limited facilities. If the power goes off, it takes two to three days for the connection to be restored. There was no mobile network and the only STD booth was some kilometres away. The harsh weather was formidable. But none of us cribbed about it. It was one of the most beautiful periods of my life. When we travelled by road, we didn’t catch a wink because none of us wanted to miss out on the beautiful scenery around us. I sometimes feel it was all a dream…,” she says.
For the “travel freak” that she is, it was a chance to explore the unseen when the film was offered to her. But the major reason was that it was an Aashiq Abu movie.
“I love his body of work. Then there was Rima, who is extremely talented. I also admire them as a couple. Travelling was a bonus. I was working with a dream team and travelling! It was perfect,” she says.
Manju’s immense popularity has been tapped by the Kerala Government; she has been seen endorsing She Taxi, promoting organic farming and she is the brand ambassador of Naipunnya development projects. Does the responsibility worry her? “It is not a burden. So, I am not worried. I am honoured that an actress is being given a chance to voice her opinion, something that was unthinkable earlier. I am no longer the young girl of 16 or 17. My experiences have taught me many things and I feel these are opportunities for self-improvement, widening and changing my outlook.”
That is why, she says, she doesn’t mind being active on social media in spite of being trolled at times.
“I post what I believe in and the negative reactions do not bother me. In fact, there are many people who find pleasure in criticising everything. I reiterate what my character Nirupama Rajeev says in How Old Are You : ‘Your creativity is welcome. Then, at least, would the world know that you people are alive,’” says Manju politely.
With her career scaling new heights, she is upbeat. Asserting that the director comes first when she chooses a role, Manju is looking forward to her roles in Jo and the Boy , directed by Rojin Thomas (who made Philips and the Monkey Pen) , in which she plays an animator, and Rajesh Pillai’s Vettah , in which she is a police officer.
Short takes
Jyothika in36 Vayadhinile: She was wonderful. The proof of her performance can be gauged by the acceptance of the film.
Her makeover: Dance and exercise keep me fit, though I can be quite lazy at times. As for my looks, I have a stylist. Most important thing is I have never led an unhealthy lifestyle and that has held me in good stead.
