After a brief break from Tamil movies post Damaal Dumeel , Ramya Nambessan is back in the thick of action. Comedy caper Naalu Policeum Nalla Irundha Oorum with Arulnithi is all set for release and the actress-singer teams up with her Pizza co-star Vijay Sethupathi for director Arun Kumar’s next film. “I was very happy with the script of Naalu … and my role,” says Ramya. “Even the narration was hilarious. The character is very homely but she’s in the script for a reason. Plus, there’s Arulnithi, who is very choosy about the films he backs. And, though he’s a debut director, Srikrishna is focussed and has put together a good team,” she adds. The film is about four cops who enter a village and the ensuing confusion.
The actress, who made her Tamil debut with Fazil’s Oru Naal Oru Kanavu , and impressed in the 2008 flick Raman Thediya Seethai , has had a near dream-run in Malayalam. She’s also worked in Telugu. “I’ve tried to strike a balance among the industries. I made some mistakes early on in my career but rectified them soon. I’m grateful for the Malayalam film Traffic for giving me a second chance. After that, I’ve focussed on the script and listened to my inner voice,” smiles the ‘Fy Fy Fy’ singer.
These days, she delves deep into the character, so that the actress in her is satisfied. That’s the kind of role Arun Kumar has given her too. “It is yet another quiet character, but I actually enjoyed playing it. Tamil directors create such lovely small-town roles. As an actress, it is easy to approach them. If I stick to urban portrayals, monotony will set in.”
These roles are a throwback to the kind of life Ramya led in a middle-class family. “I’m familiar with that lifestyle; it makes it very easy to fit in,” says Ramya who is awaiting some releases in Malayalam, including Jilebi , and Style King in Kannada with ‘Mungaru Male’ Ganesh.
And yes, she’s still hoping a meaty grey role will come her way. “I loved what Pizza offered me. All I want is a well-placed character,” says Ramya, who swears by rehearsal workshops. “It’s nice to be working at a time when these things are encouraged. It helps to get into the mood of a character and slip into the film’s milieu.”
