What’s in a name? Quite a lot!

Bindu Madhavi on being part of films with unusual titles and her latest, Tamizhukku En Ondrai Azhuthavum

Offbeat role appeal: Bindu Madhavi

Bindu Madhavi’s debut film was called Avakai Biryani . And, her tryst with films that have unusual titles continues. Her last hit in Tamil was Chimbudevan’s Oru Kanniyum Moonu Kalavaanigalum . And, her next is Tamizhukku En Ondrai Azhuthavum. “The films’ names are very interesting. But that’s not the reason why I signed up for them,” she laughs. “I look for characters that are offbeat. In fact, for Oru Kanniyum …, Chimbudevan sir gave me the option of playing either the friend or lover. I chose to play Malar, the friend, because I felt there was more scope to act. It’s nice to not play the love interest, sometimes,” she says. The film also gave her a chance to shrug off her “village belle” look and scorch the screen in short hair, jeans and tees.

As for Tamizhukku … Bindu says the script bowled her over. In the film, directed by Ramprakash Rayappa, she plays bank employee Simi, who has a yen for social service. She is paired with Attakathi Dinesh.

“Working with Ramprakash was a pleasure. He has a lovely attitude that will take him places,” says Bindu, who calls herself a spontaneous actor. “Method acting does not work for me.”

Six years into the industry, Bindu, a Telugu girl who did her engineering at Vellore Institute of Technology, is comfortable with the language. “Initially, I would ask for Tamil dialogues beforehand. Now, unless it is a lengthy dialogue, I manage on the spot,” she says.

Though her entry into films was accidental, Bindu takes it seriously. “I got into the industry by chance, and despite great opposition from home. Now, I have the freedom to choose. I wait till I find something interesting and don’t rush into projects.” she says.

Up next is

Savaale Samaali , directed by her

Kazhugu director Sathya Siva and starring Ashok Selvan of

Pizza 2: The Villa and

Thegidi fame. There’s also a film directed by Pandiraj she’s shooting for, but “I can’t reveal anything else,” she says.

But, Bindu someday hopes to pursue what she originally set out to do — a Master’s in bio-technology abroad and land a job in the field. “I want to explore various facets of my personality,” she says.

For now, she shuttles between Chennai, where she works, and Hyderabad, where her family lives. “We are a middle-class household. My dad’s in Government service and it’s lovely getting back to where I started out from. Once there, I’m just their daughter, nothing else. Going home is my reality check.”