Actor Rohini Molleti Interview: I wish Kaadhal Enbadhu Podhu Udamai gets outdated in future

Actor Rohini Molleti, talks extensively about her role in the latest film Kaadhal Enbadhu Podhu Udamai, her upcoming directorial, playing feminist characters, and more

Rohini Molleti

Veteran actor Rohini Molleti’s latest film Kaadhal Enbadhu Podhu Udamai (KEPU) just hit theatres. The film, which is a heartfelt take on a queer love story, witnesses Rohini as Lakshmi, as one of the central characters who is morally conflicted about the idea of progressiveness when it comes to her own daughter choosing another woman as her partner.

What was it to play a “progressive” and a progressive mother? A woman, who is welcoming of her daughter bringing a man to the house, but seeks under the refuge of denial when it turns out to be another woman.

“The way I see Lakshmi… society has raised people with some beliefs, and Lakshmi is one such person. She is a character who does not know how to react, and thinks homosexuality is a sort of influence, that can be rectified. She defines what the majority thinks.”

KEPU actor Rohini Molleti interview:

For Rohini, she feels films can be everything, from being a mindless entertainer to a game changer that can turn the way society is thinking. “I think it is important for films to dilute the strong film grammar and format that has been there for a while. Only when films can break this rule in the right way, can we praise the film. It also helps us to evolve constantly, and as someone who works behind the camera, I feel at least one film should be made that pushes boundaries,” Rohini says in a conversation with OTTplay.

The actor also adds that one should have an internal energy on making films that come with messages. “In case of borrowed pain or ideas, you cannot work on such ideas. What is your pain, and if you have anything to say that, that is when the story will resonate with many people. At the same time, you also need logic somewhere in your script. That troubles me and I think we need to think how we use our craft. I would not point gun at such films which have come out since it has entertained a section of society,” Rohini points out.

Also read: Lijomol Jose Interview: I am prepared to face both types of responses for Kaadhal Enbadhu Podhu Udamai

Talking about her character in KEPU, Rohini says, “There are still mothers who heave a sigh of relief that their son brought a girl and how relieved they are. It is not like people do no know about homosexuality, but happy that it is not happening to their children. You need to think what they are relieved about. I do not think they should be villanised but, only understand their beliefs and where they come from. I think we should accept how people are born with certain nature. We cannot hate Lakshmi, but understand her beliefs, problems and correct her with reality.”

Rohini talks about building a character along with directors she is working with. With KEPU, the actor says, “I always sit with the director, to know more about the character, her background, personality, and more. I ask many questions about the character, despite these details may not be explicit in the screenplay. However, it helps me to enact and bring more realism to screen. Of course, there will be some sort of Rohini in all the characters, but all these questions help me to bring the character more to life.”

With Rohini’s Lakshmi a divorcee, after her husband left her and struggling to come in terms of her daughter’s queerness, the actor says, “I could understand and relate with her because I have seen many people like that. She also has a bit of classism that she shows to her maid Mary (Deepa Shankar), with whom sometimes she just communicates or even orders through her eyes. It is only why towards the end; she tips her maid not to tell anything about what happened. When the maid rejects her, it’s when Lakshmi gets hit by reality and how she has assassinated her character. Her judgement gets hit and that is when she gets hit by the moral scale and faces reality.”

Also read: Kaadhal Enbadhu Podhu Udamai Movie Review: Lijomol and Rohini steer a drama that is honestly real, empathetic but never preachy

The conversation also touches upon an important topic of body rights that a woman needs. In KEPU, Lakshmi talks about aborting her second pregnancy for refusing to go through physical pain, a rarity in Tamil cinema which has already glorified motherhood to divinity. “There are many women I know who cannot go through the pain, and not want to have children. I have seen people like that and it is important we speak about the issue, even though it is not the main crux of KEPU.”

‘I wish KEPU does not age well’

Rohini recalls her 1997 film Magalir Mattum which talks about workplace harassment, which is still relevant in the present. “It is sad that we are able to still connect to that film and feel it is relevant because the issue is still there. I wish KEPU becomes irrelevant in the future so that means we are in a progressive society. There have been times when being in love itself was seen as a crime, and now the ratio has definitely come down. Same way, I hope in the future, this film gets outdated because that would mean we are in a progressive society.”

KEPU is also a film that touches upon intersectional feminism, about being a queer woman. “There is a little more acceptance for a gay man than a queer woman. Of course, both bear the brunt of discrimination but a man enjoys a little more privilege than a woman, even if he is homosexual. I think it is very difficult to make films like these and deliver larger audience. The way JP has shot the film, with a dreamlike and colourful presentation even though it is realistically written,” Rohini says.

As an actor, Rohini found playing Lakshmi exciting because she has never done such a role, who is struggling to come in terms with an inner turmoil. “No one has explored a mental turmoil this much, and I got the opportunity to do that. It was very exciting. I have done so many nice mothers, but it is done to death and I also find it very boring. But Lakshmi is very important for me.”

Wrapping up the conversation, Rohini talks about the next project she will be directing. “It is based a real incident in 1992 when 18 women were raped by a section of people. We have researched more into it, and. As a woman, I will try to tell it from my angle, but at the same time it is a film for all. It is a struggle for justice and how difficult it was to get justice.” Rohini acknowledges that the project is heavy, and taxing, but also the one that is keeping her on her toes and excited.

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