Angammal actor Geetha Kailasam: In cinema, men are always made to look younger and women older | EXCLUSIVE

Geetha Kailasam, known for her mother roles in Amaran and Natchathiram Nagargiradhu, is set to headline Angammal. This role marks significant departure from her typical supporting roles

Geetha Kailasam

Geetha Kailasam’s face is familiar, and you might have seen her playing the mother to almost all the onscreen heroes. From the doting and over affectionate mother in Sivakarthikeyan’s Amaran, to that of a casteist and emotionally blackmailing parent in Natchathiram Nagargiradhu. But for a film to carry her face on the poster, have her role as the title, wouldn’t ring a bell. Which is why, her upcoming film Angammal is special. The film features the story of a woman in her 50s, who is unabashedly herself and doing so, unapologetic too. With the film due to release on December 5, Geetha Kailasam joins OTTplay for a conversation.

Geetha Kailasam interview

But before speaking about taking up the lead role, a question or two on her playing the ‘amma’ onscreen. “I have always been asked playing the mother onscreen, would I have the bond. So far, it has been in only one film and that is Natchathiram Nagargiradhu with Kalaiyarasan. We shot for only 3 days but it felt like 30 days,” Geetha says as she recalls the much-talked about scene from the film in which she emotionally blackmails her son into leaving a girl he loves. “I had the impact of the scene for days even after we wrapped up.” The actor also says how in case of playing parents onscreen, films often tend to give importance to the father more than mother. “If that actor is established, then the lion’s share goes to them as compared to mother. But in films like Amaran and Lubber Pandhu, my role had significance.”

Back to Angammal, Geetha talks about the role is not just about a middle-aged woman’s tale but also a flawed character, making her more human. “In cinema, we are always male-oriented stories. So, when a woman is headlining, it automatically gets marked as female oriented. Otherwise, mostly in mainstream films, women are merely supporting characters and it is hard to establish more about these characters. Say in Amaran if my character has worked, it is because the director would have made some flaws into the writing. In case of Lubber Pandhu as well, she is casteist and belittles the daughter-in-law. There is a flaw too. Supporting characters only have little things to do.”

Also read: Angammal: 5 compelling reasons why you should watch Geetha Kailasam’s film in theatres

To be Angammal

For Angammal, Geetha had to extra miles to learn her characters as opposed to her supporting roles. From learning to smoke beedi to wearing saree with blouse which is also the main crux of the story. She further explains, “I had travelled to Tirunelveli and lived there for a while and observe people, learn to smoke beedi, and be without a blouse, learn two-wheeler after I lost touch riding it, learn the local slang, and learn the character itself. There was a lot of physical work to do but it was exciting because there will be many scenes to work on. Given it is an indie production, we had to work accordingly. So, it was a different experience. Anything that comes with more importance and space for us, also comes with responsibilities.”

Geetha was sceptical about smoking beedi, but also understood that the script shouldn’t be disturbed and it only revealed more about Angammal as a person more than just being a mother of two sons. When she read the script, Geetha’s first thoughts were, “After the physical aspects, I felt that the dialogues drove the story. The way I interact these characters, also helped me to learn more about Angammal.”

Also read: Angammal movie review: Geetha Kailasam shines in a tender, liberating slice-of-life drama about a woman who refuses to bend

Even though not a trained theatre artiste, Geetha says it helped her a lot to work on Angammal. Having entered the industry in her late 40s, the actor says that working behind the stage helped her realise her passion to be in front as an actor which helped her pursue her career in films. I also need to mention one Mr Arunmozhi, a cinematographer who also kept encouraging theatre and plays. He happened to hear my storytelling and introduced me to theatre director. It so happened that during a memorial service, I had played the writer’s character which was seen by Pa Ranjith, which paved way for me to work with him. Though I am not theatre trained, I have been on stage.”

Talking about its theatrical release, Geetha mentions that the film might need an extra pull for the audience to visit theatres, she is confident that once they are seated, they will enjoy the film.”

Geetha concludes the conversation by saying that she is looking forward to playing lead roles. “I can also take up little young roles, because men are always made to look younger in cinema and women older. I like to do a middle-aged romance, or any other stories that explore different roles that will cater to me. I have also decided to be choosy hereafter, and want to look for roles that give me something more.

Geetha Kailasam FAQs

Q. Who is Geetha Kailasam?

A. Geetha Kailasam is an Indian actor, writer and producer who predominantly works in Tamil films and theatre.

Q. What is Geetha Kailasam's film releasing now?

A. Angammal starring Geetha Kailasam is set to release on December 5.

Q. Who is K Balachander's daughter in law?

A. Geetha Kailasam is veteran and late filmmaker K Balachander's daughter-in-law.

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