PremiumGeetha Kailasam Interview: On playing ‘amma’ onscreen, Yamakaathagi, and roles written for aged women | EXCLUSIVE
Geetha Kailasam, in conversation with OTTplay, reflects on the roles she played in 2024, women in cinema off and onscreen, and more.
Last Updated: 06.30 PM, Jan 03, 2025
Actor Geetha Kailasam has had a fantastic year in 2024. The actor witnessed seven releases last year, including successful films like Amaran, Lubber Pandhu and Lover, in which her roles were not only noted but highly praised as well.
Even as Geetha Kailasam predominantly played a mother in all these films, the actor found a way to grab the attention of the audience with her unique performances and dialogue delivery that her well-written roles had to offer to her.
“All I had in mind was to act. It was my wish during my 20s but it was in my late 40s, I am able to savour the taste of creativity and act. I had wished to live between action and cut, and now that it is happening, all I can say is how each of the roles takes me to another. I am doing my best, and work as per the director’s wish. Sometimes, it works extremely well, otherwise normal, and sometimes even takes me as close to the dining halls of my audience. It is a surprise for me as well,” Geetha Kailasam says.
Geetha Kailasam interview: My wish in 20s to act is now getting fulfilled
Geetha Kailasam's father-in-law is K. Balachander, a veteran film director who is known to have women play the protagonist as early as the black-and-white era. But somewhere and somehow, the trend saw a decline in Tamil cinema. When Hindi films have already come up with English Vinglish, Three of Us, where women of age took up the reins of being the central character, while the actor feels such characters are lacking here in Tamil cinema.
“I would not say roles are not written for women, but characters written for a middle-aged woman are less. We are seeing women taking up lead roles though. There are many untapped stories. Say a mother’s role, we limit the role to her responsibilities and duties instead of diving into who she is and her story. For example, we had seen the Ayali web series which spoke about the mother’s dream too. We all as women could connect with it, and I was in tears. Someone like Shefali Shah has aced that space, and has been doing a wonderful job. I wish to do such roles,” Geetha Kailasam adds.
Playing ‘amma’ in Tamil cinema
Speaking of doing mother roles, Geetha Kailasam played a mother but her character was not unidimensional in films like Lover, Amaran and Lubber Pandhu. It had the much-needed depth and understanding of what her roles were beyond playing the quintessential hero’s mother. Geethai Kailasam says that the films were shot during different periods, and with luck, all the films lined up naturally for her one after the other. “I think directors believe that I am able to deliver the emotions they write to the audience, which is also why I have worked with a lot of new filmmakers. I try to be that mould through which their character is delivered,” the actor says.
Geetha Kailasam even wondered if she should quit and work behind the screen, but adds, “Even when I had written by first theatre play, I had assigned myself the mother role. I asked myself why did I not take up the lead role, because in theatre, age and gender is not a barrier. Psychologically, it is entrenched within us to designate to a particular role.”
In line with Lubber Pandhu, Amaran and Lover, Geetha Kailasam will be once again playing a mother in the upcoming supernatural mystery thriller Yamakaathagi, the first look of which was released recently. “I would not say this amma is very different from other roles, but the premise of Yamakaathagi is different. There are many characters in the film, and everyone has equal portions. All of us were auditioned for the role,” she adds.
Women behind camera
Geetha Kailasam has also been actively part of production for her home banner Minbimbangal. Talking about the importance of having women behind the camera, Geetha Kailasam says it is very much needed for women in front of the camera, especially in the earlier days to stay away from home. “When you have women on sets and working in films, it only makes it easier for women actors to confidently work. But women were still bold. Our crew had a lot of women, and we also made sure they were equal. It was Kailasam’s vision and I was able to help with it.”
As the actor says cinema’s landscape is changing, Geetha Kailasam says rural-based films are interesting and challenging. For instance, Yamakaathagi is about a privileged woman in a rural place. “The role is slightly different, and I like the character. I am really looking to play roles with diverse backgrounds. For example, I am playing a Muslim woman in a film now and welcome such roles. I like to do a full-fledged comic role,” Geetha Kailasam says.