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Interviewer: Annadurai & Inian | Camera:
Hemananth.B | Text: Jyothsna
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Monica
has come a long way from her Azhagi
days. After captivating the audience’s
imagination with her role as the teenage
Nanditha Das in the film, the young
actress has moved ahead in her career
and is doing many films in all the
south Indian languages. Meet the young
Monica in a tête-à-tête
with Behindwoods. |
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BW: What are your current
projects?
Monika:
I am doing a film in
Kannada under Sivan’s
direction and the hero is Rahul.
It is a college subject revolving
around three girls and I am
one of them but the main lead.
Talks are on for a Telugu film
with a leading director. In
Malayalam, I am doing a film
with Sooraj which will go on
floors in May 2009. In Tamil,
discussions are going on for
a film called Murugadoss but
nothing is finalized.
You started as child star and
graduated to heroine. How do
you feel about this?
It was an enjoyable time for
me as a child star. When compared
to going to school daily, listening
to teachers and studying, I
liked acting in films as it
involved visiting different
places, watching films and television.
Since I had done films in many
languages (as a child star),
I traveled to different states
in the country and was happy.
When it comes to acting, as
a child artist, one does not
have much scope to perform or
emote. But now as a heroine
it is not like that. There is
a lot of competition now and
one will have to work doubly
hard to get noticed and achieve
success.
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Despite being in the industry
from an early age, why
is it that you are not
able to shine well?
I started as teenage Nanditha
Das in Azhagi and went
on to get offers with
twin heroine subjects.
Now I am choosing scripts
with single heroine subject.
I have no complaints as
I am moving slowly but
steadily ahead. When I
see some of the heroines
who have started with
me are nowhere to be seen
these days, I feel better
that I have chosen this
path. I can select diverse
roles and have a longer
shelf life in the industry.
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"I
am
moving
slowly
but
steadily ahead"
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"Working
with
Vadivelu
was
awesome
and
he was
very
helpful" |
How was it working as
Vadivelu’s heroine?
It was an entirely different
experience doing Imsai
Arasan. It was not the
usual commercial film
but a historical set up
and the background was
naturally historical from
the sets to the costumes
to the actors. It gave
a feeling of being in
a different world. Working
with Vadivelu was awesome.
He was always joking in
the sets. Dialogue delivery
in Imsai Arasan was different
from the contemporary
films. In the current
day films, one can always
make up if lines are forgotten.
But it is not the same
when you speak chaste
Tamil. When I used to
miss out a few words or
forget my lines, Vadivelu
was very helpful. I enjoyed
working with him. |
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Which is your favorite role
till date?
Dhanalakshmi from Azhagi, which
of course was liked by everyone!
I would like to do more of such
roles. |
About
appearing glamorous in
Silandhi?
When we try out something
new, it is only natural
that we get positive and
negative responses. Similarly,
my glamorous image in
Silandhi received positive
and negative feedbacks.
While some people appreciated
it, many of them felt
I should not change my
‘girl next door’
image. In fact Silandhi
was an eye opener in the
sense that it gave me
an opportunity to understand
the pulse of the audience.
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"Silandi
was an
eye
opener"
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Have you ever thought why you
did not appear glamorous in
your earlier films?
No,
I did not feel that way. I never
had any plans to do glamorous
roles. In Silandi, I appeared
glamorous because the script
demanded it. The film says that
in today’s society, it
is not only the men but some
women also resort to appalling
means of living. In short the
film discusses about the deterioration
of society in toto. As I felt
this was a noble message and
I had to appear different from
my earlier films, I agreed to
do it and not because I wanted
to do glamorous roles. Secondly
I cannot appear sexy because
my face will not support this.
I have a very homely face which
will suit only homely characters.
In the guise of trying out something
new that does not suit me, I
will only be harming myself
and I don’t want to do
that. |
"I
want to do
one
film each
with
all the heroes" |
Among today’s heroes,
who would you like to
act?
With everyone! I cannot
be just acting with one
hero alone. I want to
do one film each with
all the heroes. That’s
my wish.
Which is your dream role?
I want to try out different
characters. I would like
to do the role of a bubbly
girl. Then I want to do
a character with complete
dark makeup like how Suhasini
has done. Then a film
like Azhagi, the character
of which is unforgettable
even today. |
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Have you got any kind of guidance
from senior heroines?
I
have worked with Ramya Krishnan
in Maa Alludu directed by EVV
Sathyanarayana. She was very
helpful. She is more like a
friend to me and would offer
guidance on make-up, acting,
camera angles etc. She never
had any attitude or airs. She
gave me many tips on how to
improve as an actress.
About
A Aa E Ee
If
I have to speak about A Aa E
Ee, I first will have to speak
about Prabhu sir. I worked with
him for 15 days. Initially I
was apprehensive about him as
he is such a senior artist,
but he put every one of us at
ease and treated everyone alike.
He was very friendly, would
discuss many things and was
very informative too. It was
such a good experience for me
to have worked with such an
experienced and talented actor.
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Can
you compare working in
Malayalam, Telugu and
Tamil films?
Each industry has its
own trend and pattern.
In Tamil, sometimes different
variety of films will
be a hit while some other
time, they will flop.
In Kerala comedy films
will always be a hit and
sentiment films comes
next. Malayalam films
are generally somber where
expressions are more important.
Telugu films are colorful
and flamboyant. If I have
to do a Telugu film, there
will definitely be four
dance numbers and I should
be adept in dancing. Kollywood
is a mixed bag. Though
these things are different
in each industry, working
style is the same. According
to me, if one is fluent
in Tamil, then it is easier
for them to pick up other
languages. Though my mother
tongue is Malayalam, I
am more fluent in Tamil
as I am a resident of
Chennai. Kannada is a
bit different as it is
a mix of Hindi, Sanskrit
etc. But acting style
rests solely on the director
and his expectations.
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"Though
my
mother
tongue
is
Malayalam,
I
am more fluent
in
Tamil"
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Have you gone overseas for cultural
events?
No, I have not gone till date
though I have been invited to.
Personally overseas cultural
events are very exciting as
the audience there gets to have
a glimpse of their favorite
stars. In India, such opportunities
are aplenty but such things
are a rarity outside India.
As film stars, our main job
is to entertain people which
will be realized in such cultural
events.
When
you are out, if your fans talk
to you, will you respond?
Yes. When I go out and if someone
talks to me I respond. But if
the situation shows signs of
going out of control, I leave
the place. I sometimes take
my scooty pep. But I cover myself
with cap, huge goggles, scarf
etc.
Do
you carry out your daily chores
or do you seek help?
Generally I don’t depend
on others for any of my work.
As long as my dad was there, he
used to take care of everything
and I was a free bird. After him,
I have started taking care of
my family. I have learnt to do
things on my own which helps me
take control of the situation.
I prefer that and I like myself
that way. |
"I
will not
step
into
television" |
About acting in Television
serials?
I have always been doing
films from my childhood.
After a break, I re-entered
films through Azhagi after
which films from Telugu,
Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam
happened. So I never got
an opportunity to act
in television serials.
Perhaps, I will try TV
serials after I have acted
in enough films or after
I become old. As long
as I get opportunities
in films, I will not step
into television.
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Who
is your favorite actor?
I like all the actors.
Everyone has a different
talent. But my favorite
is Kamal sir.
Who
are your favorite actresses
among today’s artists?
Everyone, but on a special
note, I like Nadiya and
Jyothika.
Which
is the film that you liked
recently?
Yaavarum Nalam. I liked
it very much. I saw it
in Inox. Till date, I
have not seen or heard
audience clapping during
the interval break but
they did it for Yaavarum
Nalam at Inox. This film
has really captivated
the attention of everyone.
It is a completely different
concept and content. |
"Kamal
Sir
is
my
favorite"
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What are your hobbies?
Listening
to music, internet chatting,
long drives, swimming etc. I
don’t exercise, instead
I swim. I read books and then
watch movies on DVD or download
from net and watch them.
About
your pranks?
I have done that a lot. To recall
one incident in school, I can
say this. I had a friend called
Anusha but we were always at loggerheads
with each other. Once I was sharpening
my pencil with a blade and Anusha
was asking me something. I am
not able to recollect the details
now. She asked me something which
I did not have but she insisted
that I had. On an inadvertent
note, I raised the blade to say
NO but unfortunately, the blade
had scratched her cheek. She immediately
raised such a big hue and cry
and the entire school came to
know of this. From then on, I
was associated with blade.
Likewise, during rainy seasons,
I used to purposely jump on to
puddles and splash the dirty water
on to the teachers walking in
front and when they turn back,
have an innocent look and apologize.
Such incidents are plenty. |
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