| CHANGING
THE RAW DEAL TO ACTRESSES! |
| By
Arun |
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We
often complain about how ladies are being
given a raw deal in Tamil cinema; about
how heroines are used just as glam dolls
and showpieces while the men get to do
all the serious stuff and walk away with
the accolades leaving the woman looking
like someone who can just look good, dance
and swoon at the right places. Yes, there
are a lot of examples, even in recent
times, when this has been proved right
over
and over again. This year’s Pongal
release Siruthai was a very good example
of this phenomenon, as were many other
films that released last year. And, we
can be sure that we have not seen the
last of this. So, what can we do about
it? Well, not much! Something that has
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been around for more than 3 decades cannot be undone
in a matter of weeks, can it? But, we sure can start
a change which might perhaps bring about something
lasting in the coming years. What is the change? We
need to start noticing and appreciating good performances
and substantial roles as and when w see them. Only
that would give the courage to an up and coming actress
to go off the beaten path and try different things.
At the moment, the appreciation and recognition for
the actresses who have shown the courage to be different
is a bit on the lower side. Why would anyone feel
like that?
A good example is the recent release of Mysskin –
Yudham Sei. Now, it is not the kind of film or subject
where an actress would find great scope, especially
in the environs of Indian cinema. There is no romance,
no songs, no melodrama or anything for which actresses
are generally used. In fact, the film also had a classic
example of one dimensional use of an actress; in the
form of an item number. But, Yudham Sei can also be
commended for giving an actress a role that is generally
reserved for men, especially in Tamil cinema. Revenge,
anger and killing are things that have been mostly
kept miles away from actresses in more than 75 years
of Tamil cinema. But, Mysskin chose to portray all
these through an actress; Lakshmi Ramakrishnan. Yes,
there were three men involved in the plan, but the
initial cry for revenge came from the woman, that
is where Mysskin was different from the others.
It did not end just there. He did not keep the actress
a silent spectator as the revenge played out on screen.
She was as much part of it as the men; in fact perhaps
in a more vengeful and intense manner. For an actress
who was perhaps safe and comfortable doing the regular
character kind of roles in films like Boss @ Baskaran,
Eeram and Thiru Thiru Thuru Thuru – this was
a radical departure; something that required courage
and immense faith in the director’s vision.
Actresses do not generally react favorably to any
change in their looks or costumes in movies; they
are very protective of the way they appear; mostly
because of the age old traditions of Tamil cinema
which require actresses to look good; just like leading
men have to have their moustache ( at least most of
the time). Here, Lakshmi Ramakrishnan showed exceptional
dedication and understanding of the character in agreeing
to go bald for the role; it would not have been an
easy decision at all, but it was eventually the right
one.
The industry and media are quick to recognize any
out of the ordinary efforts taken by lead actors to
get into the skin of their characters; think of Vikram
for Pithamagan, the vibes that were created by Arya’s
flowing locks for Naan Kadavul; the hysteria generated
by Rajni’s ‘Motta Boss’ etc. Think
of actresses; these are times when even appearing
without make up in front of the camera is considered
gutsy and courageous. Here, Lakshmi Ramakrishnan has
transcended all this and gone as far as very few actresses
in Tamil cinema have done before. And, disappointingly,
there has been very little written or talked about
that performance. A couple of lines in the review
commending the effort would have sufficed; but everyone
was too busy noticing Cheran.
This is not to say that Cheran was bad or that Lakshmi
Ramakrishnan was unbelievably good. But, if such courage
and guts from an actress went unnoticed, then actresses
in future would find no reason to go out of their
way to accomplish a tough role. Give this effort the
recognition that is due and actresses in future will
feel the incentive to be different, take an extra
risk; so will directors be encouraged to entrust more
responsibilities to actresses working under them.
Yes, we have complained for long; now, there is a
chance to start a positive change. Let’s do
it.
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