BEHINDWOODS COLUMN

Andrea Jeremiah has a careless, sparkling smile. Her voice croons amorously and titillates the listener’s mind. She can emote, render and reverberate the audience with equal poise and passion. Yet we haven’t seen this dazzling damsel scorch the screen as often as we would like. She has preferred the behind the scene aura. But can she hide forever?

Andrea Jeremiah is a singer and theater artist. In lieu of her association with Madras Players and EVAM, we saw a brief glimpse of her in Kanda Naal Muthal in the climax scene. As the docile home maker who is betrayed by her husband in Pachaikili Muthucharam, Andrea created a tremor that could have jeopardized even the well established Jyothika. She dared to lock horns with Reema Sen in Selva’s fantasy adventure Aayirathil Oruvan and that was when the crowd took notice of her. She had arrived and with what aplomb. She acted intermittently in guest roles in Oru Kal Oru Kannadi and Mankatha. She also had a blink-and-miss role in Vishwaroopam. But her brief appearances have not shadowed her presence but left a firm mark in the mind of the audience who wistfully wait to witness her performance.

Those who have doubts about her acting credentials need only watch the Malayalam romance flick Annayum Rasoolum. Paired with the very talented, yet underrated, Faahad Fazil Andrea delivers a performance that silences all her critics and earns their applause. Her conflicting state of mind as she waits for Rasool on her way back from work, her inner turmoil with religion, the sighs and smiles that she shares with Rasool are brought out splendidly. One could not have expected a better Anna than Andrea.

If she scores a century on screen, her best is reserved off screen. She became the voice that would capture the mob with her casual rendition of Kannum Kannum Nokia in Anniyan. She came to the forefront with Karka Karka in Vettaiyadu Villayadu and stayed there as Yeno Yeno(Aadhavan), Idhu Varai(Goa), Who's The Hero?(Manmadhan Ambu), No Money No Honey(Vaanam), O Crazy Minnal(NKPK), Google Google(Thupakki)were all chartbusters. My favorite is her nonchalant, slang filled warbling of “Mama Douser” from Soodhu Kauvum. One cannot listen to this number without a smile tracing our face.

She has also conquered the dubbing world as the voice behind Illeana in Nanban and delivered the Anglo Indian trace to the Madurai girl Tapasee Panu in Aadukalam. Andrea was the voice that romanced Kamal in Vettaiyadu Villayadu as his wife Kayalvizhi.

For the successful phenomenon that she is, Andrea has few interviews or candid talks to her credit. Even when the controversy with the Kolaveri Di rage Anirudh hit the internet she did not hide. She faced the heat and declared the relationship as past but congenial. Most felt ashamed to have published the news which is not only rare but also first of its kind.

Smart, Svelte and sizzling Andrea has Puthiya Thiruppangal, Vishwaroopam II and Taramani as her acting sachet. But it is her breezy, trendsetting and spirited voice that am hankering after.