Chennai: It was in 2009 that Anupama Kumar began her association with the Tamil film industry when she essayed a pivotal role in the Cheran-directed ‘Pokkisham’. In the years that followed the actress found firm footing the industry thanks to some power-packed performances in films like ‘Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal’, ‘Vamsam’ and ‘Thuppakki’. Moreover, the actress also gave Bollywood a taste of her acting abilities, essaying important roles in ‘David’ and ‘Ishqiya’.
In this interview, Anupama speaks exclusively to IBNLive.com about her short film ‘Sthreepart’ as well as the projection of women in Indian films. Moreover, she also opens up about how motherhood has affected her professional life.
What encouraged you to give the nod to ‘Sthreepart’?
I just fell in love with the film’s screenplay. It was complicated yet the story’s resolution was absolutely clear. I also liked how ‘sthreepart’ explored the psyche of the female characters, highlighting that a woman can be a mother or a wife and be extremely amitious at the same time. Moreover, the title itself was crafted quite smartly. It very cleverly implied that it is now time for women to take back the rights/roles that belong to them.
What is your take on the portrayal of women in contemporary cinema?
There was a time, some years ago, when women were depicted as weak individuals who needed protection. However, over the years, things have changed a lot. Contemporary art treats women as people who are capable of fighting back. Hence, there has been some improvement on this front.
What are the advantages of working in a short film?
Short films are usually made by young and eager minds. As a result the entire setup is pretty flexible and relaxed. As such, an artist can take a few liberties and experiment a bit. On the other hand, feature films have a more experienced crew. So the entire organization is a bit formal. That said and done, the success of shorts and feature films alike ultimately depends on the quality of the script.
Now let us talk about Anupama the person. You entered the industry when you were well over 30. Why did it take so long for you to begin your career as an actress?
There was a lack of support on the familial front. I come from a family of academicians. My parents looked at the film industry as a place that was very unsafe for women. Moreover, I did not have any connections in the industry. As a result, I wasn’t exposed to it at all. In fact, I might not have entered the industry had I not received support from my husband. Interestingly, when I look back now, I feel that the film industry is equally as safe or unsafe as any other profession.
As a mother, how difficult is it to strike a balance between personal and professional life?
Frankly speaking, it is not easy. One needs to take help from the extended family. Moreover, there is always some guilt for leaving your kid at home. However, over time, you just push yourself in professional as well as personal life, becoming an expert at multi-tasking. In fact, I feel as mothers women are great at multitasking.
Does motherhood have a positive influence on one’s professional life?
I think it does. Personally speaking, being a mother, I value my time a lot. This makes me more efficient on the professional front. Moreover, being a mother, I select my assignments more carefully and decidethe schedule accordingly. On top of that, whenever I play the role of a mother, I am able to deliver a more sensitive/relatable performance.
Do actresses, who are mothers in real-life, face difficulties in getting powerful roles?
Traditionally the mother sentiment has always been very strong in Tamil cinema. As such, women do end up getting powerful (character) roles . Moreover, these days filmmakers tend to think out of the box and come up with unconventional yet powerful roles . In fact, in one of my upcoming films even though I don’t play a mother, my character is quite interesting. So things are pretty good on that front.
Unlike previously, a lot of low-budget projects have done well . What is the the main reason this development?
The multiplex culture is responsible for this change. Multiplexes bring in the family audiences as well as children. As a result the entire demographic of the audience changes Moreover, viewers these days are more demanding and keen on seeing something a bit different.
Are there any recent films that you would have loved being a part of?
I really loved both the female characters in ‘Papanasam. There graph and characterization was very good. I would have loved essaying either character.
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