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on 2008/2/10 4:28:37
Mamta Mohandas has proved that she is a singing sensation. She attained the celebrity status as a singer in Telugu films after the release of ‘2006 Junior NTR’. She maintained her position, rendering another superhit song ‘Aakalesthe Annam Pedatha’ in megastar Chiranjeevi's ‘ Shankar Dada Zindabad’.
After proving her singing talent, she made her debut as an actress with director S.S. Rajamouli's ‘Yamadonga’. Though she played the second lead, she moved audiences in the role of Yama. She has now played a full-fledged heroine in Vishnu starrer ‘Krishnarjuna’. P.Vasu and M Mohan Babu , respectively, directed and produced the film.
Here she speaks about her career in showbiz:
How did films happen?
I am a Malayalee. Born and brought up in Bahrain. I had finished my schooling there and came down to Bangalore for higher studies. While I was studying, Malayalam director Hariharan saw me in a party and offered a role in the film ‘Matookam’, but I was not sure of accepting it. My plans were different.
After finishing graduation, I wanted to study in the UK and then work in the Middle East. So, I took some time before accepting the offer.
I finished the film ‘Mayookam’ during my holidays. It took more than four months for the film to be released. It released in Nov, 2005. After that I have done seven films started doing films from middle of 2006 and completed seven films so far in Malayalam.
How did you enter Telugu film industry?
Though I was offered movies earlier in Telugu, I didn't take up them. Later, I got offer from producer M S Raju's ‘Aata’, which was supposed to be my launch pad, but it didn't happen. Then I waited for an exciting movie offer with a good character. I got an offer from SS Rajamouli Sir's ‘Yamadonga’. I was too happy when I heard about the big project and the importance of my role in the film.
Malayalam film industry offers more performance oriented roles than Telugu. Today, Tamil and Telugu films are dominated by Malayali girls. Any particular reason for this?
Let us not under-estimate Telugu films. It is true that it is a male dominated industry but heroines too play an important role within the limitations.
I am talking about my experience in ‘Yamadonga’, but I could be wrong. Believe me, Telugu movies are doing well in Kerala now. Recently, many Telugu films are releasing in Kerala too. These films are catering to what the audience is expecting from a movie.
Malayalam film industry too has got into the realm of making movies that are entirely focused on heroes, where heroines are very little to do. Once in a while, good stories are written. And, meanwhile, we Malayali girls would be busy elsewhere.
You are also a busy singer? What do you prefer to be known as - a singer or an actress?
As a singing actress! I am an actress now and a singer forever.
Are you also learning the Telugu language? How is the dubbing experience in Telugu as you are new to the language, especially the Nellore slang that you performed in the film ‘Yamadonga’?
(Laughing..) It was tough as I was trying to make the next-to-impossible possible. Even after recording 6 songs in Telugu and having completed ‘Yamadonga's dubbing, I must confess that I know very little Telugu.
