It is movies which keep me going: Padmapriya

Chennai: Popular actress Padmapriya, who wassingled out for special mention by the National Film awardsjury recently for performances in various roles, is not one towallow in self-pity after having missed out on the top honourbut has remained focused on movies which, she says, drives her.

"I am never disappointed in life it is the movies whichkeep me going not the awards.What you talked about Pokkisham(Tamil) being neglected by all Award ceremonies in Tamil Nadu.If I take all these things, the burdens of the world on myshoulders, .. I'll stop working," she told PTI.

The jury made a special mention for the "range and skill ofan actor to portray varied characters in films of differentlanguages".

Padmapriya had essayed different roles in PazhassiRaja, Kutty Srank (both Malayalam) and Pokkisham (Tamil).

Kutty Srank in fact got the award for the best featurefilm.

On the Kerala state film jury not adjudging her the bestactress, (she won only supporting actress award), she said"It does not make a figment of difference to a person likeme.I dont do movies for the awards. The awards are made forthe films.The films are not made for the awards."

Padmapriya, as she is popularly known, has won severalawards from media and private organisations for herperformances in Malayalam blockbuster PazhassiRaja,Kutty Srank and Bhoomi Malayalam. This includes a filmfare awardfor the best supporting actress in Pazhassi Raja.

Asked about her receiving awards one after the other thesedays, she retorted: It is just not these days..since I started(acting).She had been to Kerala a few days ago for receivingthe Bhima-Surya best actress award for PazhassiRaja,and Bhoomi Malayalam.

Right from her first Malayalam movie Kaazcha six yearsago (in which she won the Asianet film award for the best newface of 2004), Padmapriya has played varied characters,especially in Malayalam films.

In Pazhassi Raja directed by Hariharan, she was thetribal Neeli who fights the British, sword et al.Shefamiliarized herself with martial arts to play the demandingrole and also learnt Kalaripayattu.

She enacted the role of a love-lorn girl in the Cherandirected Pokkisham which won her rave reviews.

In Kutty Srank, directed by Shanji N Karun, she was awoman drawn towards Buddhism..

"It is too complex (a character).. I still have notfigured out what it is so don't ask me."

"I am a directors actor.It is a directors medium,definitely. That doesn't mean I stop using my head. It is avery unified process. Really what we shoot is not what finallycomes out.. ", Padmapriya said.

"All my directors have tried to draw the best out of me atthat point of time.Hariharan sir and Shaji are no exceptions.They come with a totally different body of experience. Alsothe context in which you are making the film becomesimportant.I guess the quality of the output also depends onthe inputs that go into it.The characters itself are verymystical in their own way.I guess it is a combination of allof them put together," she said.

Asked if she was disappointed about Mammootty, who starredin Pazhassi Raja and Kutty Srank, not getting the nationalbest actor award, Padmapriya said she didn't know what he felt.

"You know what..He has got 25 years of experience and threenational awards. I think he is just too big to be botheringabout the awards. It is not as if I am trying to demean theawards but trying to make it sound as it is primary to ourexistence is stupid.. something that is worth getsappreciated, it definitely is worth it."

Pazhassi Raja has been selected for the Fukuoka FilmFestival in Japan.

Padmapriya has proved her mettle in other languages aswell.In Tamil, she impressed in films like, Satham Podathey,Thavamai Thavamirundhu, Mirugam and Pokkisham.

Promoted

Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com

She made her Bollywood debut last year with Strikeropposite Siddharth.

Padmapriya, an MBA graduate, is now concentrating on herlaw exams. 'Taking up new projects only after that.'