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“I am game for glamorous roles that have significance in the script” – Sada – Interview


A discovery of director Teja, Sada became an instant hit with her debut film Jeyam. Her subsequent films Varnajalam and Aethiree, though having good star cast did not fare well. The petite actress has pinned all her hopes on the prized bilingual project of Shankar - Anniyan where she has teamed up with the national award winner Vikram. Excerpts from her interview:

You made a big impact with your debut film Jeyam. But your subsequent films Varnajalam and Aethiree did not fare well. Why?
Though both the films did not do commercially well, they gave me immense satisfaction as an actress. These films also gave me the opportunity of working with some lovely co-stars, from whom I learnt a lot. Every experience teaches you something; you just need to be sensitive enough to catch it. I took up Aethiree, because the role had a lot of scope to perform. I enjoyed playing the prankster who falls in love.

Your experiences with director Shankar.
Wonderful!!! It was a great experience working with Shankar. I never even imagined in my dreams that I would be doing a film with my favourite director Shankar. It all happened in a tizzy and the film is complete now. Shankar is meticulous about everything and he always thinks big. Shankar lets you free on the sets. But at the same time, he never spares anyone until he gets the right shot even if you take thirty takes. He is a very efficient director. He is a relaxed person, yet very competently gets work done. Normally choreographers handle the songs and the director just observes, but in Shankar’s case he only handles the entire dance sequences.

Anniyan is completely a different movie and it is not a movie that has typical five songs and bit of crying, love and comedy.

What is the kind of role do you portray in Anniyan?
I do have a significant role in Shankar’s magnum opus. I am acting as an Iyengar girl that has lot of scope to perform. It has come out really well and I am very happy about my performance.

How’s it working with Vikram?
Vikram is a very special person. Both of us compete with each other on the sets. In Anniyan, Vikram is a lovable person and at the same time very wild too. While shooting some scenes he looks very frightful. Imagine how it would be for a person who has a heart full of love suddenly changes with the thirst to kill.

He respects and treats everyone equally on the sets. I think that is something extraordinary character about him.

Nowadays you seem to be at ease in glamour roles. Comment.
I think you are talking about the Kannada film Monalisa. Out of seven Kannada offers, I chose Monalisa since besides glamour it also had enough scope for performance. It was a trend-setting film in Kannada and became a hit in Telugu too.

Though I was flooded with offers in Tamil and Telugu after my first film, I did not pick up whatever that came on my way. I want to be choosy. I am disinclined to glamorous roles without any substance. I am game for glamorous roles if the script demands.

I also intend to remain a multilingual actress and do concrete roles instead of repeating myself by sticking to one language.

What are your future projects?
As of now, I am doing Priyasakhi with Madhavan.

You don’t seem to be caught in gossip mill….
Ohhh……if there is a gossip you grill stars with questions, if it doesn’t come you are puzzled.

Hmmm… There are no eligible bachelors here in Tamil. Most of the heroes are married and happily settled. Why go behind a married man? I was just kidding ya! Don’t take it serious. Honestly speaking I am here to do my work – “acting”.

We heard you are short-tempered!
Who said that? I am a bit sensitive person that’s all. Even if any one tries to fool me for fun, I cannot bear that. I would brush them with my famous dialogue (from Jeyam) “Poyya Po .. Po…”.

On Boyfriends...
I do not belong to the period where gender is a criterion for making friends. But at the same time I am not the person who likes to spend time on talking over phone, partying or unnecessarily chit – chatting. That is one reason for me to have very few and good friends and to note they do not belong to the film industry even.