Just ask Swapna Abraham, the debutante, whose go-for-broke performance as Meenakshi Amma in Gautham Menon's latest flick Nadunisi Naaygal (NN) has audiences sitting up and taking note. Swapna, whose acting repertoire includes playing the lead in the stage production of Mamma Mia in Chennai, admits to being on a creative high, post the release of the film.
Revealing how she bagged the role in NN, she says, "It was exactly a year back when I met Gautham. He told me he was in search of an actress who would appear youthful, but would nevertheless, be older in terms of age. And I seemed to fit the bill perfectly. Having said that, Gautham forewarned me — my role would require me to tonsure my head, which I certainly was not willing to do. And I had to wear make-up — lots of it."
She elaborates, "It took me four hours to put on my make-up and three hours to take it off. I'd finish my nine-to-five job, drive down to the sets on the ECR before everyone else arrived just to get my make-up on. But I am just glad I took up this role, warts and all. There is something mysterious about this film as it doesn't leave any room for easy answers, just like it is in real life."
The case in point here is that controversial scene which had audiences squirming in their seats. Swapna, who in real life, is a mother to a teenaged boy and girl, gives her take, explaining, "In that scene, Meenakshi is visibly uncomfortable as Veera makes his advances. Even then, her maternal instincts kick in and she tries pacifying him. But once Veera gets too close for comfort and gets invasive, her passive resistance gives way to a muted acceptance. However, the audiences are never made privy to Meenakshi's history, which raises doubts about that character's sanity."
Swapna adds that Gautham's sensitive treatment, coupled with the comfort level she shared with Veera prevented the scene from turning exploitative. She remarks, "Gautham conveyed his message in the best way he could — respectfully and unconventionally." When asked if she viewed this film as a launch pad for a blooming career as an actress, she says she wouldn't mind, provided something as challenging as this, came along.