I channelised my anger through Tessa: Rima Kallingal

What prompted you to take up the role of Tessa in 22 Female Kottayam?
I happened to hear a one-liner of the movie when the director was speaking to the producer about it. At that very moment I realised that it was something any girl would want to take up, and that it is going to be a role of a lifetime. It was a perfect cinematic representation of a revolt against injustice.
How challenging was it to portray such an intense character?
There was no preparation on a conscious level.That is how I approach all my movies. However, during the shoot, there was a lot of discussion about the character. So, I think in my subconscious mind I was somehow preparing myself for the role. I also read about similar incidents, and during the process, I learnt to channelise my anger and frustration through Tessa.
While doing the movie, did you ever think Tessa would become an overnight sensation?
We knew the women would love it. The movie will be their voice. But at some point, we were apprehensive whether men would accept it. Though we knew a few would support it, we were not sure about the majority’s reaction. But we were proved wrong. It was overwhelming to see the huge response we received even from men.
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