I’m saving my creative best for Malayalam: Swati Reddy

Swati Reddy, who won Malayali hearts with her debut movie, Amen, will next be seen in Anil Radhakrishnan Menon’s North 24 Kaatham.
The actress speaks about her transition from Shoshanna to Narayani, pairing up with Fahadh Faasil for the second time, why the script alone is not the hero and more. Excerpts:
Tell us about your role in North 24 Kaatham
I play Narayani, who is different from Shoshanna, the character I portrayed in Amen.Both are rare gems but their priorities are different. While it is all about love for Shoshanna, Narayani is a girl with a golden heart. She is a bold and bindaas girl, helpful and sensitive. She has her heart in the right place. In Subramaniapuram, I played a village belle with plaited and well-oiled hair, Amen had me wearing chatta and mundu (traditional Christian costume), with heavy eye make-up and curly hair. But in North 24 Kaatham, you will see me in casuals. She could be someone whom you meet in a bus.
How different was the experience from that of Amen?
This time, I was more confident because this is not my first Malayalam movie. While I was shooting for Amen, all my senses were alert. It was exciting and at the same time challenging. While working for North 24 Kaatham, Venu Sir (actor Nedumudi Venu) was my biggest support. We just clicked like a house on fire. He helped me improvise every scene. I loved working with him and miss him.
Are you currently focusing more on Malayalam films?
Yes, I cherish my time acting in Malayalam films. Right now, the industry is going through an exciting phase. In fact, I am saving my creative best for Malayalam. My entry was also perfectly timed. I’ve been watching Malayalam movies for a while and saw the kind of change that was happening in Mollywood. That said, I’m a slow bird and prefer to take it slow.
Will we see you dub in Malayalam anytime soon?
I was keen to dub for my debut. I told Lijo, ‘Even if you wake me up in the middle of the night, I will still get my dialogues correct.’ But he asked me to wait and made me realise that it might dilute my character, and will have a negative impact on the totality of the film. While others speak chaste Malayalam, here you are, with a funny accent. It won’t help the film in any way. I don’t want my character to suffer because of my stubbornness.
With the success of Amen, Fahadh and you are considered a lucky pair…
I don’t know about that. To prove that right, this movie should also be a success. Then again, this is a normal thing in every industry. If a movie becomes a hit, they try to rope in the same artistes again and again, thinking that they can do wonders. I still get congratulatory messages for my role in Amen.
Do you believe that the script is the hero in Mollywood?
There are many heroes; it’s not just the script. A movie is the result of great team work. Just a good script alone can’t guarantee a film’s success at the box office.
It’s a ball game, I feel.