Tollywood's Kerala Konnect

Call it the season of new arrivals. After Bolly imports, it’s time for actors from ‘God’s Own Country’ to make their foray in Tollywood. Yes, the Mollywood beauties have arrived and are making a splash in T-Town. Inspired by the success of Asin, Nayanthar a and Mamta Mohandass, Malayalee actors like Sindhu Menon, Bhavana and Meera Jasmine have joined the bandwagon and managed to bag plum offers.But apart from taking on big projects, these actors have some hurdles to cross. The fact that the Telugu film ind ustry is influential and a huge money-spinner is not lost on all. These factors play a big part in actors wanting to take up Telugu projects. But the main challenge is working in alien territory. When I joined the industry I had little idea what it's all about. I did receive offers but was not sure if I could take them up,says Mamta. In fact, this reluctance cost her a big ticket film. I lost out on Arundhati because I wasn’ t willing to do an author backed role in a language I wasn’t confident of, rues the actor. But the singer/actor has put the episode behind. I’m learning the nuances of the language , says Mamta. But that’s not all. If the actors are yet to learn the ropes, then the fact that Telugu films don’t release in their home-states adds to their bag of woes. With an exception of the dubbed versions of big ticket Telugu flicks, very few films hit the screens in Kerala. With limited exposure, seasoned Mollywood actors too have been wary of testing waters in this industry. Of course there wer e Cheemen Sheela, K R Vijaya and Srividya who did share screen space with yesteryear T-town superstars. Recently, Asin revived the trend of Malayalee actresses doing Tollywood films. With blockbusters like Amma Nana O Tamilammayi, Shivamani and Annavaram u nder her belt, she paved the way for more actors to join the fray. Nayanthara followed soon with Lakshmi and Dubai Seenu. Following the example of these successful imports, the present crop of heroines are working hard on maintaining their longevity in t he industry. I’ve worked hard on my Telugu and I’m a fast learner of languages, says the actor Sindhu Menon who even dubbed for one of her Tollywood hits Chandamama, . Finding a way around the language barrier is actor Bhavana who confesses that she now understands the language better . Watching DVDs of Telugu cinema and regional channels has helped me to learn the language, quips Bhavana. Meera who worked in Bhadra and Gudumba Sankar now returns with the comic caper, Aa Aa Ee Ee. And film-makers are not shying away from signing on these beauties. Filmmaker Parasuram who worked with Nayanthara in Anjaneyulu is appreciative of the hard work these actors put in. Nayan is professional, she keenly follows the director’ s instructions even though the language was alien, says Parasuram. While ruling the BO could be topmost on their mind, these beauties are giving it their all in their quest to learn the ropes in Tollyland.