Parvathy on her role in ‘Maryan’

“We actors need to be pampered, as by the time a film is completed we are completely drained of all emotions,” says Malayalam actress Parvathy Menon, who has just wrapped Bharat Bala’s Tamil film Maryan.

Working on three back-to-back films and getting into the skin of different characters has been a tough ride for the actress. In the Kannada film Andar Bahaar she plays the ailing wife of a criminal; Aditi, in the Tamil film Chennayil Oru Naal, she has to deal with her lover’s accidental death and in the Tamil thriller Maryan, she plays a fisherwoman, Panimalar, in love with the lead character Maryan (played by Dhanush).

Talking about her character Panimalar, Menon says, “She is not afraid about being in love or its vulnerability. She is the kind who feels, ‘Why should I hide being in love?”

To understand Panimalar, Menon says she had to spend time in Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu and observe fisherwomen.

“Panimalar has a certain grace that I don’t have. Every character that I have done are people far removed from my life, be it Maari of Poo or Aditi. There is something quirky about Panimalar. She has this quality which can make her stand out among a bunch of girls.”

“At Nagercoil, I learnt how to slice a fish holding it in one hand without letting it slip from my hands. Even grating a coconut came naturally to me when I was shooting for the film.”

What about the underwater scenes in Maryan? “I am terrified of water, a hydrophobic you could say,” she said. “But there were scenes shot at a depth of 10 to 15 feet underwater where I was expected to hold my breath.”

Crediting the support team who trained her for the scene, Menon said, “I trusted them more than myself. I actually managed to hold my breath for 20 seconds.”

About working with Dhanush, she said, “Dhanush does not step into his co-star’s space. He believes in doing his part as best he can and keeps surprising you with his performance.”