'Acting as a craft is about the moment'

From her debut in April 18 to her career-best performance in Pamela Rooks' English film Dance Like A Man, Malayalam actress Shobana discusses her evolution as a 225-film artist

A front-runner in Malayalam cinema(of Kerala, India) for almost two and a half decades, Shobana made her screen debut in Balachandra Menon's Malayalam hit April 18. A noted exponent of the Indian classical dance Bharatnatyam, Shobana was catapulted to stardom with Kanamarayathu opposite Mamooty.

In an interview with Tabloid, India's National Award winner for the Best Actress two years ago for her performance in Revathy Menon's Mitr - My Friend, talks about acting and her career-best performance in Pamela Rooks' latest venture Dance Like A Man co-starring Arif Zakaria, Dr Mohan Agashe, Sameer Soni and Anoushka Shankar.

Excerpts:

Tabloid: To what extent did you identify with the role of Ratna in Dance Like A Man?
Shobana: Till date I have worked in so many films that if I start identifying with every role, it would become very complicated for me as an actor.

As far as my role in Dance Like A Man was concerned, though I wouldn't admit that I could identify with the character that I played, I would say that I certainly could identify with the problems which an artist faces, like the sacrifice of her personal life in pursuit of total success, and the battles which they have to face in terms of dance festivals in India and abroad.

Tabloid: Did you do any kind of homework to get into the skin of your character?
Shobana: I am not the kind of an artist who believes in getting into the skin of her character. As far as I am concerned, it is passe. I do not let the character take me over completely as a person.

I believe more in internalising the mind of the playwright. I am of the opinion that acting as a craft is about the moment. You have got to take a break after the moment is over because you cannot live the moment forever.

Acting is all about observing and at times even mimicking. I feel it would be too much as far as I am concerned to put my entire self into the character, which I set out to portray. Acting, let me be frank with you, is not the be all and end all of my life. I am also running an Institute called Kalarpan to train students in dance.

Tabloid: Tell us about your role in Dance Like A Man?
Shobana: Dance Like A Man is a powerful human drama in English, which provides an insight into the contemporary Indian social scene in interplay of past and present. It is the National Award winner for the best English Film for 2003.

The story revolves around Ratna and Jairaj, two exponents of Bharatnatyam who are past their prime, who put up with Jairaj's authoritarian father who believes that Bharatnatyam is a craft practised by loose women.

In his opinion, no self-respecting person, let alone a man, should perform such a dance. Two decades later, when their daughter Lata brings her fiancé Vishal to meet her parents, Vishal acts as a catalyst to unravel the dark secrets of the family's relationship and its generational conflicts.

Tabloid: Did you agree to do the film instantly when Pamela approached you?
Shobana: When Pamela Rooks approached me with the offer, I asked for the script before committing myself. I had not seen the original play written by Mahesh Dattani on which the film is based.

I said yes to her because I felt it was interesting to see the film through the eyes of the son-in-law.

Pamela had a vision of a subject, which is close to my heart. She has depicted the predicament of a danseuse in this age. Besides, the fact that a project attracts you after a particular point of time in your career as an actor, not just the role.

Tabloid: What attracted you in the script when it was narrated to you?
Shobana: What I liked about the character of Ratna is that she is a multi-layered character. She is jealous and has a sarcastic streak on one hand and on the other hand she is also gullible.

It wasn't tough at all to play the character of the danseuse Ratna who is not only a housewife but also a mother of a teenaged daughter.

Tabloid: Did you make it a point to watch the original play before you set out to work in the film?
Shobana: I have not watched the play Dance Like A Man till today because I did not want to be subconsciously influenced by the manner in which Lillete Dubey had interpreted the character of Ratna in the play. I am like a sponge.

Anything can easily influence me. Now that the film is being released, I am planning to watch the play as and when it is performed to find for myself how different has been my interpretation of the character of Ratna.

Tabloid: To what extent are you a director's actor?
Shobana: As an actor, I do not assert myself. Though I am not one, people may conclude that I am a director's actor because while working with directors like Priyadarshan, Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Revathy, I have made it a point to observe and listen to them and managed to retain the impressions vividly even today. My performance depends on the director and his capability.

Tabloid: How was Pamela as a director?
Shobana: Pamela Rooks trusted me as an actor and gave me a lot of leeway and freedom to interpret the role. I, as an actor, believed in her vision.

I not only choreographed my own dance sequences but also shot them and even edited them. I would go to the extent of saying that the role of Ratna is the best in my career as an actor. This is one role I am 100 per cent satisfied with as an actor. The best thing about the film is that the dances do not come disjointed. There is a nice connection between the dances and the story.

Tabloid: Has it been advantageous being the niece of a celebrated actress like Padmini?
Shobana: Definitely. It has been a great advantage having a celebrity aunt like Padmini as far as getting access to producers' offices is concerned. But at the end of the day, if you are not talented, no one will be ready to back you. You have got to come up on your own steam and prove yourself.

Tabloid: Which films do you now have on the floors?
Shobana: Right now I have just one Malayalam film. It is Mambazhakkalam directed by Joshi with Mohanlal in the lead. I am not interested in taking up film offers because I need to concentrate my energy and efforts in building my institution, which is my dream project. It has been a solo effort all through.

Tabloid: What has been your growth over the years as an actor from April 18 till Dance Like A Man?
Shobana: Till date I have acted in around 225 films in Malayalam, Tamil and English. As an actor, I have evolved over the last two and a half decades to a large extent. You keep on growing, whether you are a journalist or an actor.

Tabloid: Are you open to acting in television serials?
Television does not hold my interest as an actor. I did a show on dancing to feel the experience of m