“It was a live flame burning inside me. Or, let’s say it had the flow of an irresistible river, where every emotion, of every character, was present. And something in you is aware, of the least pebble on that river bed. It is a kind of oneness with what one has written. In the process of making this film I found an alternate family. I discovered skilled artistes who fit into my characters and lived the roles. All the beautiful children who relished being amidst nature, relished climbing the tall trees and playing in the mud pond…
It is not a coincidence but a miracle that I find a real American singer who, in more ways than one, is utterly like the character I am looking to cast, in my own neighbourhood. Is the divine force working to put my project together? Sudharma Vaithiyanathan, who plays Valli, draws her ancestry from both Kerala and Tamilnadu is a gifted Bharatanatyam dancer, and a sheer delight to watch, both on stage, and on screen! A natural, restrained, and nuanced performer, she is a real find!
P T Narendran as Valli’s father Nagarajan, hails from Anamangad, Kerala. He has spent his life in dance, teaching at Kalakshetra, after graduating from there, and since then, becoming one of the most sought-after Gurus, with students all over the world. A most natural actor, with a wonderful voice and screen presence. For Parvathi there could be nobody but my consort Ashwini Pratap Pawar, because the character is who Ashwini is, in real life. A free-spirited dancer and artist, she entrances you, with the lyrical quality of her dance, the artistry of her bold strokes reflects her inner strength.
@bhawanasomaaya