Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai is an Indian actress and Bharatanatyam dancer. She acts predominantly in Malayalam films along with Telugu and Tamil films with few Hindi, Kannada and English films. She has won two National Film Awards, one Kerala State Film Awards, two Filmfare Awards South, with 14 Nominations for Best Actress Category in three different south Indian languages, Tamil Nadu State's Kalaimamani Award in 2011 and numerous other awards.
When I want to make a creative work, I still have producers of marketing houses dictating to me how I should make a creative video and what sells! If I face that problem, I can imagine how difficult it must be for the rising generation of artistes to find sponsorships.
To me, it's not about the lure of camera. It has always been a question of whether I can learn something new from a film role or not.
I am glad I was in a position to select films that interested me.
Personally, I don't think I have the time for a big noisy family, so maybe just one child.
I have not labelled 'Krishna' as a classical presentation. Nor do I bring in non-classical elements into the traditional repertoire.
Beauty works when one is in her teens. Between the ages 55 and 60, it's the technique and the personality of the dancer that captivates the audience.
We are told to do good math, lead the country, or go abroad and make million. You can't blame anyone. That's the way our children are trained. But what about other things like respecting women and liking your own culture first?
Whenever I can snatch two-three days, I get into the car or a train and head straight for a temple site, mostly Brihadishvara Temple.
No matter how many years you have been dancing, I feel a guru is always needed for motivation and inspiration.
I act in films depending on the offers.
I write scripts, I read scripts, I meet people who chat about their scripts. So honestly, I don't feel bad if I don't act in a film, as long as people are making great films.
There are no hard and fast rules. Your sensibilities change as you grow older.
Western classical music and classical dance gel beautifully.
I'm happy to be associated with the Times Thyagaraja Awards, which takes Carnatic music to the young generation.
A teacher has to understand the ability and capability of his or her student, their sentiments and varying levels of sensitivity to be able to bring out the best.
I like the freedom of a choreographic production.
Classical dance is a growing and ever-evolving art.
Personally I love film culture.
I should not become redundant or jaded.
It's not fair to tell an artiste what to be creative about.
The beautiful thing about 'Bhav' is that it reaches out to a far more number than just the typical set of people who say they like classical music and dance.
I have been dancing from the age of three.
I have worked with the tavil and the mridangam all my artistic life. My style does have a strong grounding in rhythm.
More importantly, I'm an actor whose passion is dance.
Art has the power to bring people together - in communion.
'Mirch Masala' with Konkona Sen Sharma was very good.
In my eyes, either you appreciate art or you don't.
I'm waiting for better scripts to come my way, especially because I'm aware that there are people who are waiting to see me come back; and I don't want to disappoint them.
Why should I do a movie for dance? I can always do it on stage, and I'm doing it. However, if such a film with a good story comes my way, then I might probably do it.
There are only a few stories of Krishna that are popular. His exploits with the gopikas, for example. But not many understand the spiritual implications of such events.
I am basically a story-teller.
If I find myself spacing out while I act, it's just not for me.
In 'Krishna,' the movements mostly stem from traditional dances of diverse cultures but there is some use of multimedia that completes the production and nudges the audience into the right ethos.
Beauty for me is the attitude behind something. But my ideals of beauty are rather different.
I have trained for 30 years in Indian classical dance and there is nothing more beautiful in my eyes than stepping out of the box.
As a story teller I have always been fascinated with our legends, these can be re-told time and time again. And there is always an interested eye and ear for it.
Artistes are all motivated differently, with different experiences.
I unwind by watching TV, which is also how I wind.
It is always good to see a full house.
Problems arise only when an artist chooses to be above the art. Not otherwise.
Dance and acting are different. One is about being as close to reality and convincing the camera of the emotion that you portray, the other is communicating subjects and legends of a different time.
I feel drained out after working on my shows, but working on 'Krishna' was fun.
As a story teller I have used characters, epic tales, poetry and rasa in my performances.
I love Western classical music - I grew up on that thanks to my parents who loved it too.
The good thing about Indian dance is that it relies a lot on communication. There is nothing that can't be communicated by Bharatanatyam.
I prefer to do roles that suit my mental maturity.
Earlier, I would not train children under the age of six because they were so difficult to deal with, but now I have brought the age limit down to three. Now I look at them and think they are cute little things.
Truly accomplished artists are humble and unaware of their abilities.
I know I should be taking breaks in my performances , but there is something about the Maharashtrian audience that makes me want to go on and on.
For me, Rajinikanth is, first and foremost, a colleague. I don't want to think of our relation in terms of like, say, from 'Thalapathi' to 'Kochadaiyaan.'
I like the idea of seeing myself animated and caricatured.
Bharatnatyam is defined in many ways and everyone has an opinion. But I see it as a consummate art - a kind of fifth Veda.
Right from school we are taught to compete and survive.
As you grow older, there are lesser and lesser roles for you in the movies, while in dance the field opens up as you mature.
In Tamil or Malayalam, there was a time when light films ruled. Then, a spate of drama or women-oriented stunt films followed.
Personally, I don't believe in International Women's Day. After all, there's no International Men's Day that we celebrate. These are just titles like Happy Day, Teacher's Day etc. I don't understand them.
By the way, all the major awards that I have won are for so-called commercial movies.
When times are changing, I change with the times.
I don't miss the world of movies.
Students of Bharatanatyam or any other dance form, for that matter, are artistes first.