The biggest challenge Malayalam cinema faces is territorial. We operate within a small territory in Kerala, and the Malayalam diaspora across the world in comparative terms is quite small. But we have world-class talent in terms of technicians, actors, and writers.
In Kerala, people are more educated, so you can have subtlety in Malayalam films.
Kerala is a small state, and Malayalam films are seen by only very few people. That doesn't bother me.
The state of Kerala and Malayalam film industry has been like a home to me ever since I started my career as an actress.
My thought process is in Malayalam. So, every time I have to work outside Malayalam, the process is a little stressful. I have to translate my Malayalam thoughts into English and back to Tamil.
Everyone eats all kinds of food in Kerala. Kerala is one of the states where life span is the highest; and lifespan is closely linked to food habits. In Kerala, people are generally non-vegetarians. If it was bad for health, life expectancy would not have been so good.
School is about who you know, but I think it's a form of brainwashing. I learnt to read and write and that was enough.
The most important thing is you can't write what you wouldn't read for pleasure. It's a mistake to analyze the market thinking you can write whatever is hot. You can't say you're going to write romance when you don't even like it. You need to write what you would read if you expect anybody else to read it.
As my mother is a Kerala Brahmin and my father a Kerala Nair, every day in the house is like a religious festival.
Kerala's strength is not the size of its state exchequer, but it is the support of Malayalis from all over the world and others who love Kerala.
There weren't any schools in my village, so I learnt to read and write from my mother. I played in the fields, sowing seeds, working with animals, jumping in the river, climbing trees.
Malayalam industry is pretty awesome, and I will definitely do a movie in Malayalam. There are some great directors over there.
In Malayalam, I can improvise, and acting is easy because I think in Malayalam, but for 'Velaikkaran,' I had to prepare for a role, which is a first for me.
My place is cemented in Malayalam films. Malayalam is not my language and it felt alien to me. But for them, I am someone from Karnataka who could deliver.
The slogan we have put forward is not just 'rehabilitation and reconstruction,' but 'build a new Kerala.' We will build a better Kerala.
I was born in a small village in Kerala. From there, I went on to play for the Kerala state team and international test cricket for India, and now I am working in TV shows and cinema... Any miracle can happen.