Shining on new turf: Gracy Singh

Gracy Singh makes her Malayalam film debut opposite Mammootty in the forthcoming film Loudspeaker, writes KK Moidu
Gracy Singh, the leading lady of Lagaan, will be the love interest of megastar Mammootty in Loudspeaker. She plays the role of Annie, a nurse in a private hospital. Mammootty dons the lead role as Mike Chacko in Loudspeaker directed by Jayaraj. Sasikumar plays a pivotal role in the film as Menon, the richest man in the village and a great friend of Mike Chacko. He is one of the popular names in the Kerala media and he is the founder-chairman of Asianet group. He is presently the director of Asian School of Journalism.
Loudspeaker also brings the trio of the Johnny Walker team back. Actor Mammootty, director Jayaraj and scriptwriter Ranjith reunite after an interval of more than one-and-a-half decades.
Gracy Singh from Punjab came into the limelight after playing the role of Gauri in the critically acclaimed Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India. She was nominated for the Filmfare best female debut award for her performance, but Bipasha Basu won the award. Gracy also won International Indian Film Academy special award Face of The Year and was nominated for Popular Actress Award in a leading role. She fetched the Screen Weekly award for Most Promising Newcomer and best debut female Zee Cine Award for Lagaan.
Gracy was the female lead opposite Aamir Khan, the producer of Lagaan. The earlier choice for heroine of the film was Bollywood leading ladies like Rani Mukherji, Sonali and Nandita Das. Gracy was finally selected because of her dancing skills and acting talent. Her hard work and full dedication to the role proved that she was the right choice for the role.
A good dancer, Gracy started her career by touring with the dance troupe The Planets. She tried her luck on television before her entry into films by playing the role of Dinky in the soap Amaanat.
Gracy made her film debut as an actress in Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain. She played the younger sister of Kajol as Maya in the film. She also played a minor role as Shanti in Hu Tu Tu directed by Gulzar before tasting success with Lagaan.
She could not repeat the huge success of Lagaan pairing opposite front-line heroes like Anil Kapoor in Armaan and Ajay Devgan in Gangaajal. Lady luck smiled on the charming actress as the heroine opposite Sanjay Dutt in the runaway hit Munnabhai MBBS. The film was a trendsetter and the biggest grosser of the year.
The gifted Gracy has become a favourite among the masses after the success of Lagaan and Munnabhai MBBS. She proved her mettle as an actress by playing the heroine in India's two biggest hits, but she couldn't continue her success story in other films. She paired opposite crowd pullers like Aamir Khan, Anil Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt in the beginning of her career and later featured opposite Aftab Shivadasani in Muskaan, Tusshar Kapoor in Shart: The Challenge, Kamal Rashid Khan in Desh Drohi etc.
Although she played strong characters in Wajahh...A Reason To Kill and Chanchal, she failed to fetch big returns in terms of popularity. Gracy Singh had the luck to play a lead role in a woman-oriented film Aseema: Beyond Boundaries based on an award-winning novel by Shailaja Kumari. Her role in the film had ample scope for performance as she portrays a teenager, a young woman and an old lady.
Gracy Singh rejected some roles like Sapna in Qayamat: City Under Threat because she did not want to appear in revealing costumes and Neha Dupia got the role. Gracy turned her face away from glamorous roles in an industry like Bollywood and that was her setback. She never performed in films that could not be watched by a family audience. But, she was not worried about the standstill in her career. Being a good dancer, she never performed an item number in films. She now sees opportunity in performing strong characters in other languages like Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam films.
Gracy Singh made her Telugu debut as one of the heroines, Padmavathi, opposite senior hero Nagarjuna in Santosham. The film was dubbed in Hindi as Pehli Nazar Ka Pehla Pyaar. She recently made her debut opposite Raam in the Kannada film Meghave Meghave directed by Nagendra Prasad.
Although Gracy Singh has played the heroine in more than a dozen films in different languages, only a couple of films like Lagaan and Munnabhai MBBS did well at the box office. Her debut Malayalam film Loudspeaker is a success-guaranteed project. Will her pairing opposite Mammootty in Loudspeaker bring back her lost glory?

Success not far behind: Kajal Aggarwal

Kajal Aggarwal plays the role of a singer in Modhi Vilayaadu, directed by Saran, writes KK Moidu
Director Saran, who was an assistant of K Balachander, has made remarkable hit films like Gemini, Vasool Raja MBBS etc in the past. He is back now after a couple of years with Modhi Vilayaadu. The film tells the story of a youngster who takes revenge on his enemies. Kajal plays a college student who is the lead singer LR Easwari in a rock band. She pairs with young hero Vinay Rai in the romantic action-comedy entertainer. S Ramakrishnan pens the story and dialogues while the screenplay is by Saran. Santhanam, VMC Haneefa and Kalabhavan Mani play other important roles in the film. Hariharan-Leslie Lewis (Colonial Cousins), the duo who was credited for taking Indian pop overseas, are debuting as music directors in Tamil cinema with this film. They score the music for Vairamuthu’s lyrics.
Modhi Vilayadu is produced by Murali Manohar under the banner of Media One Global Entertainment Ltd in association with Gemini Industries and Imaging Ltd. The story of Modhi Vilayaadu is a universal subject and it was shot in foreign locations like Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Paris and Maldives.

Mumbai-based model Kajal was discovered by film-maker Teja, a veteran in introducing newcomers. Kajal has acted in more than half-a-dozen Telugu and Tamil films as a heroine within a short span of two years. She made her debut as a heroine by playing a village belle in the Telugu film Lakshmi Kalyanam directed by Teja. Kalyan Ram, the grandson of NTR played the male lead as an uneducated farmer. The film was a moderate hit at the box office and the gorgeous Kajal, with an attractive smile, won appreciation for her emotional scenes and gestures. She proved her acting talent in her second film Chandamama, a family drama crafted by creative director Krishnavamsi. Her sizzling performance in some scenes of the film and the glamorous appearances in song sequences won the hearts of fans. After this film, Kajal’s appearance onscreen was celebrated with loud cheers and whistling by fans. She was paired opposite Navdeep in the film and it was remade in Tamil as A Aa E Ee. Kajal confidently portrayed the role of Samyuktha as the female lead opposite Sumanth in Raaj Adity’as directorial debut Pourudu. The family entertainer was produced by Sumanth’s sister, D Supriya. Kajal’s pairing opposite young hero Nithin in Ravikumar Chawdhary’s Aatadista didn’t come upto expectations. However, she is on the fast track to superstardom and bagged two prestigious offers to pair opposite crowd-pulling young heroes Allu Arjun and Ram Charan Teja. Kajal is the love interest of Allu Arjun in Arya 2 directed by Sukumar. The film is a sequel of actor Allu Arjun and director Sukumar’s previous box office hit Arya. Kajal will play the role enacted by Anuradha Mehta in Arya. Although Allu Arjun’s debut film was a hit, the sensational success of Arya made him a successful hero in the Telugu film industry. The bubbly Kajal is the heroine in Magadheera and the hero of the film is megapower star Ram Charan Teja, son of megastar Chiranjeevi. SS Rajamouli directs the film and Allu Aravind is the producer.
Magadheera is a success guaranteed project and her role in the film gives her ample scope to perform. The film will be dubbed and released in other languages like Malayalam and Tamil. The big budget action entertainer is made for satisfying not only Ram Charan Teja’s fans but also all kinds of audience. MM Keeravani composes music of the film. Kajal also tried her luck in the Tamil industry by making a debut in Bommalattam, but her second film Pazhani was released earlier. Kajal paired opposite senior hero Arjun in Bommalattam. The film, directed by veteran Bharathiraja was remade into Hindi as Cinema and in Telugu as Rana. Nana Patekar made his Tamil and Telugu debut and Arjun made his Bollywood debut with the investigation thriller. Kajal’s pairing opposite Bharath in Pazhani directed by Perarasu was a money spinner at the box office. She also had enough luck to be a part of the critically acclaimed box office hit, Tamil film Saroja, directed by Venkat Prabhu. Kajal shot to fame within a couple of years and succeeded in winning the hearts of filmgoers. She is busy with offers from Telugu and Tamil cinema. It is clear that superstardom is within her reach because her forthcoming projects are with crowd pulling heroes like Allu Arjun, Ram Charan Teja and Jr NTR.

Sanjana plays title role in female oriented film Sloka

Sanjana plays the title role in forthcoming Kannada film Sloka. The film is a female oriented suspense thriller directed by software engineer Mahindra.
Gorgeous Sanjana romances two hero’s in the film and they are newcomers. The film will launch on June 12 and Mahindra’s directorial debut Black will release on the same day.
Sloka will start its shooting from June 13. Sanjana said “I was really keen on doing a female oriented movie and there I go and found the right suspense thriller.”
The beautiful and talented actress Sanjana made her debut in Kannada film Genda Hendathi, a remake of Hindi film Murder. The success of her maiden Telugu film Bujjigadu changed her fortune. Her hands are full with offers from Kannada and Telugu.

Expanding horizons: Ananya

Ayilya aka Ananya, who made her debut in the Malayalam film Positive, pairs with Sasikumar in her maiden Tamil venture Nadodikal. KK Moidu writes

Nadodikal

Although VK Prakash’s Positive didn’t receive positive response from the audience, the heroine of the film Ananya was noticed by the industry. She was flooded with offers not only from her home turf, but also from neighbouring states. Now she is pairing opposite Jayaram as one of the heroines in the forthcoming Malayalam film Rahasya Police directed by K Madhu. However, one-film-fame Ananya has had enough luck to make her Tamil film debut as a heroine in Nadodikal. Her male lead of the film is director/writer/actor/producer Sasikumar. Earlier, he was an assistant to Bala and Ameer and had proved his mettle as an actor/director in Subramaniyapuram, a quality entertainer with lesser known faces. Nadodikal has already gained the attention of the industry because of its realistic story, talented hero and its enthusiastic director. Samudrakani, who played the villain in Subramaniyapuram, directs Nadodikal. The film is based on the lives of four friends whose lives change forever after a shocking incident. Ananya plays a village girl named Nallamma in Nadodikal. She doesn’t know much about the modern world. Her character possesses its own mannerisms. Ananya GK Nair was born on March 29, 1988 in Perumbavoor. She is the daughter of VN Gopalakrihsnan Nair and Praseetha G Nair. She completed her Plus Two from Government Higher Secondary School in Perumbavoor and is currently doing her BA in Communicative English. She is a State champion in archery and is a national sportsperson. She won several prizes in school and college for her participation in kadhaprasangam, mono act, dance and music.

Excerpts from her email interview

Tell us about your debut film and how it happened.
I debuted as one of the heroines in Jayasoorya starrer Positive. I was selected for the role by the director VK Prakash and writer SN Swami, who watched my performance in the Kairali TV reality show Star Wars.
Did you groom yourself for a film career? I wished for it. I have entered the film industry at the age of eight as a child artiste in Vridhanmare Sookshikkuka. But I didn’t try much for it. As I began to get offers after Star Wars, I decided to go for it.
What has been your experience in film industry? As a beginner, so far it is very good, as I got to know what this career really means and how hard this job of acting is.
Tell us about your character in Rahasya Police? My character’s name is Bhama and I am one among the four heroines in Rahasya Police. I don the role of an investigator, but am basically a college student. It is a serious role and I am a bold character in it!
Which kind of roles you want to do in future? One that use my talents to the maximum. I like to avoid glamorous roles. I am interested in doing the classic type of movies, like what was enacted by Rekha, Revathi and Sobhana.
Your views on actress being used as glamour dolls? No comments, except that I don’t want to go for it!
How did you bag the role in Tamil film Nadodikal? They had a type of selection with more than 3,000 photos from all over South India. My photo was rejected initially as it was thought I was a fat girl. Later, they came to Kochi and happened to meet me. They were surprised I was not that fat as they thought and selected me for the heroine’s role.
How was Tamil filmdom? I don’t have words to explain how nice I feel there. May be it is because of the crew with which I worked. Sasikumar and Samudrakani were really very supportive and influence even my personal character. They made me realise that I have something worthy in me. They have always tried hard to tap the maximum talent of mine in every shot with their repeated encouragement. I became more serious in my film career after working with them.
Any difference between acting in Malayalam and Tamil? I think patience matters a lot. In Tamil, they wait patiently and retake shots for perfection. That, I didn’t ever see in Malayalam.
How do you choose your movies? Like everyone, I look into the character and how important is my role in the film. If the role suits me, I consider the costumes, as I am not ready to appear in revealing costumes.
Were your parents and family supportive of your film career? My parents were extremely supportive, whether it is for acting or any other thing. They want me to be happy and they will surely be with me in this career, until I take a decision to quit.
Does your family have any links with films? Yes, to a limit. My father was the producer of Pai Brothers and some family friends are also involved in film industry.
Did you ever try your luck on the mini-screen and modelling before your entry into filmdom? No. It got started only after my entry into the film industry. I am not really interested in the mini-screen but I do modelling in my free time. Did you dub your voice for the films? I didn’t dub my voice in Positive. But I am lending my voice to Nallamma for the first time in Nadodikal. It was a real experience for me.
To whom you give the credit of your success? To God Almighty first, then my parents, my friends and relatives, and to each crew I worked with.
Your favourite actor and actress? I don’t have a favourite actor or actress. It is their characters that matter to me. What are your future plans? To sustain myself in this industry as long as I can. And if time and luck allows, I wish to direct movies. Rest I leave to God.

Double delight: Jayaram

Jayaram, who made a strong comeback by portraying Sugunan in Veruthe Oru Bharya, dons a double role in Rahasya Police directed by K Madhu. KK Moidu writes
Jayaram teams up with senior director K Madhu after a long interval of nearly two decades in the forthcoming film Rahasya Police. Although K Madhu has contributed several hit films and Jayaram was one of the successful hero of that time, their earlier film Randaam Varavu bombed at the box office.
Jayaram plays a double role in Rahasya Police, one as a funny sub inspector Rajan and the other as a notorious gangster Chalai Mani. According to reports, Jayaram dons a third role in the film as a CBI Officer. The possibility of the CBI officer role can’t be ruled out because director K Madhu had created the successful investigative thriller Oru CBI Diarykurippu and its sequels Jagratha, Sethurama Iyer CBI and Nerariyan CBI with Mammootty in the lead. These were household name to the cinegoers of the State.

Samvrutha Sunil

Rahasya Police, a crime thriller, is scripted by SN Swamy, a favourite of K Madhu, who has teamed up with the director in many hits. The film features five heroines and they are By The People fame Mangala, Samvrutha Sunil, Sindhu Menon, Ayilya and Shivani. Siyad Kokker produces the action-based family drama under the banner of Kokkers films.

Aayilya

Once known as a safe star at the box office, Jayaram was going through a lean patch in his career. He bounced back as a family hero in the superhit Veruthe Oru Bharya directed by debutante Akku Akbar. The success of Veruthe Oru Bharya and Twenty Twenty earned him lead roles in reputed banners and lead director’s films. His recently released Bhagyadevatha was directed by Sathyan Anthikkad and Samastha Keralam PO was produced by Howly Pottur. He will also play the lead in forthcoming Purathekkulla Vazhi directed by TV Chandran.
Purathekkulla Vazhi is based on Kakkanadan’s novel Thulavarsham and it will be produced by CN Preman, Nizamudhin, Salim, Rajeev and Suku under the banner of Sangachithra.

Sindhu Menon

However, Jayaram, an expert in performing comedy and sentimental roles has succeeded in winning the hearts of family audience by portraying unemployed youth and other sympathetic roles with ease. He excelled in comedy roles because of his mimicry background. The talented actor’s films were performing well at the box office and his name was on the top list of actors in Malayalam films.
But things change with the entry of Dileep. He also had the same mimicry background and Dileep was repeatedly cast in sentimental and comedy roles, which would have naturally gone to Jayaram.
Directors like Rafi-Mecartin, who made hit films with Jayaram in the lead has started making films with Dileep in the lead and those films were hits at the box office.
Although Jayaram has acted in more than thirty Malayalam films in the last ten years, only few like Yathrakkarude Shradhakku, Manassinakkare, Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal etc. were the only hits at the box office. His attempt to deliver a superhit with his winning teammate Rajasenan in Madhuchandralekha with his lucky heroine Urvasi didn’t come upto the expectations, but Urvasi won the State award for best actress. Other Jayaram films like Novel, Sooryan, Anchil Oral Arjunan, Sarkar Dada, Pauran etc. were shattered at the box office.
But the surprise success of Veruthe Oru Bharya has given him a new chance in his career. The success of the film once again made him a hot property among the Malayalam audience. His recently released two films are Samastha Keralam PO and Bhagyadevatha. Samastha Keralam PO is a hilarious entertainer directed by Bipin Prabhakar based on the plot about the elections of a local Panchayath. Jayaram is playing the role of a Panchayath member in the film. Priyanka and debutante Sera are the heroines of the film.
Bhagyadevatha directed by Sathyan Anthikkad is declared a hit at the box office within few days of its release. Sathyan-Jayaram duo has earlier delivered hits like Mazhavilkaavadi, Thoovalkottaram, Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal, Manassinakkare etc.
Jayaram is pairing opposite Kanihaa in the family comedy entertainer Bhagyadevatha. Bhagyadevatha was released in 70 theatres and this is the first time in Kerala, a Jayaram film is making a wide release. The film is expected to be another superhit of the year. Bhagyadevatha is produced by MM Hamza under the banner of Kalasangam.
Jayaram, who has acted in more than 200 films in his more than two decades career, has never won a National or State Award for best actor. The success of his recently released films has given him the much-needed boost in his career. The actor can now definitely hope for a best actor award in TV Chandran’s Purathekkulla Vazhi.

Sparks of versatility: Anand Narayan

Singer-performer Anand Narayan was in Dubai recently to participate in Amrita TV’s 4th anniversary celebrations at Al Nasr Leisureland. KK Moidu met him

Although singer-performer and presenter Anand Narayan did not win the first prize as a participant in reality shows like Super Star Global and Idea Star Singer, he is more popular and successful than any of the participants from these shows today. He has made his mark as a presenter.
Anand was born in Thiruvananthapuram and completed his B.Tech degree in computer science from SCT College of Engineering. He first tasted being in the limelight as the presenter of Let's Dance, a highly popular dance reality show for couples, aired on Amrita TV. He was simultaneously working as a software engineer in Bangalore. Soon TV music reality shows like Voice Hunt, Super Star Global and Idea Star Singer catapulted him into the public eye, making him a household name overnight. His work as presenter also gave him a break as a playback singer and actor. Malayalam film Orkkuka Vallappozhum marks Anand’s debut as a playback singer. The song Mamboo Paadam is by him. His versatility is evident from the fact that he has sung a fast number, Sunday Sooryan, in the forthcoming Jayasoorya starrer Ivar Vivahitharayi.

Anand has a role in the Suresh Gopi starrer IG directed by B Unnikrishnan and is also anchoring Style Bhai, a show on men’s fashion currently being aired on Amrita TV. He has also made appearances as a presenter on Kiran TV and Asianet Plus. However, music is his forte and he has sung for many albums. At present, he has taken leave and is focusing on his career as a singer-artiste.
Excerpts:

Tell us about your musical background and family?

I started learning music at the age of 10 and was trained in the Hindustani and Carnatic styles by Perumbavoor G Ravindranath, Ramesh Narayan and Adoor Sudarsan.
My father Purushothaman is a manager at Titanium and mother Savithri is working with State Bank of Travancore. I have an elder sister and she is married.
How did you get interested in music?

I have been addicted to Vayalar poems since childhood. At school I won several prizes for poetry recitation, including the first prize at the State Youth Festival. After joining college, my interest in poetry gradually led me to a music career.

How did you manage music and engineering studies together?

I participated in light music competitions at college functions. The inspiration and support of my friends and family helped me to continue my studies and music together.

How did you get the opportunity to participate in TV music reality shows?

After completing my graduation, I was working in Bangalore as a software engineer. At that time I attended the audition of SS Music Voice Hunt. I also cleared the audition of Superstar Global and Idea Star Singer.

How did you get the opportunity to present Let's Dance?

I was one among the 21 final participants of Super Star Global aired on Amrita TV. When Amrita started the new programme Let's Dance I was selected as the host.
What was your experience as a host of Let's Dance like?

It was a very good experience in my career. It increased my confidence and gave me the opportunity to meet many celebrity guests present on the show. My dancing skills also improved during this time.
After presenting the programme, I received offers to perform on stage and present shows in India and abroad in countries like the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

How did you get the opportunity to sing for Orkkuka Vallappozhum?
Music director M Jayachandran was a judge at the Super Star Global and he gave me the opportunity to sing in the film.

You also made your film debut as an actor in IG, How did you get the role? Do you intend to continue your acting career in films?

I would like to continue my career as an actor. Director B Unnikrishnan, who was a celebrity guest at Let's Dance offered me the role in IG and he has a good opinion about my performance.

Tell us about your ongoing and future projects?

I am singing a fast number Sunday Sooryan in the forthcoming Jayasoorya starrer Ivar Vivahitharayi. I have completed a few albums and anchoring Style Bhai on Amrita TV.
I will also be participating in stage programmes in Switzerland and Germany as a host-cum-singer.

Who is your favourite singer and music director?

I like Shankar Mahadevan’s stage performances and love the music of Raveendran, AR Rehman and Ilayaraja.

You are a singer, a host and an actor…what do you like the most?
I like to be a presenter and singer on stage shows. As a playback singer I have sung only two songs and acted in only one film.

Photograph: Nisham A Manaf

Evergreen voice: M Thankamani

M Thankamani, who won accolades for her unique voice as a presenter and drama artiste at All India Radio (Akashvani), India’s national broadcaster, and as a film dubbing artiste, talks to KK Moidu during her first visit to Dubai

Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award winner M Thankamani’s voice is familiar to listeners of the radio for more than three decades now. She is the presenter at Akashvani and those who have heard her voice once cannot forget the attractive and enticing tone. She has secured a place in the hearts of millions of listeners through the roles of numerous characters on radio dramas like Sooryakanthiye Snehicha Penkutty, Moodhevi, Theyyam, Indulekha etc. Her special talent for the vocalisation of people of all ages like old women, young ladies, college students or little girls, endeared her to audiences.
M Thankamani was born in Shoranur in Palghat district, Kerala, in a Namboothiri family. She is the third daughter of the great social reformer Mullamangalath Raman Bhattathirippadu aka MRB and Umadevi Antharjanam. Her father MRB was a playwright, poet and author of many books and made history by marrying a widow in the Namboothiri community.

M Thankamani completed her matriculation from the famous Victoria Government Girl’s High School in Thrissur. “I wanted to be a Hindi teacher and passed Hindi Praveen (equal to BA), but my introduction to All India Radio as a child artiste became a turning point in my career,” she recalled about her childhood ambitions and ultimate entry into the world of sound.
She said: “I debuted into the world of sound in 1964 at the Kozhikode station and after passing the audition, I was selected as a casual announcer in 1967 at Thrissur station. I had to take over occasionally when any one of the three staff members Padmarajan, S Venu or Radhalakshmi were absent.”

  Thankamani got the opportunity to sharpen her skills from Padmarajan and other regular visitors to the stations like veteran theatre personalities PJ Antony, Balan K Nair, MS Namboothiri etc.

She was promoted as a permanent announcer on Dec. 23, 1973, when Thrissur station started airing independent programmes of the kacheris (concerts) of Chempai Swamy. She also worked right from the inception to retirement last year as a senior announcer at the Thrissur station.
She performed the role of Mariam in Vishachumpanam, the first production from Thrissur station on Christmas day in 1973 and later performed in many other plays. Thankamani, who lent her voice for numerous elder characters at young age and vice versa could not recall the number of roles she portrayed so far. She said: “I had lent my voice for a 10-year-old mentally retarded girl in radio play Prahelika, which was a strain. It was a challenge and most memorable. I was 22 years old at that time and it was one of the best roles of my four-decades long career. The listeners also remembered the character for a long time.”

She had the luck to be a permanent presenter for 17 years of Chempai Sangeetholsavam. Thankamani said that “women were not allowed to participate in concerts like Chempai Sangeetholsavam during that time and I was assigned for that duty continuously for 17 years upto my retirement last year.”
Thankamani’s unmatched vocal virtuosity earned her opportunities as a dubbing artiste in films. She made her debut as a dubbing artiste by lending her voice to Supriya in Theerthayathra directed by Vincent. Thankamani says that “dubbing artiste's were rarely recognised by the audience at that time. Few people like Anandavally, KPAC Lalitha etc. were in the profession. I couldn’t accept many dubbing offers for films because of the difficulties in going to Madras.”
However, she dubbed for Suhasini in Shaji N Karun’s Vanaprastham, for Mini Nair in Niyogam and Desadanam, for Archana in Piravi, for Aswathi in Swam, for Nirmala in Oru Cheru Punchiri and for Sharada in Kamal’s Rappakal.
Thankamani also lent her voice for Sridevi in Thulavarsham based on C Radhakrishnan’s story and directed by N Sukumaran Nair. Thankamani was the choice for novelist C Radhakrishnan for the audio cassette record of his award-winning novel Nizhalpaadukal.
Another highlight of Thankamani’s career was rendering the voice for Kasthurba played by Rohini Hattangadi in Richard Attenborough’s Malayalam version of Gandhi. “Dubbing for Kasthurba was the most difficult and challenging in my career,” says Thankamani.” She has dubbed her voice for an out of the state actress in the forthcoming Mammootty starrer Kuttyshranku directed by Shaji N Karun.
Although she has worked as a presenter, actress and dubbing artiste, her favourite medium is radio plays. She said: “The development of technology has made the presenter’s job easy and during that time it was very difficult, especially for live phone-in programmes.”
Thankamani, who likes ice cream as much as a baby does, avoids cold drinks and food for keeping the purity of voice. She said that “allergic foods are also harmful for the voice and I was not using tamarind because of allergy.”
“Dubbing for various ages is a stressful job but possible through voice control. I always try to present the programmes in simple language for understanding the audience and gained their acceptance.”

Her singular warmth of voice has fetched the State award for best film dubbing artiste in 2001 for lending her voice to Suhasini in Theerthdanam. She also won National level Akashvani award in 89, 92 and 94 for Mounam Meettunna Thampuru, Sooryayanam and Karmanye Vaadhikarasya respectively.
In 2001, she won the Doordarshan’s best Telefilm presenter award for a Telefilm based on the life of Gandhian and freedom fighter late Padmashri Kumaran Nair.

Photograph: Nisham A Manaf