Aishwarya Devan

BB: At the outset, a word of appreciation is due to you Aishwarya! I’d seen ‘Simhasanam’ in the theatres yesterday, and I should say you have done a good job! Congratulations!

Aishwarya: Thank you so much!

BB: Where are you basically from? Are you a Malayali, by any chance?

Aishwarya: Yes! I’m basically a Malayali, but have been settled in Bangalore for a very long time. My mom hails from Shornur, and my dad’s from Bangalore.

BB: How did films happen to you?

Aishwarya: I was busy pursuing my studies, when I was offered my first film. I was in the twelfth grade, to be precise.

BB: As much as this one happens to be a clichéd question, let me ask you this. Have you been fascinated by films all the while?

Aishwarya: Oh yes! I have always wanted to be in films, and have been quite attracted towards modeling and movies, right from the start. I should say I have been quite fortunate that I find myself today where I have always wanted to be!

BB: Which was your first movie? Could you tell us a little bit about it?

Aishwarya: I made my debut through a Telugu movie ‘Keratam’. I was paired with Siddharth Rajkumar, who was also being launched into films through this movie. It was directed by Gautham Patnaik, brother of music director RP Patnaik. The film made it to the theatres last year.

BB: We also heard that you have done a couple of Tamil films already! Now that is quite an achievement!

Aishwarya: Yes! My first Tamil film was of course ‘Yuvan’, which was the Tamil remake of the Kannada film ‘Josh’. I am also doing another film ‘Kandupidi Kandupidi’ that has been directed by Rama Subburaman. It’s a crime thriller that has Seeman, Murali and Tharun Kshatriya in key roles.

BB: How did the ‘Simhasanam’ offer come your way?

Aishwarya: Diphan Sir, renowned Malayalam film director, happens to be a very good friend of mine. He happened to see my pictures on Facebook, and was impressed. It was him, who introduced me to Shaji Kailas, who was on the lookout for a heroine for ‘Simhasanam’.

BB: ‘Simhasanam’, from the looks and sound of it, must have struck you as a film that is bound to be all about muscles and clout. Were you comfortable with the thought of doing a female lead in a male-dominated scenario as this?

Aishwarya: I do accept that it’s an action film, but I was glad that there was ample scope for the women characters to perform in it. Being a high voltage action film, I’m delighted that I could do what I have done in ‘Simhasanam’.

BB: The Malayali audience got to see you first in the ‘Omaya Omaya’ song that has turned out to be a hit. Tell us about your experience of working with Prithviraj.

Aishwarya: It was absolutely fantastic! Prithvi is very friendly and downright cooperative. He never even for a moment, made me feel that I was working with such a big star! He was very helpful, and I should say that I had a great time working with him.

BB: At the moment, you are busy with the Tamil version of the Malayalam film ‘Traffic’. Have you seen the original film? Which is the role that you would be playing in the Tamil film?

Aishwarya: Oh yes! I have watched the Malayalam film, and really loved it. I play the character that was played by Roma in the Malayalam version. I’m greatly excited to be a part of ‘Naangu Vazhi Salai’.

BB: I’d say you are extremely lucky to have been able to work in three major film industries down South – Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. As an actor, what are the major differences that you have observed between the three?

Aishwarya: I’d say there are no differences as such between these three industries. I guess it all depends on one’s outlook; the way you look at them. As for me, I have barely started out, and I should say that I am very fortunate to have been able to work with such huge names in the industry, be it stars like Prithviraj or directors like Shaji Kailas. In ‘Naangu Vazhi Salai’, I get to be in a film that has such great actors as Sarath Kumar and Prakash Raj in it. Great film makers, actors and scripts; I’m tremendously privileged to be working with them.

BB: Tell me the actor whom you are dying to work with!

Aishwarya: (laughs) I was dying to work with Prithviraj, and I did get to work with him in ‘Simhasanam’! And yes, I’d love to work with Mammootty, Mohanlal and Jayaram!

 BB: Who is it that you have in your mind that you would like to model your work and career on?

Aishwarya: I admire Shobhana maam a lot, and I adore the way she lends life to the characters that she plays on screen. I’d really like to leave a mark in the film industry, like she has done!

BB: If I asked you to describe the kind of person that you are in a couple of sentences, what would you tell me?

Aishwarya: I am absolutely passionate about acting. Every day I find myself willing to explore my potentials as an actress. I have wanted to act and be in films for as long as I can remember. I feel I have finally come to the right place; I belong here.

 BB: Thanks much Aishwarya! It was a pleasure talking to you!

Aishwarya: Thank You!

Anwar Rasheed’s ‘Ustad Hotel’ is right behind, and has grossed 8.4 crores from thirty six days. The film has managed to rake in the moolah despite ‘Thattathin Marayathu’ and its super success. There have only been two film that crossed the ten crore mark this year – ‘Mayamohini’ and ‘Ordinary’.

Meanwhile, the Shaji Kailas film ‘Simhasanam’ has taken a poor opening at the box office, and the mixed reviews and somewhat negative word of mouth might hamper the chances of the film being a winner, even further. With Onam releases arriving with a bang next week, ‘Simhasanam’ stands to face some tough competition as well.

Nowrunning says that this rehash is a bit too difficult to digest: “Half way through the film, on seeing Madhavan’s entire entourage coming up his driveway, Ramanunni sighs and shakes his head! “The same old story…,” he mutters. Yes Sir, we are all in agreement with you there! It’s the very same old story, and it bores us to death.”

Sify calls it below average: “The film doesn’t work because it’s hard to empathize with any of the characters and the lead actors fail to rise above the flawed script. When DVDs of old blockbusters are available and when those classic scenes and dialogues are being aired on TV, do we need a hotchpotch of it all? It’s a mystery how films like this get made.”

The release of the film was postponed once earlier. The film was expected to release in July, but was postponed to August due to the non-availability of theatres.

Aishwarya Devan and Vandana Menon play the female leads in the film that has been scripted by the director himself. The film is expected to put an end to the rough patch that Shaji Kailas has been going though for a while.

Shaji says that some theatre owners thought that the film would bot be complete by July 6, its release date. The film was expected to be ready by June 29. However since Prithvi had fallen sick, it was postponed by a couple of days. By July 2, the film was ready as well.

However, since some thought that the film will not be ready, another film was charted in the theatres where ‘Simhaasanam’ was to release. The director also has made it clear that the film will now be released during the third week of August.

The film would be released in around eighty theatres in the state and in about forty five theatres outside Kerala. The action thriller that is also expected to be a family entertainer is expected to draw a huge initial that would help Pritvhi regain his status as a box office star.

The film will have two heroines – Aishwarya and Vandana. Saikumar, Siddique and Devan form the supporting cast. The film that has been shot on locations at Ottappaalam has been written and directed by ace action film director Shaji Kailas. ‘Simhasanam’ would have a ‘Naduvazhikal’ flavor to it, says the director, in that the film would also deal with the strong relationship shared between a father and a son, but would not be a sequel to hit Mohanlal film.

Vanada was interacting with a prominent Malayalam film magazine when she talked about her take on idle talk. Vandana says that friendships in the industry are short lived, and once its pack up time, its good bye to friendships as well. Which is why, she has few friends in the industry!

The beautiful actress is currently acting in ‘Simhaasanam’ opposite Prithviraj. This Shaji Kailas film is expected to bring about a huge difference in her career. Earlier she has been seen in Saji Surendran’s ‘Happy Husbands’ opposite Jayasurya, but the film being a multi-starrer, her role was not much noticed. Let’s hope ‘Simhaasanam’ changes the world for good, for Vandana Menon.

The film that starred Mammootty was a sequel to the hit film ‘August 1′, and had sunk without a trace at the box office. It was pointed out by critics that the sequel could not maintain the investigative spirit that had made the former film a huge hit with the masses.

Shaji says that its very risky doing remakes, since the responsibilities on the film maker are increased multifold. He had originally planned to do a sequel to ‘Naaduvazhikal’ and had later decided against it, precisely for the same reaso, the director adds. Shaji has finished shooting for his latest film ‘Simhasanam’ that has Prithviraj doing the lead role.

Prithvi said that he is well aware of what is going on, but has been taking all these in a  light hearted manner. Because he feels that people who do not know him really, are the ones behind such mischief, and its no use lending such people an ear. He added that his only concern was when his family members were unnecessarily drawn into such controversies.

Career wise, Prithviraj is on a roll, and has another major film ‘Hero’ coming up for release in the next few weeks. His debut Hindi film ‘Ayya’ with Rani Mukherjee has also been completed, and he is currently busy with the shoot of Shaji Kailas’ new film ‘Simhaasanam’.