To be a part of two Indian National Award-winning films is an honour, said Asha Sharath, actor of many Malayalam films.
Sharath plays a significant role in Malayalam film Bhayanakam — winner of three National Awards and Vishwapoorvam Mansoor — that won KJ Yesudas the Best Male Playback Singer recently.
Bhayanakam, directed by veteran Jayaraj, is adapted from Malayalam writer Thakazhi Sivasankar Pillai’s book titled Kayar. Jayaraj has taken only two chapters from Kayar for Bhayanakam.
Set in 1930 and based in Kuttanad, this story follows the life of a postman (played by Renji Panicker). Around 650 residents of this neighbourhood had joined the British army, some driven by poverty and some forced by the Britishers.
Sharath plays Gauri Kunjamma, whose two sons have gone to the war front.
She is thankful to her director for the opportunity. “Due to personal reasons I could not join the sets immediately but Jayaraj sir waited for two months for me,” said Sharath.
Gauri Amma shares a friendship with the local postman and it is through their conversations that the story of Bhayanakam is narrated.
In the first half, the postman is a harbinger of good tidings. He delivers money orders to the residents from their soldier sons. With the outbreak of the Second World War, the postman’s visit becomes a much dreaded one. Instead of money orders, he now brings telegrams conveying news of dead soldiers.
Sharath said that in Bhayanakam, the fear of war and its repercussions is portrayed through this postman and “not through bomb blasts, killings and weapons.”
Delivering lines in Kuttanad slang was a new learning experience for her; so too was the challenge of working in sync sound.
In PT Kunju Mohammad-directed Vishwapoorvam Mansoor, Sharath played a Muslim mother. This film released last year and dwells on the bond between a mother and son. Yesudas rendered the song, Poi Maranja Kalam.
Sharath was top contender for Best Actress award but lost to late Sridevi. The Sridevi fan who has not missed any of her idol’s films said that she was happy to know that she was considered in the same category along with Sridevi.
“She is a great and experienced actress and deserved the award,” said Sharath.
The actress will be working next on a Malayalam film and a Tamil film under director Lakshmi Ramakrishnan.
Sharath, who also manages Kairali Kalakendram, a dance and entertainment organisation in UAE, will be leading a dance and musical show on April 20 at Ajman Cultural Center — a celebration of the organisation’s 15th year.
