Actor says his character in “Sara’s” will be different from what she played in previous blockbuster Malayalam films
Anna Ben and her sister watched Ohm Shanthi Oshana (OSO) several times. The 2014 Malayalam romantic comedy on coming of age has gained cult status among young people, similar to Premaman. So when Jude Anthany Joseph, director of OSO, approached her with her new film Sara’s, she was “very excited”.
This movie is slated for release on Amazon Prime Video on July 5.
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She is happy to have been able to play the artist, unlike her three previous films. Unlike his characters in films such as Nights of Kumbalangi, Helen and Kappela, Sara’s is different from your. Anna says: “She’s an artist with drama, music and humor.
Becoming Sara was not difficult for her; Jude gave him complete freedom to portray the character. A bonus was that it was relatable.
“For example, for Kappela, I went there a few days in advance to get ready. In addition, there was the director’s contribution. My character, Sara, works in the film industry and this experience concerned me.
Sara’s concerns the freedom of choice of a young woman, whether or not she wants to have a child. “I found the subject interesting. Stories told from different angles make me curious. It’s a family movie, but it’s also thought-provoking. The response to a girl’s freedom of choice is mixed. It’s not always seen in a positive light, even today. This subject is approached in a lighter and more entertaining way.
The film was shot just after the first wave of the pandemic, after restrictions were eased. “We had apprehensions and fears, but the production team made sure everyone on set was taking all safety precautions.”
Since its inception in 2019, with Nights of Kumbalangi, Anna’s films / roles were sponsored by writers, geared towards women. However, she denies that this was a conscious decision. “It must be a project that fascinates me. I am ready to work hard and I am not difficult to lead. If we were talking about Helen or Kappela… The stories were powerful. It didn’t matter who the female or male protagonist was. In its entirety, the films would have clicked. I look at a project as a whole when I consider it.
Sara’s is special for another reason; she plays with her father Benny P Nayarambalam. It would be the veteran screenwriter’s first major role in a movie. “I never imagined playing with Pappa in a movie. Although he always wanted to act, he pushed back writing. Jude pushed him to act. Earlier this year, he appeared in the segment of Aashiq Abu in the anthology film Aanum Pennum. But Sara’s will be the first time that his character will appear for a considerable amount of time. Pappa has a lot of theater experience, so stepping into the role was not difficult for him. He succeeded. “
With her films broadcast on OTT platforms, Anna has received a lot of positive feedback. Helen, in particular, has a lot of fans in Tamil Nadu, she said.
Sara’s was designed for an OTT version; this is Anna’s first project. “One of the few positive things to come out during the pandemic is the growth of OTT platforms. As an artist, this is a great opportunity to connect with the audience. We all watch more regional content.
Confined to her home for almost three months now, she says, “My friends work from home and are busy; I did not go out. My deadlines are completely out of date because I cannot venture out to work now. “
