ACTING TALENT IS INBORN WITH SHANTHI ANAND

BY N.THYAGARAJAN

Many recognised her that she would prosper if she begins to act in films. Then Shanthi was studying in SIET College. She mistook her friends' advice whenever they asked her to act in films. Then Shanthi was doing her Bharatha Natyam classes under the tutelage of Kalaimamani K.J.Sarasa. She has the photo-genic face to bring all nine moods of human beings on her face. On the day of her first dance performance 1984, actress Padmini and politician H.V.Hande, who presided over the function praised her saying that the girl did her dance well and if she was prepared to act in films, she had the bright future. Then Shanthi felt that her college friends were truly advising her to become an actor.

Time was when actor, director and producer Parthiban was looking for an young girl for his film Sugamana Sumaigal. Shanthi and her father rushed the gates of the actor. There was a big queue with different faces. When her turn came, Parthiban asked her to repeat a dialogue of his without seeing the book. She did so with an expression and immediately she was asked to report for the shooting the next day.

"Money is not criteria for me to act in films or mega serials. I don't differentiate the acting for big or small screen at any time. Acting is acting. But I am waiting for a big character role to prove my talents. I want to appear in good roles like yesteryear Vijaya Kumari, Sowcar Janaki, Saroja Devi, Padmini and Savithri type roles. Still, I feel very sad that there is not even a single story based on the characters like these actresses in which they acted " says Shanthi Anand.

"One such character I did in Dheerga Sumangali with Nizhalgal Ravi for the Sun TV. I appeared as the mother of four grown up daughters. In reality they are older than me. I was not even then 22 when I did the role. Because I want to do something in my acting career, I accepted the role. Normally no girl will accept to do a role like this at that age. But, I wished to do the big role at this young age. So I accepted it. Whoever saw me in the serial praised me" recalls Shanthi whose face resembles the one of yesteryear matured actress Vijayakumari.

The actress who has more than 45 mega-serials and five films like Gowri Manohari, Gokulam under her belt is now acting as a widow in Mudhal Mudhalaai with Bhagyaraj, as a brahmin girl in Madurai Ponnu Chinna Payyan and in a teacher's role in Inivarum Kalam besides in mega-serials like Suriya Vamsam and Aarumaname Aaru.

" After seeing me as mother in Dheerga Sumangali, many asked me to do the role of mother. I simply rejected those offers. I wanted to do good character roles. I have the sense of comedy and I want to appear in comedian role too" says Shanthi Anand.

Shanthi is extrovert. She revealed what had happened in a serial produced under the big banner. The serial manager demanded from her the 50 per cent of her remuneration that she used to receive after finishing her shooting everyday. She refused to pay the money to him. To her surprise the next day her name was not appearing in the actresses' list. " There are many girls and boys who wanted to appear in serials, paying out their earnings either to the manger of the production companies or to the directors concerned. I have the capacity in acting. Why should I pay ?" asks Shanthi.

Shanthi says, " after seeing my role in Aadugiran Kannan in which I did a small role, the director Badrinath extended my scenes because he was moved by the way I did my character in the serial. I always want to be called by everyone as a good artiste. This is my aim" says Shanthi Anand. Anand Raj is a Mumbaite doing business in Chennai and lives with Shanthi afer marriage in an apartment in Saligramam.

Shanthi worked under the director K.Balachander's Cheran Express, Andha Naal, Air Bus and Jannal serials for the Sun TV channel and Raj Tv channel. She has acted in AVM's Oru Pennin Kadhai, Aasai ( Heroine), Jyothi and the Telugu version of Akka. She did meaty roles for the Seventh Channel's Ethanai Manidhargal and Marupadiyum Aval and many other serials produced by big production companies. All these serials had brought her laurels and some awards at frequent intervels, says Shanthi.
"Acting is very breath of my life and I dream of doing a good role, a good character role. This is my prayer everyday" says Shanthi Anand.