It has been a great time for 23-year old Priya Mani ever since she appeared in Ameer Sulthan's Paruthiveeran.
Priya Mani, a Malayali born and brought up in Bangalore, was introduced to films by Bharatiraja. She shot to fame with her second film, Balu Mahendra's Athu Oru Kana Kaalam.
Paruthiveeran, an off-beat film based on a rural theme was not only a commercial success in 2007 but a critically acclaimed film too. She won the Best Actress award at the 9th OSIAN Cinefan film festival for Asia and the Arab world while Paruthiveeran was adjudged the best film. Soon she was chosen by the IFFI 2007 (India International Film Festival) to light the lamp at the inauguration in Goa last year.
And now a National Award for Best Actress for her portrayal as Muthazhagu, the village girl who transforms the ruffian lead character, Paruthiveeran, into a mature human being.
Ever since the announcement of her coup, her phone has not stopped ringing, and her house is flooded with the media all eager to interview her.
In between giving interviews to various television channels, she spoke to rediff.com. Excerpts:
Meet India's best actress!
It has been a great time for 23-year old Priya Mani ever since she appeared in Ameer Sulthan's Paruthiveeran.
Priya Mani, a Malayali born and brought up in Bangalore, was introduced to films by Bharatiraja. She shot to fame with her second film, Balu Mahendra's Athu Oru Kana Kaalam.
Paruthiveeran, an off-beat film based on a rural theme was not only a commercial success in 2007 but a critically acclaimed film too. She won the Best Actress award at the 9th OSIAN Cinefan film festival for Asia and the Arab world while Paruthiveeran was adjudged the best film. Soon she was chosen by the IFFI 2007 (India International Film Festival) to light the lamp at the inauguration in Goa last year.
And now a National Award for Best Actress for her portrayal as Muthazhagu, the village girl who transforms the ruffian lead character, Paruthiveeran, into a mature human being.
Ever since the announcement of her coup, her phone has not stopped ringing, and her house is flooded with the media all eager to interview her.
In between giving interviews to various television channels, she spoke to rediff.com. Excerpts:
