PREETHI TALKS OPENLY TO US

( BY N.THYAGARAJAN )

In the films like Anniyan, Enga Veetu Pillai and Michael Madana Kamarajan the heroes had enough time to change their costumes, voice modulations and money that are required to produce any number of films. But, producing TV serials with double roles always expensive and time consuming. Hence, the producers avoid altogether the stories based on the subjects like twins or 'father and son' looking alike talking with each other on many scenes.

It is after Radaan TV Arasi in which actress Radhika appears in dual role as mother and daughter, San Media Productions' Bandham', have come out with double role subject. It is about two identical sisters , fights with each other for entrenching their rights over a property and in establishing their mother an innocent woman who was arrested.

The dual role in Bandham was done by Preethi Srinivas and now Rindhya has taken over the two roles. She appears as Nithila and Jeeva being soft and rough characters respectively.

Preethi Srinivas narrates her experiences and difficulties to the www.filmschannels.blogspot.com. She says while filming both the characters to appear on the same scene, talking with each other, she has to change her costumes quite often for Jeeva and Nithila characters. "Normally, it may take 30 minutes to change the costumes but by keeping the budget of the soap, time and availability of the sun-light, I change it in 10 mts, and will be immediately on the spot to do the other character" says Preethi Srinivas.

"It is a very tedious job to do both the roles at a time, because I have to speak both the dialogues at a stretch with different modulations. But, I will be surprised and feel happy in the dubbing theater when I see myself talking with the other person alike me. It is a sort of entertainment for me" says Preethi Srinivas.

"Bandham director Hari Babu, who had seen my roles in various soaps,one day called on me and said that he expected two different types of acting. The writer Kumaresan Henry Sam who was beside in the meeting advised me to go view the double acting films of MGR and Rajinikanth to settle down in an idea to do the roles. I followed their instructions strictly and now I am in the good books of various producers and directors" says Preethi who has just passed out of her Intermediate examination of the Chartered Accountancy.The San Media Productions worked out the script with a team for more than six months to produce the soap, reveals Preethi.

She was an aw-shucks initially, when the entire production unit praised her acting. She thought it was an encouragement from her colleagues.She realised that they have really praised her when the director P.Samuthirakani praised her over phone and asking her to keep the tempo of acting.

Preethi has no basic experience in acting when her father Srinivas took her to the ace film director K.Balachandar for a chance in Micro Macro, a weekly serial produced five years ago for the Raj TV channel. The director while offering her chance strictly told Srinivas, the relationships between their families was different and acting before camera was different." No compromise " cautioned Balachander.

'" I took it as a challenge that I should not be scolded by anyone in the shooting spot. I was able to achieve a good name through the Micro Macro because, the dialogues of the Bombay Chanakya and the instructions of director Naga were easy for me" says Preethi. " For me, it was like an acrobat doing his skilful jobs with a balance in a circus tent" says Preethi.

Following the Micro Macro, she did roles in mega-serials like Ahalya, Veetuku Veedu Looti, Viswaroopam etc., Radan TV gave her a good break in Annamalai with Nurkse character. As a lover who becomes widow the young Preethi stole the show.

Apart from her acting, Preethi is bharthanatyam and Kuchupudi dancer. She has been a student of Kalakshetra since her childhood days. Her first Bharathanatyam Arangetram took place when she was eight years old. She did the Kuchupudi arangetram in the year 2005 and still continues her dance classes on week ends.

She wants to become a film actress and said that she was waiting for an opportunity from good directors. Like her elder brother who is a qualified Chartered Accountant she wants to complete her final CA by working under auditing firm.

When asked about her future plans, she quipped that " I don't know what I am going to be in the next year. Perhaps, I may continue my acting or dancing or aiming to become a CA. God alone Knows" says Preethi.

Now Preethi is acting in Vairanenjam for the Kalaignar TV Channel and Lakshmi for the Sun TV Channel. Recently, she won the best dancer award in the Vijay TV Channel's Jodi No.1 Season 2.