It's important to tell responsible stories as cinema is a reflection of society: Anaswara Rajan

Neru, Ozler... Any avid Malayalam movie enthusiast would undoubtedly endorse Anaswara Rajan's remarkable acting prowess after witnessing her performances in these films. Anaswara, who has also embarked on a journey to embrace diverse roles in Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi cinema, recently engaged in a candid conversation with Malayala Manorama.

In ‘Ozler,’ Anaswara makes her presence felt in the flashback sequences, where she takes on the challenging task of donning costumes and immersing herself in the mannerisms of a bygone era. She credits director Midhun Manuel Thomas for his meticulous guidance and patient tutelage in helping her excel in these aspects.

In ‘Neru,’ Anaswara faced a significant challenge as she had to embody the character of a visually challenged individual and navigate numerous emotionally charged scenes. To prepare extensively for this role, Anaswara embarked on a deep and intensive journey of understanding and empathy. She revealed that she drew inspiration from real-life individuals with visual impairments, closely observing their interviews and experiences. As she delved into the character's emotional rollercoaster, Anaswara admitted to feeling a profound sense of distress, mirroring the mental ups and downs her character went through.

Anaswara says the 2017 film, 'Udaharanam Sujatha,' starring Manju Warrier, is her all-time favourite. “I hail from a small village in Kannur and was in a sense of wonderment when I reached the sets of the film,” she said. Anaswara reflects on her personal growth and how her approach has evolved over time. She acknowledges that she used to be quick to react, adopting an attitude of self-sufficiency where she believed she needed no guidance.

However, she now acknowledges a shift in her perspective, especially in dealing with comments on social media. Anaswara explains that her restraint in responding to such comments doesn't necessarily mean they are correct, but rather that she believes some comments deserve to be ignored and not given undue attention. She credits her journey in the film industry for playing a pivotal role in her growth as an individual.

‘Yaariyaan’ marked Anaswara's Bollywood debut, and she describes it as a completely unique experience. Everything was novel for her, from the people, locations, language, to the cuisine. Anaswara is known to have a passion for travel, both solo and with companions. She shared that her love for travelling is rivaled only by her love for reading, particularly fiction, and she indulges in a lot of reading in her free time.

Anaswara thinks cinema reflects the thinking of society. “The older films which we call out now were watched and liked by many. We do not do it now because of the changes we have undergone as people. Cinema is an avenue for entertainment. But we should not glorify wrong things and I am particular that my films should not do it,” she says.

Anaswara’s new projects include 'Malayalee from India', 'Ente Swantham Punyalan', 'Guruvayur Amabalanadayil', 'Oru Perumgaliyattam' are some of her new Malayalam projects. Two Tamil films are set to release shortly. In Tamil, 'Lucky' will release first, while the shoot of another is progressing.