Saritha Kukku, known for portraying strong female characters like the bold auto-rickshaw driver in 'Papilio Buddha' and the brave-hearted Cheeru in 'Iyobinte Pusthakam', has delivered another powerful portrayal in 'Mandakini'. In the Vinod Leela movie, she takes on the role of a mother-in-law, but unlike the typical extra sweet or villainous depictions often seen in Mollywood. Her character Rajalakshmy is practical, fiercely independent, and capable of assuming a formidable presence when necessary.
In a candid chat with Onmanorama, Saritha revealed that she wasn't the filmmakers' first choice for the role. "The makers initially planned to cast Manju Pillai in the film," she disclosed. However, she stepped in at the last moment due to Manju's prior commitments. "To be honest, my screen test didn't initially please the director, as he envisioned someone older-looking for the role. Additionally, I appeared too lean for the character. To address these concerns, I consulted a makeup artist who made some adjustments to my appearance. The result delighted the director. I then gained weight (approximately six kilos) within a span of two weeks to fully embody my character," she added.
Originally from Payyanur, Saritha has never truly enjoyed watching the characters she has portrayed on screen. However, 'Mandakini' changed that for her. "This was the first time I watched myself on screen with such joy. I visited the theatre multiple times to witness people's reactions and experience the joy of seeing my character. I always believed I never had the opportunity to showcase my strengths as an actor. 'Mandakini' allowed me to do that to a large extent," she expressed.
When initially offered the role, Saritha hesitated, considering Rajalakshmy's age and the fear of being typecast as a mother. However, after reading the full script, her perspective changed. "Rajalakshmy was unlike any woman I had seen on screen. She is a woman of agency and embodies the essence of womanhood. Her life also pays tribute to all single women out there," she noted. "People embraced the mass scenes wholeheartedly. To be honest, I was also surprised by how well they turned out. Some even likened my demeanour to Mammootty's style in mass scenes," she chuckled.
Saritha began her career as a theatre artist before transitioning to film. Most of her early work consisted of art-house cinema. She received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Manju in the controversial film 'Papilio Buddha', directed by Jayan K Cherian. Subsequently, she took on smaller roles in commercial films such as 'Rani Padmini' and 'Iyobinte Pusthakam', earning praise for her performances.
As an actor who has already committed to new projects, Saritha hopes to continue portraying compelling roles in the future.