# Bhavana/ T.P. Gayatri
After a long break, Bhavana is again active in Malayalam cinema. He is coming back with the movie Ntikakkakkoru Premandarnni. Bhavana talks about her retirement and how Malayalam cinema has changed
It took 20 years to get from Parimalam to Eternal. Bhavana is back in Malayalam. This is not a second coming. The film Ntikakkakuru Premandarnn and the heroine Nitya are the testimony that it was here and will be here again. She came to Malayalam after a gap of five and a half years with the same enthusiasm as her first film. The new movie is directed by debutant Adil Maimunath Ashraf. Bhavana last acted in Malayalam in September 2017’s Adam John. Bhavana says that even though she got an opportunity to be a part of many Malayalam films, she did not think of a comeback. All this time he was preparing his mind for it. The wait is over. Bhavana talks about the return to Malayalam, the time that has passed away, the changes in Malayalam cinema over the past five years and the features of the new movie.
Bhavana’s movie is coming to Malayalam after a long time? The audience waits. Are you curious and what are you hoping for?
2002 saw the release of my first film. The anxiety and tension was a very bad experience that day. I am still in the same situation. The same excitement, the same tension, the same joy when I was waiting for my role as Parimalam. Everything is as it is. Usually there was not much tension. But now I am coming to Malayalam cinema after five years. Although I am very happy about it, there is a lot of tension until the movie reaches the theater.
Newcomer director, new generation stars, new producers… What is the newness felt in the world of Malayalam cinema
Malayalam cinema is not like when I did Adam John many years ago. A lot has changed. New technicians, new actors… so there were changes in everything related to cinema. There were many changes in the making of the film itself. The theme of the movie is more realistic now. There are many such new movies coming up. Earlier the film was in this pattern of hero, heroine and villain. Now every minor character has their role and importance. That is a very positive change. I live in Bengaluru. Non-Malayalee friends here also talk about this change in Malayalam cinema. They also now watch Malayalam movies regularly. Aren’t these very positive changes?
Bhavana is a part of the South Indian film industry. Mostly outside Kerala. Do you miss our country and language?
In the last five years, he acted only in other language films. All that time I have really missed Malayalam. Playing a character by speaking Malayalam can be enjoyed a little more. There is a comfort in making films speaking our own language. In the last few years, that has not been possible. I have now given more importance to my mental health. That is why I stayed away from Malayalam for some time. Maybe the best time of my career was lost. But isn’t the health of the mind bigger than that? Something seemed to stay away from here.
Famous directors and stars have heard many stories these days… Why is the movie ‘Ntikakkakuru Premandarnn’?
Many good projects in Malayalam have come before this. It was difficult to come back here mentally. My friend Shanim was approached by the production team to talk to me for this film. But still I said no. I was not mentally prepared to return to Malayalam. That’s why he said no in the first place. But they waited for four or five months saying that they should hear the story and talk face to face. In January 2021, producer Reneesh and director Adil came and spoke. I liked the story. But even then he did not say yes to them. Nothing was given to them. It was total confusion. Whether to do Malayalam or not. Total confusion. Can’t decide. But my family and friends asked me why I should stay away. Everyone stood by with firm support. And when I thought about it, I also felt that there was no need to stay away. That is how the decision of yes is reached. It seems fine now.
What was the experience of shooting this film?
Even though I was in cinema for so many years, I was out of Malayalam. When I came back I was confused. For the first two or three days there was a little distance for everyone. It was the same for me. No one has worked with me before. I don’t know anyone either. In the beginning it was all confusion. It took two or three days to get everything set. And everything was cool. It was a very good experience.
