Mallu girls flock T-Town

Looks like roping in Malayalam actresses for the leading lady role in Telugu films seems to be the latest fad

Tollywood's lovely leading ladies—Samantha, Kajal, Tamannaah, and gang, who have entertained us for long are not "homegrown". While Tollywood has been importing heroines from other states for a long time, especially from Mumbai, Delhi and Punjab, the time has come for homebred girls in South; lovely lasses from ‘God’s Own Country’ are much in demand in Tollywood this season.

A slew of actress like Keerthi Suresh, Anupama Parameswaran, Namitha Pramod, Pearle Mane and Annanya will make their T-own debut soon.

Anupama Parameswaran, who shot to fame with her performance in Malayalam blockbuster ‘Premam’, has bagged three plum projects in Tollywood. She will be seen in an important role in Ravi Teja’s forthcoming film ‘Yevado Okkadu’, directed by Venu Sreeram. While the petite actress also signed for a pivotal role in director Trivikram Srinivas' next, which also stars Samantha and Nithiin, she’ll be one of the leading ladies in director Chandoo Mondeti's Telugu film, a remake of ‘Premam’.

“I saw Premam and was impressed with Anupama’s performance. We believe she can carry the same role with dignity and elegance for the Telugu version, too. Since, we want to recreate the magic in Telugu, she was an obvious choice,” reasons Chandoo, when asked why he roped her in.

Another Mallu actress, Namitha Pramod will play actor Aadi’s love interest in his forthcoming film directed by Veerabhadram Chowdary.

Question the actress on why she chose to get into other shores with a budget film, “Though made on a modest budget, there is always something creative and new to look forward to in Telugu films. I have done a handful of Malayalam films and I believe this is the right time for me to foray into other languages and get the required exposure,” explains Namitha, adding, “My character is clincher for me. I was glad to be in such a differently written role.”

Ananya, who is a popular face in Malayalam and Tamil, will be making a comeback of sorts in Tollywood with Trivikram’s film ‘A..Aa’. The chirpy actress, who made her debut as the leading lady in Tollywood with ‘Amayakudu’, will be seen in the role of a sister to Nithiin in the romantic drama.

Justifying her decision Ananya says, “I don’t have any qualms in playing a sister in my comeback. I don’t see it as a sister role but a meaty character that has depth and emotion. It brings credibility to the overall plot and that’s why I accepted it. In Malayalam, I’ve done many roles – lead, cameo and guest appearance because they were interesting. Ditto with Telugu.”

Earlier, we had Malavika Nair making her Tolly debut opposite Nani in ‘Yevade Subramanyam’. The teenager from Delhi won brownie points for her performance in her debut and has signed another film directed Nandini Reddy. “I saw Malavika at a music launch of her debut film and found her appealing. I think it was her face and her eyes that made me cast her for the role,” says Nandini.

Similarly, Keerthi Suresh and Pearle Maaney are also testing waters in Telugu in their debut films, starring Ram and Naga Shourya, respectively.

By:Sashidhar Adivi