 "EXCLUSIVE! Priyamani on Article 370 movie | Not Just Bollywood")
Actor Priyamani in an interview with Firstpost’s Lachmi Deb Roy talks on how working for Article 370 made her aware about what went behind the abrogation of it. Known for her spontaneous performances, she simply nailed the role of Rajeshwari Swaminathan, an officer at the PMO.
Set against the backdrop of the Jammu and Kashmir issue, Yami Gautam and Priyamani’s Article 370 has every element required for a complete box-office hit. Based on what happened in the Kashmir Valley since 2016, the movie has amazing visuals and the script is crisp. The PMO officer played by her is perfect to the core. A no-nonsense woman who handles each and every situation in a calm and composed manner.
Edited excerpts from the interview:
How was your preparation for the role like for _Article 370_ on playing Rajeshwari Swaminathan, an officer at the PMO?
I didn’t prepare much for the character honestly as it was more or less a spontaneous thing for me. This character who’s that of a bureaucrat is equally important in carrying out this mission successfully. I immediately said yes to the film since there’s not just one person behind it, she’s also a parallel lead in the film who’s carrying the mission. There are other people also involved in this mission but predominantly, it’s Yami Gautam and me.
What are your views on Article 370 on a personal level?
To be honest, initially I didn’t know much about Article 370. I was aware but not the gravity of it and what went through, how this mission was carried out. Now that I’ve done the film, I’m proud India has done so much and the best part is the mission was carried out and the article was abrogated on the 5th of August, 2019, and I think the country has done a great job in carrying out the mission secretly and no life being lost. Through the shoot, the respect for the people involved became much more for me.
Did your views change about Article 370 while working on this movie?
I could relate to the people being involved in this set mission and how they carried it. There’s a lot of material that has been provided to the makers, but after going through the material that was provided to me, my hands were shivering because I didn’t know such things existed. During the course of the shoot, I was being educated by Aditya Jhamle and even his ADs. It has definitely created an impact on me personally and it has created a great sense of pride.
What is your take on women’s role changing in cinema?
It has been there since time immemorial. Women did carry movies on their shoulders but it was not talked about enough like it’s being today. In between, the regular commercial cinema is happening where heroines are paired opposite heroes for songs and dances. But even there, there’s something for them to prove. It’s a plus point and it should just continue.
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