I tell Manju Warrier about my first memory of her from Malayalam cinema. In Shaji Kailas’ Aaram Thampuran, she overshadows a formidable Mohanlal in the first scene of the 1997 blockbuster. She beautifully conveys the valiance of her character in a short scene that sets the tone for her chemistry with Mohanlal.
When did she realise that she could stand out on her own in a star-centric industry? “I was too inexperienced to think that way,” says Manju, who inspired her contemporaries and budding female actors in the Malayalam film industry by starring in complex roles.
“I thank those who wrote beautiful characters for me. In those days, my contribution to a film was limited to acting. I didn’t have the exposure to suggest anything to the director. I didn’t know what was happening with my films after my work was over,” she admits.
Today, Manju ensures an all-round involvement in her projects. A decade ago, she signalled her comeback after a lengthy break from films with How Old Are You. Since the 2014 hit family drama, Manju has been the face of her movies, especially in Malayalam. “Now I involve myself in every stage of filmmaking, right from script discussion to post-production. My projects are more like a group of friends collaborating to create something interesting,” she says.
Manju Warrier in ‘Footage’
The actor has been on an experimenting spree, with her latest film in the news, Footage, being another unique attempt. The 2024 Malayalam movie will be released in Hindi, on March 07, 2025, with Anurag Kashyap presenting the dubbed version. The found-footage film, which revolves around a curious couple, is directed by debutant Saiju Sreedharan, who edited popular movies such as Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016) and Kumbalangi Nights (2019).
Footage represents Manju’s attempt at cracking a different genre after sports flick (Karinkunnam 6’s), children’s film (Jo and the Baby), legal drama (C/O Saira Banu), biopic (Aami), comedy (Mohanlal), and musical (Meri Awas Suno).
“After How Old Are You, I started getting similar scripts,” reveals Manju. Directed by Rosshan Andrrews, How Old Are You felt like a statement from the actor. The film tells the story of a woman who decides to turn around her life at 36. “After the film’s success, I heard stories about a woman facing daunting challenges and overcoming all the problems in her life all alone. I wanted to star in a variety of stories,” says Manju, explaining the choice of her films.
Footage was an exciting film to pull off, she says. “The film has very few characters, and every scene had to be a single shot. All the scenes were choreographed carefully, and we worked closely with the cinematographer (Shinoz) right from the planning stage.”
Gayathri Ashok and Vishak Nair in ‘Footage’
The film marks Manju’s foray into Hindi cinema. A project with R Madhavan, titled Amriki Pandit, was supposed to be her Hindi debut. However, the movie is currently on hold. “Amriki Pandit was directed by Kalpesh Garg. We had shot more than half of the film when the pandemic struck. Madhavan then got busy with his directorial Rocketry, and later, due to various reasons, we couldn’t get the film back together, I wish it would come out one day. It’s a beautiful movie,” she offers.
The risks taken in Footage struck a chord with Anurag Kashyap, known “for making path-breaking movies”, says Manju. “Anurag sir’s love for Malayalam movies is well known. When we first met, I was surprised he knew about my work. He has a set audience in Hindi, and I hope the film impresses them.”
We see a conscious decision to do something different with each film. However, not all risks from Manju have paid off. “My judgments have gone wrong,” she admits. “I learn from mistakes and go with the flow. I can’t say it’s the right method to deal with failures, but it works for me. I don’t plan much. I go with my instinct,” she says.
Does this approach make her less worried about competition in her field? “I don’t know about competition, but I have enjoyed watching several female performances in recent times. Last year, Parvathy (Thirvothu) was impressive in Ullozhukku and Thangalaan. I am a huge fan of Urvashi chechi, and she was brilliant in Ullozhukku.”
Footage is a thriller, a genre obsessively loved by Malayalam filmmakers. To their credit, they have made solid thrillers consistently. However, is there a risk of generating a feeling of fatigue inside the audience with the over-exploitation of the genre? “It’s not about trying the same formula,” points out Manju.
“Films are working not because they are thrillers. They have succeeded because the content is good. Following a trend can backfire if you don’t have material that engages the audience,” she reasons.
Manju remains tight-lipped about her next, the highly-anticipated sequel L2: Empuraan, starring Mohanlal. “Lucifer (2019) was loved immensely, and I can’t wait to see Empuraan on the big screen. My character is very interesting.” In the second phase of her career, what excites her to be a part of a star-driven film? Is it about the lessons you gain from being a part of an ensemble? “No. For me, it’s about my character’s influence on the story. It’s just not about being on a big set. It’s about what my character has to do in the plot.”
Published – March 04, 2025 01:54 pm IST
