The first time we saw Yasmin Ponnappa in a feature film, eight years ago, she, as Subbu in Aaranya Kandam, stunned us. For, what appears to be a meek, sympathy-evoking character later transforms into… someone else. (SPOILER ALERT: Go to the next paragraph if you haven’t seen the movie yet) “The best thing about being a woman is that it’s a man’s world,” she says in the movie’s last shot and walks off into the sunset with a bag of fortune, outwitting all the male characters in the stylishly made gangster drama.
And, that was the last time we saw Yasmin in a feature film as well.
Then, last year, she appeared in a Netflix sci-fi short film, Kalki. In it, she plays two roles: one of the titular character, Kalki, a science graduate from Cardiff University and the other of a dancer, Radhika.
Well written characters, all three; acclaimed, too. So, what’s keeping her away from being on the big screen? Lack of good roles? Lack of time, perhaps? (She’s, after all, the communications head of Mudskipper, a media house, in Bengaluru and a Yoga teacher) We ask Yasmin that and more.
It’s been eight years since Aaranya Kaandam. You, of course, were in a Netflix short,Kalki. Why are you absent from the big screen?
I love good stories, nothing else motivates me. I’m waiting for the next good story to come my way.
Did you get more offers after Aaranya Kaandam?
Yes I did get more offers, but nothing really excited me.
Aaranya Kaandam is labelled as a neo-noir film. Kalki is a sci-fi drama. What sort of roles and genres excite you?
I want to play as many roles as I can, as an actor I want a variety of stories. Repeating roles that are similar bores me. The genres that excite me most are thrillers, drama, sci-fi, comedies and adventure films.
I loved every bit of being part of Aaranya Kaandam, can’t remember disliking anything.
Do you follow what's happening in the film industry, especially in the south?
Yes, I do follow the release of interesting movies from the south.
Your first movie’s director, Thiagaraja Kumararaja, has made his second film, Super Deluxe. Have you seen the movie? What are your thoughts on it?
Yes, I have seen Super Deluxe. My favourites were Vijay Sethupathi’s character, Shilpa, and his son’s story, along with Fahadh Faasil and Samantha’s storyline. The cop character played by Bagavathi Perumal stole the show for me, he was just too good in his character.
How important is Aaranya Kaandam and the character you played in it, Subbu, in your career?
It is the most important moment in my career, my acting career got launched because of Aaranya Kaandam and playing Subbu as the first character in my career was incredible. I’m one of those rare few who got so lucky with their debut.
Can you talk about Thiagaraja Kumararaja -- how is he as a person and how was it to work with him?
Kumararaja is a very good director to work with, there’s a lot of planning that goes into his process, which I personally like as there’s a lot of clarity while working with him.
We hear that he made the actors in Super Deluxe do 50-plus takes. Was it the same with you in Aaranya Kaandam?
(Laughs) Other than for my samosa eating scene, I don’t ever remember taking that many takes. Having said that, I can understand why sometimes it can go into 50-plus takes, when you want everything to be perfect in every frame a lot of synchronization is required from everyone present; a small mistake by anyone means going into another take. But that’s what it takes to put a good film out there, so it’s all good.
Aaranya Kaandam was your first film, right? What did you like and dislike about being part of a movie?
I loved every bit of being part of Aaranya Kaandam, can’t remember disliking anything.
Also, we hear you are a Yoga teacher…
Yes, I am a yoga teacher. It’s one of the main factors of positivity in my life. I have benefitted so much from yoga that I want to share it with as many people as possible. I think everyone would do well with yoga in their life.
So, what are you upto, these days, apart from Mudskipper and yoga?
Other than yoga and Mudskipper, general living keeps me busy. I have a dog, I hang out with her as much as I can and a bunch of hobbies keep me content and recharged.
Do you think meatier roles for women are written now, compared to, say, eight or nine years ago?
It’s definitely improved over the past nine years, though I think there’s room for more diverse roles that can be written for women. Like I said, I am waiting for a kick-ass script.