Malavika promotes the need for education among tribal communities
Actor Malavika Mohanan has been tirelessly working to educate children from tribal communities in Kerala. The 27-year-old says: “Many years back, I had shot for a film in Wayanad (Kerala) which never got released. But I ended up spending time with the tribal communities in the area. I was starting out and didn’t have the financial means to help them. Some of the children didn’t get to have even one square meal a day,” she says.
Mohanan believes that the only way to improve their quality of life is by educating them. “A few NGOS and members of the communities were trying to send them to school by funding their fees but that has come to a halt since schools are shut. So, we are trying to raise funds for 22 of these tribal communities. Even if each village has one laptop, these kids can continue their education,” the actor says.
The past few months might have been grim but the success of Master brought much joy to the actor. Despite the lacklustre first half of 2021 with very few theatrical releases, the actioner emerged as the highest grosser clocking in more than ₹200 crores.
Mohanan confides that the numbers came as a surprise considering its release during the on-going pandemic.
“We didn’t know what to expect. There was a lot of apprehension among everybody in the team. They couldn’t hold the release anymore. No other film had released in the theatres since the pandemic. When it came to commercial films, Master was touted to be the first big release,” says the actor who has resumed the shoot of D43 earlier this month.