‘ It was thrilling to be on the sets’

Danseuse Leela Samson, who recently resigned from her post of chairperson of the censor board, has just made her debut, at the age of 63, in Mani Ratnam’s love story O Kadhal Kanmani. Leela plays a frail but resolute Alzheimers- stricken wife and Prakash Raj plays her doting husband.

Those who know this rather low- profile Bharatnatyam exponent better, were surprised to see her on screen. Leela says, “Mani Ratnam’s office called and asked if I could meet him. I did. He narrated a story to me and asked if I would like to play the role of a character named Bhavani. I loved the story line and my character. On the spur of the moment I said ‘ why not?’.”

She did have to go through a screen test. “They did a camera test the next day and a week later confirmed that the role was mine. It was only then that I got a jolt about the reality of the situation,” she says. The filming experience was a treat. “It was thrilling to be on the sets watching Mani sir go about his craft.” That she was working with the likes of Ratnam and Prakash Raj in her first film helped Leela with her confidence. “I have the deepest respect for these two gentlemen. Prakash Raj is a seasoned actor who knows his art well. I was not intimidated, but very respectful of him as an actor of repute. He is jovial and helpful and I’m glad he was my first co- star.” As for the romantic lead, she beams, “I loved Dulquer and Nithya! They are terrific young actors. No one on the sets of a Mani Ratnam film can escape the rigour. His assistant directors are all young and there is a lot of fun on and off the sets. I soon had many young friends. Mani sir’s entire team works like a wellknit family. And they work hard.”