Riding on versatility
Actor Suhasini plays a middle-class girl who, despite facing challenges, never gives up on her dreams in Maamagaru
avocado, Singapore cherry and more, pulses such as pigeon pea (toor dal), green gram (moong dal), black gram (urad dal), Bengal gram (chana dal), legumes like cowpea, (lobia), peanuts, and the oilseed sesame as well as seasonal vegetables and three varieties of indigenous rice. “We understood why people hesitate to do chemicalfree farming. For example, getting chemical manure and pesticides is far simpler than preparing your jeevamrutham. You need cows for manure, you have to tend to them, and preparing the manure takes time; you need to repeat the process each week,” says Meher.
At present, what they grow on eight acres of the farm is not enough to fetch profits, they say. The produce is used mostly by friends and family. Recently, they sold the rice to a relative who was organising a wedding. Such measures
(Clockwise from top) Cashew grown in the farm; planning the layout for cultivation; models sporting ensembles by Elephant in You; Alankrutha and Meher. help bring in revenue to sustain the farm. “We have been relying on our savings,” says Meher.
Easy on the skin
Meanwhile, Alankrutha also learnt to work with natural dyes. She began sourcing unbleached kala cotton from Khamir in Kutch, linen, cotton and hemp from others. This move, she says, was a result of her experiencing frequent allergic reactions to retail clothing.
The capsule collections developed by Elephant in You are sold on the label’s website and through Craft Council exhibitions. The name of the label, says Alankrutha, is a nod to the elephant that lives in sync with Nature.
Working on the farm in the searing heat prompted Meher to construct a limestone studio for a retreat. A mudhouse is also under construction. The cementfree construction is also a step towards reducing their carbon footprint. “Normally, every inch of farmland is used for cultivation. But we wanted a small space to invite people who want to visit the farm and experience living close to Nature.” an we speak later? I am watching Maamagaru with my family,” says Suhasini over the phone. The actor who is tracking the serial’s initial response has a twin responsibility; besides being a producer, she plays the show’s protagonist, Ganga. Best remembered as Rukmini in Devatha (aired on Star Maa), Suhasini impressed the audience with her strong performance and her Telangana dialect.
Directed by Potluri Rambabu, Maamagaru on Star Maa is her fourth serial as a producer (others being Iddaru Ammayilu and Naa Kodalu Bangaramu on Zee Telugu and Girija Kalyanam on Gemini TV) among the seven serials she has done until now.
Maamagaru revolves around Ganga, a confident, educated middleclass girl with several dreams. She wants to support her parents after marriage but faces challenges from her miserly, patriarchal maamagaru (fatherinlaw) Chengayya, played by Kannada actor Mico Manju.
With a belief that ‘people are not bad, only situations make them negative’, Ganga doesn’t put up a fight but hopes for a change. “Girls drawing strength from their sense of self, will connect to my character Ganga. The emotions will touch hearts,” says the actress.
Suhasini made her big screen debut at the age of 14, with Chantigadu in 2003. The movie directed by B Jaya starring Baladitya was a hit but its success did not catapult Suhasini to stardom. Later she acted in Tamil, Kannada and even Bhojpuri movies. “I was too young and
“CSuhasini.
Women working at the leafmaking initiative; ecofriendly plates made by the women.
selfgrooming, yoga, how to make tea and help them follow a routine. Since we prepare them before they go home, our centres become halfway homes,” explains Mrudula.
After introducing paper craft and how to make phenyl, the team — with an investment of ₹20,000 (for raw material) — is now training these women to make ecofriendly leaf plates. Under the supervision of a volunteer, the three women have made around 4,700 plates in 10 days (averaging 450 per day) of which 1600 have been sold, generating an income of ₹5650. “Their total earnings amount to ₹1,250 and once they achieve a daily output of 1,500 plates, each person will be able to earn ₹ 150 per day as wages. We are on track to reach that milestone,” says Mrudula. The NGO plans to make Aadhar cards for these women to open a bank account and deposit the money. The team hopes to start a sales kiosk near the entrance of the Government Hospital for Mental Care in Erragadda , besides tying up with VMart to sell these plates online.
(Names have been changed to protect their privacy) naive to understand the dynamics of the movie industry; I missed out on some roles,” says the actor who in her 30s now.
In 2011, she made a switch to television.“I considered Aparanji on Gemini TV, an opportunity to move forward and couldn’t say no since it was a dream to work with actors like Nagababu and Manju Bhargavi,” she recollects.
Is she disappointed about not making a mark in films? “No,” she says. “I was not happy with my roles in some movies but had ended up doing them as I was hesitant to say ‘no’. When the films bombed, it was disappointing. Since I was very young, the experience was tough and painful. Now I am happy and excited as the diverse roles on television have ensured my success.”
Backed by versatile roles on television, she rose to fame. With the support of her husband and father, she turned producer too.
Suhasini hopes to continue her television journey by trying out new characters. “If there are good roles, I will take up film projects too. And, with my small screen experience, I might also produce it.”
Maamagaru airs on Star Maa Monday-Saturday at 6.30pm