Suvalakshmi- Cine Actress

                       

                    My father K.C.Munshi is working as an engineer. My mother Indirani is a housewife. My brother Subraththo, was very fond of me. One day suddenly he died because of an accident. It's a painful event whose scar never could disappear!

                    "Our family was living in Calcatta. After my school studies, I pursued law course in Calcutta university. While I was studying in school,  Sathyajith Ray had happened to see one of my photographs. Following that, he had decided that I could exactly match the character role in his film "Uthrone", which he was about to direct then. Subsequently, he had instructed his assistants to look out for me and take me to him.

                   "One day along with my parents and brother I went to Sathyajith Ray's house. He was shocked when he saw me. I had a mixed feeling of fear and respect as I saw him. 

                  "He asked me to sit on a nearby chair and then said, "Namskaaram'. I stood stunned not knowing what to do! Again he asked me whether I was interested in acting. I said I was studying. He added: "Let us plan the shooting schedule in such a way so as not to affect your studies. First let me tell you the story". Then he related the gist of the story to me. It went on like this: 'A village girl, who gets married through child-marriage system, loses her husband and becomes a widow'. The story was about this character.

                   " Sathyajith Ray then said: "I should have, in fact, met you much earlier. I don't know how I missed you. You can learn from me a lot.Don't give up your studies for the sake of acting. Study carefully. Write exam".  He added too: "Have faith in your acting talent and perform. All will be O.K.."

                    "The shooting was conducted for a few days. Then as his health condition deteriorated, the work was stopped. Suddenly he died. On that day I had gone to my school for writing exam. As I was returning from school, people were standing  here and there, in small, small crowds, talking with one another among themselves. I could guess that something serious had happened. Even after I had reached home none did tell me about Ray's death. Only later I was told about the death. I wept. I cried rather loudly. Eight or nine months passed by. Ray's son Sandeep Rai completed the remaining film work. It was screened as the inaugural film in the International Film Festival. I earned good name because of it.

                    It was at this time that Tamil film director Vasanth was seriously searching for a new face heroine for his film "Aasai". One of his friends had seen the Bengali film, acted by me, in the film festival. He had told Vasanth about me. Immediately Vasanth had contacted Sandeep Roy. But, since it was an offer for a different language film I was in a hesitant mood and was unable to take a decision. It was also the period when our family had been indulging in deep mourning regarding my brother's death.
 
                       But Roy adviced me that I could get some solace in doing some acting work and that it would be of no use in simply passing away the time by remaining in a state of mourning. Accordingly my photograph was sent to Maniratnam and Vasanth. They in turn requested me to meet them in person. I came down to Chennai along with my mother. At the outset, I put the following condition to them: That I won't act in a glamorous get-up. Vasanth immediately assured me saying: 'My film also is not a glamorous one. It's a family type picture'. Then I acted in 'Aasai'. It earned me good name among cinegoers.

        I acted in "Gokulaththil Seethai", "Kaaththiruntha Kaathal", "Love To-day", "Pon Manam" and "Thinanthorum".

         ( Courtesy: Dinakaran, Tamil News paper )