Sruthi Hariharan, who made a comeback of sorts last year with Dhananjaya’s Head Bush, is now ready to take another leap with an independent feature film, Saramsha.
The actor, who has been a part of commercial and independent cinema, is playing the lead in the film alongside newbie director, Surya Vasistha.
“Surya came to me in 2016 with the story and I jumped at it. It was a completely different story back then. We then connected again in 2019, but I was pregnant and we were both disappointed about my not being a part of the film. However, everything came together later and the renewed story was even better. I am lucky to be a part of it,” Sruthi shares.
The film revolves around the concept of not finding a closure to your story if someone else is writing it. “Saramsha is about two sons and their contrasting relationships with their respective fathers. The catch is that one is a writer and the other is a character in the story. The film is about how they influence each other, and in the process, rediscover or find closure to their relationships with their fathers and others in their lives,” Sruthi shares.
“This is an independent film and I have always loved being a part of such films since they give me the most creative satisfaction,” she adds.
Yin and Yang & nostalgia for Sruthi
“I play Maya, a partner to one of the two sons, played by Surya. Maya is a free-spirited girl who is a movement artist and a theatre practitioner. She is a yin to his yang. If Abhay (Surya) is an escapist, Maya believes in facing problems head on. This was a huge takeaway for me from Maya, as I am an escapist! The fact that she is also a dancer and a theatre practitioner took me back in time to where I started,” says Sruthi.
Play, pause and reset
“When you are a part of independent films, this whole thing about films being made purely for business is taken out of the equation. You are being honest and passionate towards making the film. Also, independent cinema is mostly taken up by youngsters. They have this never-give-up attitude, which inspires me as an artiste. As a team, they help me relearn and unlearn. It helps me go back to reset mode and I can start fresh again,” she adds.
Keeping it real and flawed
About women characters, she says: “Writing has become beautiful and nuanced for women in cinema now. I see a lot of actors, across languages, take up inspiring characters and roles and being part of some amazing stories. The more real and flawed we can represent women in cinema, the better.”
Coming up next
“Strawberry and Eega are ready for release,” she says. “I also have a short film ready to be showcased at Bengaluru International Film Festival. Also, I’ve been bitten by the writing and direction bug and I am looking forward to working towards it.”
Sruthi, who turned 34 yesterday, says, “I have to prepare rasam before my daughter gets home from school.” “How I miss being 25 and reckless,” she chuckles.
The above article recently appeared on the Times of India here.