After 'Virata Parvam', Sai Pallavi awaits the theatrical release of 'Gargi'. The July 15th release is a courtroom drama.
In this interview, the 'Love Story' and 'Fidaa' actress talks about the Gautham Ramachandran directorial, Rana Daggubati presenting the movie, her upcoming projects, and more.
I usually look at my character and how important it is and how meaningful it is. In the case of 'Gargi', I went by the whole story, which tells a lot. The story is going to touch you all. It's a unique opportunity for the actor in me. I am very happy that I am part of a story that tells a relevant point and has an advocate in a full-fledged role. Like 'Jai Bhim', it raises questions and speaks for justice.
The story is based on real-life incidents. But it is fictional. The father-daughter emotion is not of the sort you found in films like 'Fidaa' and 'Virata Parvam'. The setting is different, the emotion is different. The expressions are different. We have heard of the Savitri-Yama tale in mythology. Gargi is a scholar-philosopher whose personality adds a new layer to the story of our film. She raised a voice against patriarchal traditions. I have played a teacher and the characterization is slice-of-life and realistic.
Actress Aishwarya Lekshmi is one of the producers. The film was started and some investment was made before I came on board. It had been in various development stages. She has a cameo in the movie. It's a healthy thing that an actress has produced a female-centric movie with some other actress as the lead.
The courtroom battle and the police case at the centre are interesting. It doesn't show any department or section in black or white. The film understands that we are complex personalities. The director has captured the courtroom sequences very well!
It's only while playing a teacher that I understood how teachers feel bad when students don't adhere to norms and discipline.
When our parents get preachy, we are bored. 'Gargi' has to be watched as a film and not a message-ridden moral lesson. We have made the film to engage the audience rather than to talk down to them. The inherent message gets to you naturally.
Actors like Suriya garu and Udhayanidhi Stalin garu have watched the movie and felt that 'Gargi' is a must-watch. If those with vast experience feel that way, it is a victory for 'Gargi'. After Suriya garu and Jyothika ma'am came to know about the movie, they decided to come forward and support it. The Tamil version is presented by them, while the Telugu version is presented by Rana Daggubati.
The film was shot in Tamil and I have dubbed in three languages in total (Tamil, Telugu and Kannada). When I was asked if I would be ready to dub in Telugu and Kannada, I said okay and gave a try. It turned out to be good.
I gave my best while shooting for 'Virata Parvam'. As an actor, I enjoyed playing a new sort of role. I don't have expectations from any movie, given the audiences' tastes are varied. Four people in a family like and dislike the same movie. If the audience were disappointed about my character's death in the movie, I am happy as an actor.
'VP' and 'Gargi' were not supposed to be released back to back. 'Shyam Singha Roy' was to happen between them. I am balancing commercial and other roles. I can't bore the audience by playing similar roles.
Rana Daggubati is presenting 'Gargi' in Telugu. He believes that a story that I liked is a meaningful one.
On the recent controversy in the wake of 'equating' Kashmiri Hindu genocide and an isolated lynching incident: My comments were distorted. You have all seen the video. A particular sentence was taken out of context and blown out of proportion. I am upset. It was an apolitical comment. I spoke in Telugu and the same was lost in translation.
I have signed up to do a new film opposite Sivakarthikeyan in Tamil. In Telugu, I am yet to sign up for a new project.
