The Return of the Queen Bee
Vinitha Kattungal
Manju
Warrier has made a dream comeback as her first movie in 14 years,
'How Old Are You' has set the cash registers ringing. The movie also has garnered good critical reviews and could end up in the list of
best movies of the year. Manju's comeback had immense media attention
and controversies surrounding it, the reason for which lies in the
stupendous career achievements she left behind. Who could forget
seductress Bhadra in T.K Rajeev’s memorable “Kannezhuthi Pottum
Thottu”, making use of her foes vulnerabilities to extract
vengeance on her parent’s killers?
And a special mention from the jury in the National Awards for her
unforgettable performance in the movie.
It was her last movie in the first innings, before her marriage to
Dileep, her ‘Sallapam’
hero in 1998.
90’s
(the golden era) saw Malayalam cinema rise to a great height in all
aspects of film making and Kalathilakam Manju was fortunate to be
part of this unmatched era. She was much sought- after actor in 90’s
as her movies did roaring business. Those who have grown up watching
her movies could never forget the versatile roles played by her in a
short span of four years with twenty movies and it is said ‘that
roles were especially written for her’. Her comic
timing, her natural reflexes, and her classic beauty made her rise to
great heights. Recently when an online poll was conducted on the most popular
actress of all time Manju’s name popped up, it being 14 years since
she left the industry, but film lovers still miss her. Manju’s
movies had huge fan following among the old, young alike
and it is interesting to note, even the new generation is fond of
Manju. Let’s
rewind back to Manju’s nostalgic
period.
At
17, she debuted in Sakshayam(1995). She is always remembered as Radha
in A.K. Lohithadas ‘Sallapam’(1996) with her husband Dileep.
Coincidently,
her first
book of memoirs has the same identifying name ‘Sallapam’, it
takes us on a journey through Manju’s life till today. In
1998 she was back with Lohitdas’s
‘Kanmadam’ opposite superstar Mohanlal, she acts as a rustic,
independent girl who falls in love with a man who has accidently
killed her brother.
In
Joshi’s
‘Pathram’(1999) opposite Suresh Gopi, she plays a hotheaded
journalist. It’s one of the best political drama movies till date.
Sibi Malayil’s ‘Pranayavarnagal’ (1998) and ‘Summer in
Bethlehem’ (1998), she plays entirely contrasting characters; as a
college girl who comes from a village and lives in a poetic world of
love and romance in the first and sa bubbly, chirpy, naughty orphan
with a past in the latter.
In
M.T.Vasudevan Nair ‘Daya’ (1998), a period film, she disguises
herself as a man. In Jayaraj’s ‘Kaliyattam’ (1997), a movie
adapted from 'Othello', she is Thamara (Desdemona),
her character flows through different narrative themes like racism,
love, jealousy and betrayal.
In Kamal’s ‘Krishnagudiyal Oru Pranayakalathu’ (1997) she plays
Meenakshi who is confused
to choose between the man her father chose and her love.
In
her short span of four years she worked with Mollywood’s best dream
merchants, essayed different roles with top actors of her time, with
her naughty smile, girl next to door image she earned appreciation
and administration with her unusual performance in her first innings
and won the hearts of every Malayali. No actor has made an impact
like Manju before or after she left the world of glitz and glamour.
Cut
to after 14 long years; she returned to the world of arc light as
daughter of Stalwart Amitabh Bachchan in Kalyan Jewellers
advertisement. What a comeback, it was indeed the greatest surprise
an actor of her calibre can deliver.
