Saturday Feb 09 2008, Hyderabad

Mamta Mohandas: “Actress now, singer forever”

It was quite embarrassing to say some lines because in the dubbing theatre, my mom, the directors and sound engineers would be sitting in the console unit.

      But dubbing has made my understanding of the language better and I thank Rajamouli sir for insisting me to do it.It was a pleasure and a privilege to voice my character.I know all my dialogues by-heart now. Has Telugu film industry been working well for you?      Both as a singer and an actress, it has been working well for me.I didn't expect it though.

"Raakhee" is something that came after an unpleasant surprise, but was a great take off for me and even what followed too were pleasant. With so many young heroines coming and going each year, do you wish to have a long standing career in the Telugu film industry?       I wish to stay in Telugu for a while and wish to do both commercial and performance oriented films and continue singing, of course. Do you feel particularly indebted to anyone in Telugu?      Yes.Music director Devi Sri Prasad.Because my first recording as a playback singer came at the same time when I was replaced by another heroine for M S Raju garu's "Aata".

No hard feelings, though for that.      So, when I tasted success with "Rakhee" and now that I have even won the Film Fare Award for it, I have no regrets.Life is full of surprises, isn't it? Say more about winning Film Fare Award...

..!        It is an awesome feeling.Because it was my first song ever.It was a big dream that my first song should be for a movie with a big music director and I was shocked when Devi Sri Prasad walked in while my photo shoot was happening.

Devi and I were strangers to each other and "Raakhee's recording happened on the same day. You are acting in Telugu film "Homam" now.Tell us about that...

 "Homam" is directed by J D Chakravarthy.JD's direction is in complete contrast with "Yamadonga" for me.He is from the Ram Gopal Varma's School and I have had a tint of an experience of RGV School after doing my last film in Malayalam.         It was directed by Amal Neerad who was cameraman for RGV's James and Shiva 2006.Their way of film making is different and very natural or perhaps, they underplay the drama.

JD can be difficult to understand sometimes but he is relaxed and cool and will spend a lot of time to get what he wants.       I am glad I am doing a character that is way different from what I did in "Yamadonga".Jagapathi Babu is a commendable hero.Great to work with him in "Homam" and is very accommodating and friendly. Apart from Telugu films, now you are busy doing all the south Indian language films.

How do you manage all these languages?        First, I was busy with Malayalam films and took a break after the film "Madhu Chandralekha" was released and I went back to Bahrain.              When I came back, I was immediately offered a Tamil film "Sivappathikaram" with hero Vishal.        Then I was supposed to do films like "Aata", "Don", and also "Okkadunnadu".I was first offered "Okkadunnadu".I mulled over it as I did not know anything about the Telugu field.

So after waiting for sometime, they went ahead with another heroine.And I finally accepted "Yamadonga", which I am glad I did.       Recently, in my film "Krishnarjuna", I paired with Vishnu and the movie is doing well at the box office.       For the current film in Kannada opposite Suddep titled as "Gooli", I liked the story and have accepted it