The Little Vasu is Back… – KALIDAS JAYARAM

The Little Vasu is Back… – KALIDAS JAYARAM – Unique Times

Yet another New Year has dawned and like every time, has brought with it many happy reasons for Malayalees to rejoice about, especially on the big screen.                                                                                                                    

Who can ever forget the little National Award and State Award winner, who touched several hearts 12 years back. He’s flamboyant, he’s cool and he’s smart. Yes he is back, the adorable Ashok of Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal and the innocent Vasudev of Ente Veedum Appuvinnteyum. Kalidas Jayaram is now a grown up man all of 22 with those killer looks in him.  He says being infront of the camera and the sparkling flash lights is absolutely the same as it was then.

Like Dulquer Salman, Vineeth Sreenivasan and Fahad Fasil, Kalidas is another star kid making his way into movies as an actor. He is touted as the next superstar.

Smiling from ear to ear, he says “finally the matinee dreams of childhood is now a reality”. After setting a bar for himself as a child actor, he is not burdened by the expectations but is strong and determined to make it big like his star parents, Jayaram and Parvathy.  He’s all set to make a debut with Oru Pakka Kathai, a Tamil filmwhich is expected to release by April.

1.  Lets start with your New Year Resolution…

I don’t believe much in these New Year resolutions.  Resolutions are made to be broken. Like every year, even 2015 would be the same but will work harder this time…

2.   How would you define yourself in short?

I’m a very simple person. But at the same time I’m very sensitive too… I don’t like to live a luxurious life, you can find me in any tea shop and local places.

3.   Why such a long break after Ente Veedum Apuvinnteyum?

Hmm… I became really serious about acting after doing Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal and Ente Veedum Appuvinnteyum. And it started reflecting in my studies at such a small age. So appa and amma told me to concentrate on studies and if in future I have the same love and passion for movies, they would for sure support me for the same.

I have graduated from Loyola College in Visual Communication and now my only dream is to become an actor. In college my friends motivated me to do programmes and mimicking. And that is how the childhood passion and interest turned into a love for this craft …

4.  How has cinema changed from your point of view?

I don’t think it has changed much. Malayalam cinema has undergone a major transformation. Stories may vary, acting styles have changed and technical aspects have changed very much.

5.  If not an actor …

Don’t know… I’m a huge movie buff so can’t think anything else other than movies and acting!

6.   S T A R D O M

One should never go behind stardom. According to me if one does the right movies which appeals to all and if they can relate to you, then stardom comes to you automatically.

7.    Has anyone come forward with a script for the father- son duo?

Yes many in fact  … It was similar to Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal and Ente Veedum Appuvinnteyum.  There was nothing much new in the script… Want to do something new, something different.

8.    Why a debut with Tamil?

After the 8th Vijay Awards where I had mimicked Vijay, Ajith and Surya, I got many offers from the industry but Balaji Tharaneetharan’s Oru Pakka Kathai excited me more. I believe a story is more important than anything else in cinema. And I have been staying in Chennai for a very long time so Tamil is like very easy for me to speak.

9.  So when are you coming to Malayalam?

As of now for 2 years I would be busy in Tamil. But if a good Malayalam movie comes my way, will definitely do it … I would have a tough competition with appa then(quips)….

10.  How do you choose a film… does your dad help you pick the right script?

I listen to it first and then if I have any doubts I ask him. I choose a film which has a USP, a movie which makes the audience have a good time at the cinema. I mean I would keep myself in the place of audience and think if I would buy a ticket and watch this movie…

11.  What made you say a ‘Yes’ for Oru Pakka Kathai?

The story … Balaji’s   first film was a comedy film, Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom. His Oru Pakka Kathai also has the same feel.  I have been with the team from the pre-production stage, so I know each one of them properly. They have been really friendly and they take my suggestions too.

Oru Pakka Kathai is a comedy drama. I play a very normal middle class boy who falls in love with a girl. It is about an incident which takes a toll in his life. I didn’t have to do any kind of preparations for the movie, as I play the real me in Oru Pakka Kathai. Had attended many workshops with Balaji, with the help of which I could give a polish to my character.

12.  Anything which you would like to change in cinema?

Nothing …  I hope cinema makes a good change in me!

13. What qualities have you gained from your mom and dad?

Appa is very punctual in everything he does. For instance, if he has to reach the shooting location by 7 AM, he reaches there by 6:45 AM. He works very hard and does each movie as if it is his first movie. Amma was very dedicated in everything she has done, be it studies or acting. She is very simple and down to earth. These are some qualities which I have and would like to learn from them. And appa always reminds me ‘Be yourself, don’t change for anyone…’ This is one thing which is going to stay with me.

14. What are the advices they have given you?

To be frank, they haven’t given any advices to me. They have full faith in me and have only said ‘it is your career and you have to choose the right path. You will not grow if we spoon feed you!’

15.  Any words of advice from Kamal Hassan?

Read a lot of books about cinema and try to learn something from it. Be away or be careful with the politics in cinema!

16.  After bagging a National award and State award for a stellar performance in Ente Veedum Appuvinnteyum, do you feel burdened by expectations?

No not at all … but a little scared because many people have expectations from me because of the 2 movies I did when I was only 10 years old! Putting my best foot forward, will try to live up to the expectations….

17.   Anyone you are eager to work with?

Firstly, I want to act with mom one day… Thilakan sir is a huge loss for the Malayalam industry, have always wanted to work with him. Would love to share a screen space with the Ullaga Nayakan, Kamal Hassan sir.

18.  What’s in store for 2015?

Oru Pakka Kathai as of now. Discussions for other films are going on in Tamil. Will do good movies which would amuse the people so that they come out of the theatres with a smile on their face!

Amala Muraleedharan