Kannada cinema should learn from Malayalam films: Ramya on female roles

Actor Ramya, who spoke in a panel discussion during the 16th Bengaluru International Film Festival, said Kannada filmmakers hesitate to provide quality roles for female artistes

Popular actor Ramya lamented the lack of quality female characters in Kannada cinema even as she praised the Malayalam film industry for constantly presenting progressive female roles, while speaking at the panel discussion on “Women in Cinema: Challenges, Triumphs and the Road Ahead” at the 16th Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) on Thursday.

“When I watch Malayalam movies I wonder why I don’t see such strong female roles in Kannada films. I see very few stories from a woman’s perspective in Kannada,” opined Ramya. The actor-politician was joined by cinematographer Preetha Jayaraman and Telugu filmmaker Nandini Reddy in the panel discussion.

Ramya added that she was disappointed with how “hyper-masculine” the stories are in Kannada. “I continue to see macho protagonists in Kannada films. Our filmmakers think being vulnerable is weak and don’t portray realistic characters on screen. However, this isn’t the case in Malayalam. Women as central characters in films will make society more empathetic.”

The actor recollected her early days in the film industry and rued that directors didn’t have the habit of providing scripts to the heroines. “When I debuted in Abhi (opposite Puneeth Rajkumar) in 2003, the director (Dinesh Babu) didn’t give me a script at all. I was asked to run one day on the sets, and I felt bizarre. I didn’t understand why I was asked to perform in a particular way. I need to be given a medal for finishing that film,” she said.

Ramya also spoke about the pay disparity in the Kannada film industry. “Actors who starred opposite me are quite well-known today, but back then, they were just starting. After my film was declared a hit, the male actor’s salary would increase by 50 times, whereas my remuneration went up only by five times. It reached a point where I let go of films as I didn’t get paid how much I deserved,” said Ramya.

ALSO READ:Kannada star Ramya reacts to Rashmika Mandanna row: Stop trolling her

The actor, who turned producer with her banner Apple Box Production, felt the industry needs producers willing to back women-centric stories. “I produced Swathi Mutthina Male Haniye(starring Siri Ravikumar and Raj B. Shetty). The female lead in the film was in love with another man despite being married. We are all complex and vulnerable people. She has emotions just like a man has. The film won great critical acclaim, but it didn’t do well at the box office. It shows people aren’t ready for such movies, and that’s disappointing.”