Amma Makal's Mariya Prince: The love, respect and hate I’m getting now, I owe it to theatre

There was a time when a section of Malayali telly audiences dreamt to have a daughter like Anu from 'Amma Makal'. But, ever since she started torturing her mom Sangeetha, they started hating her. However, actress Mariya Prince, who plays the character, is happy that she had done a great job in her debut show as the main protagonist. Recently, in a candid chat with ETimes TV, the actress spoke about being a theatre actress, playing a character with different shades, preparations to don a mother on-screen, and more...

I am from Idukki, happily married for the last eight years. It is a shocker for people when I say I am married, but it's true (laughs). I started my career as a theatre artist. Myself and my hubby Prince got a chance to play lead roles with a popular drama team, we readily grabbed the opportunity. Proudly, we were part of the state-award-winning play 'Veyil' which successfully ran in about 1000 stages before the pandemic. When the pandemic hit, everything changed. I couldn't complete my degree as I got married when I was 18, ever since then theatre was my school, where I learned about life and art.

(Photo: Facebook)

Besides theatre, I used to do lip-sync videos and some of them caught the attention of people in the industry. Hence, I started doing short films, small roles in movies, etc. I used to get calls from serials but I was apprehensive about taking them up thinking that I would get typecasted. It is tough for a TV actress to get into movies, I am also facing that issue lately. Movie makers prefer to get new faces than people, who are familiar with the family audiences.

(Photo: Facebook)

Before 'Amma Makal', I played supporting roles in shows like 'Manjil Virinja Poovu', 'Sthreepadam', and more. So, when the team approached me for the serial, I gave a nod. I still remember the team cautioning me that my character will turn negative eventually and people might start hating me for it. Frankly, I was afraid of all that. But, it was relatable for me to play a girl, who got married at a very young age, even though Anu and myself are poles apart.

(Photo: Facebook)

The real challenge for Anu was to learn that her mother is pregnant. People used to advise me, “Don't be this possessive”. Even I gave it a thought, why is Anu being like this? Then I got an answer, she was this girl who wouldn't let her own father stay with her mother. So, she couldn't digest that a baby is coming to share everything she has. Anu is not an alien character, I have screenshots of people texting me that they are like Anu and many mothers hand told me that their daughters are just like Anu. However, playing such a transformation was challenging. From being a possessive daughter to a daughter who plots to kill her mother's baby, the character had gone through so many variations, and glad that I could play it all.

(Photo: Facebook)

One of the most challenging parts I had to play in 'Amma Makal' was playing pregnant Anu. I didn't have any experience in that phase of life, then I asked my mom and on-screen mother-in-law Sindhu Chechi about their pregnancy. I started being cautious about the way I get up from a bed or the way I walk. As Anu was also frustrated and aggressive during pregnancy she had to vent her anger on Sangeetha in most of the scenes. So, I started to pretend having a slight pain in my abdomen whenever I raise my voice in the shot. I think this gave a realistic touch to my performance.

The next challenge was the delivery scene. I remember asking people about the pain a woman goes through during this phase. They shared how it's like breaking all the bones in the body. So, in the scenes, I tried to have those facial expressions, too. However, I went a bit overboard with that so much that I had low blood pressure and fainted during one of the scenes. I was under medication when I did the sequence.

(Photo: Facebook)

No matter how many serials I do, I want to go back to theatre again. Being a theatre artist itself is a big journey. You get to train yourself in different ways. You should have a voice that should be soothing for the one sitting in the front row and at the same time audible for the one in the last row. Gone are the days when plays used to be over-dramatic. Not, it's a platform for slice-of-life acts. There were days when we had plays more than once a day. If one play is in Trivandrum, the next would be in Kasargod. The little sleep you get during the travel, the late-night food from Thattukada, meeting people of different age groups and cultures - being a theatre artist itself is an experience.

I am overwhelmed by the respect people give me on sets. They respect me for being a theatre artist and value my experience. Senior actors like Balachandran Chullikadu talk to me with respect and I feel blessed about it.

(Photo: Facebook)

Both are acting and it is my favorite thing. One difference I found in serials is that we have to act in front of a camera, so initially, I had some difficulties with the camera placements, shots and the look we need to give to the camera, etc. The next thing I miss here is the quick response of the audience. After a play, people would rush to the greenroom and drench you in their love and appreciation. Whereas here, it would take even weeks for people to see and appreciate your performances.

Also, I think theatre made me a perfectionist. Even while shooting an argument scene, I’d give my 100% and even shiver out of rage. There was a time when I fainted during the shoot and the crew had to rush me to the hospital. Lately, the crew would say 'Get an ambulance ready; Mariya is going to play an emotional scene'.

(Photo: Facebook)