A dream debut in Tamil

It is a dream for anyone to act in a Nalan Kumarasamy film. When the director announced his second movie, everyone was curious about the cast. Vijay Sethupathi, who did a stellar performance in Nalan’s debut film, was included in the cast. There was lot of suspense regarding the lead heroine. Nalan auditioned several ladies but was not satisfied. A Malayali girl finally bagged the role.

Madonna Sebastian, who hails from Kochi, was roped in to play the female lead, and she is now excited about the film, which marks her debut in Tamil. Her first Malayalam film Premam is doing well at the box office now. “Premam’s sound designer Vishnu suggested my name to Nalan. He saw my pictures, called me and asked to come for the audition. He made me do a particular scene and liked my performance and I was selected for the role. All this happened in a week,” she says.

Madonna agrees that her role is out of her comfort zone. “It’s a very expressive character. I play a middle class girl looking for a job in the city and she meets the hero, played by Sethupathi, from the city, and the story goes on. I can’t reveal much about the film. But it will be a breezy entertainer.”

Madonna admits that she found Tamil a bit tough during the shoot. “Initially I found speaking in Tamil a bit difficult. But now I am learning the language so that I can easily get enact my role.” Acting with Vijay under Nalan’s direction, Madonna considers this to be a great debut in Kollywood. “As a newcomer, I couldn’t ask for a better welcome. Nalan is a brilliant director and I think he can easily bring out the best in actors. Vijay is very down-to-earth and helpful. It is a fantastic team and I am looking forward to act in good films.”

After her performance in Mollywood flick Premam, Madonna is getting many offers. Says the singer-turned-actor, “I am getting many offers. But I will say ‘yes’ only when I feel comfortable about the role and the film. I am just taking baby steps as an actor. I wish to become a versatile actor and do different character roles.”