Being the usual and unusual actor: Aneesh G Menon

Aneesh G. Menon has just marked his first role as a male lead in Malayalam commercial cinema with Cappuccino. When called for an interview, we found out his excitement is elsewhere. He is elated over sharing screen space with Mohanlal once again, in Odiyan, a reunion taking place after four long years since Drishyam where they played brothers-in-law “He, being a senior actor, is supportive and inspires fellow actors on sets. It’s cool acting with him. I have a good role in the film and we have so many combination scenes,” says Aneesh. Suddenly, he minces words. The actor wishes to divulge more only when the film nears completion.

Like many actors, he has a strong theatre background. In children’s theatre, he has 15 years of experience in addition to a two-and-a-half-year stint with KPAC. In the meantime, Aneesh tested the waters in films and tele-serials alike and realised that each medium stands different in its own way. “Before doing a tele-serial I used to wonder why they act in a certain way. Upon entering the field, I realised retakes do not occur for serials. Rehearsals hardly happen. In movies, we have the freedom to ask for a retake if we feel the need to improve. For theatre, reaching an audience seated in the rear row becomes important. The actor lets out the loudest cry and shows an accentuated body language. Overdoing is a spoiler on the big screen where the tiniest movement gets captured in extreme close-up,” observes Aneesh.

In the offbeat section, Aneesh has played protagonist in the state-award winning movie Amoeba.   Getting so many offers, Aneesh has now zeroed in on movies in which he can act with no cast iron rules. “I do not shift between options. If I feel a project is good, I’d sign. In commercial films, the usual ways of acting will do. Non-commercial films demand an actor to be unusual. If confident, you can attempt. To satisfy the actor in me, I do movies like Amoeba or Kottayam, another experimental film I am part of. After all, my duty is to act according to the director’s wish. If you feel I did well in a movie, it is because a good director was with me,” says Aneesh. Aneesh has a serious passion to direct and also has a script in mind.