Strange are the ways in which destiny works. Sreeram Ramachandran debuted 10 years back through the very popular serial Chumma, where he played Anand, who aspired to be an actor. Cut to the present he has returned to the mini-screen through the serial Kasthooriman, where he plays a popular actor Jeeva. Sreeram laughs and says, “Jeeva was Anand’s dream.” Incidentally, he associated with Pramod Mohan during the making of Chumma and it was the same Pramod who gave him a good role when Pramod debuted as a director through the recently released Orayiram Kinakkalal.
Coincidences aside, Sreeram is happy with the way his career graph is peaking. The actor, known for his roles in films like Malarvadi Arts Club, Thattathin Marayathu and Artist is now basking in the warm glow of adulation from a thousand fans. Jeeva — the actor has caught the fancy of the mini-screen viewers. And Sreeram cannot be more surprised, “I do not have any big dreams; I just want to do good characters. Incidentally, when I was offered the role of Jeeva, truth be said, I was slightly apprehensive because he has negative shades. I wondered if I would be perceived in a negative manner, but till date, I have not faced one negative reaction from any viewer,” he happily gushes.
Jeeva is someone who is slightly arrogant and has no qualms about playing with the emotions of a girl he marries. Sreeram has slipped into the skin of his character effortlessly but it was not an easy task. He explains, “I am the exact opposite of Jeeva, so it was very difficult initially to mouth the negative dialogues. But the acceptance by the audience slowly made me shed my inhibitions.”
Sreeram reveals that it was the treatment and the freedom to act the way he desired along with a well-known director at the helm that made him foray back to the telly tube. He adds, “I also had the permission to act in Orayiram Kinakkalal while I was doing this serial.”
Though many film actors have made the transition to the mini-screen, it does bring its own set of challenges. The tag of a serial actor is not something most actors boast of, but Sreeram begs to differ. “It has been 10 years that I have been active in the film industry and I know how the industry works. I don’t think acting in serials is seen as a downside. In any case, I am not just concentrating on serials but am doing films as well. What matters is the characters I do,” he finishes. Sreeram also feels the migration of more big-screen actors to the mini-screen will dispel any wrong notions.
Coming to the acting methodology, he feels the two mediums are poles apart. “Serials require more melodrama and dramatics whereas films are more realistic. But the acceptance of serial actors is huge.”
He has a role in the upcoming Anjali Menon film starring Prithviraj and Nazriya as well as one in an Indo-American film Across the Ocean.
