When Pauly Valsan’s name was announced as the winner for the best actor in a character role, there were many who were clueless about the identity of the actor. One look at her photograph and realisation is sure to dawn for she has acted in films like Annan Thambi, Iyobinte Pusthakam, Amar Akbar Antony, Novu, Vanyam and Guppy. All those who had the luck to watch Ee Ma Yau or the film Ottamuri Velicham would have seen her acting prowess on screen and Pauly won her award for these two films.
Pauly is ecstatic with her award, “I don’t know how to express my happiness,” she begins, adding shyly, “I had a small glimmer of hope that I might win, the reason being that whoever had seen the preview of Ee Ma Yau had appreciated my acting.” She shares, “It is when people I hold in great esteem like John Paul and K.G. George applauded me that I was most happy. Those words are equal to an award for me.”
It was screenwriter Benny P. Nayarambalam, in whose Annan Thambi she debuted with, who informed her of the award. Her role in Ottamuri Velicham was as a mother of two boys and got her good screen space. Regarding Ee Ma Yau, she heaps praises on director Lijo, “He looks for perfection and there is no compromise on that aspect. Another factor is the speed at which he completes his work. Ee Ma Yau was finished in 24 days.”
The film is a satire that is set in a fishing village and the land she belongs to Vypeen in Kochi, is also a fishing village. Pauly had an advantage there, “The language used in the film is something I am very familiar with as also the land and the happenings so that made it easier for me to imbibe my character.” Another fact that Pauly is happy about is, “Though I have done a lot of small roles, I’m happy that I could dub for all these characters in my own voice!”
