VIJAY YESUDAS AND KAVYA MADHAVAN ON CINEMA, CHICKEN 'N' CHOC

molliekutty :)

An interview to Metro plus

THEY REPRESENT the younger line of performers of Malayalam cinema. Kavya Madhavan is fresh from the success of her movie, Perumazhakalathu. Vijay, the son of singing legend K.J. Yesudas, has just song for Ilaiyaraja in Ponmudipuzhayorathu. He and Kavya took time off to chat to MetroPlus.

That Vijay plays cricket with Kavya's brother, Midhun, helped veer the conversation to just about everything that the two felt strongly about while PREMA MANMADHAN and K. PRADEEP listened.

Vijay: I heard that you have studied music. Is that true?

Kavya: Yes, for eight years. I was sorry I had to stop my singing lessons. Dance, singing, studying and acting ... it is difficult to keep all going together. (She is doing B.A. Lit. privately).

Vijay: You learnt classical dance and there's no age limit for that, isn't it?

Kavya: Yes, but even when you are 90 you can sing on stage, but not dance. I'd like to continue my singing lessons...

Vijay: Who knows, you may sing for films and maybe we could sing a duet.

Kavya: Sure. If you are lucky! Viju, you have also learnt dance, haven't you? I always wonder about that when you dance while singing.

Vijay: No, never. I danced for a programme in Dubai with Kala Master's help. In college, I did bhangra, dandiya and the like. You know, way back in school, I did a bit of Bharathanatyam too. (Guffaws.)

Kavya: Really! Viju, when I dance on stage, I get tired sometimes, but I have seen you sing and dance for a long time. How do you manage that?

Vijay: Yeah. People wonder if I am only lip-syncing, but I'm not. There's a knack to do it. I choose songs that are easy to sing and dance and get some breathing space too. If it is a melody, it becomes difficult to render it with the sangatis. The focus is always on singing, not dancing.

Kavya: Do you remember the time we had the Arjunan Master show in Thiruvananthapuram? You had that thing in your ear and I thought it was a hearing aid. I asked Chackochan (Kunchacko Boban) and ... ...

Vijay: Ah... yes. She came near me and pulled at the wire. Chackochan pretended she had hurt me and told her I needed that thing badly. She was embarrassed and I said it was okay... Only at the end of the show did we tell her that we were pulling her leg.

Kavya: I know. Now tell me, who acts better...

Vijay: Okay, okay... Kavya, have you sung on stage?

Kavya: Yes, once, a song from Thilakkam...

Vijay: It must be "Saare saare sambare... " or something...

Kavya (Pouting): No, no. "Ente ellam ellam alle... " I am scared to sing on stage.

Vijay: No, it's a matter of practice.

Kavya: Your father (K. J. Jesudas) has acted in a few movies, mostly singing roles. Have you any acting plans?

Vijay: I got a few offers in Tamil and Malayalam... but I want to concentrate on my singing now. It's a competitive field and I don't want to fritter away my chances.

Kavya: Is there a lot of rivalry in your field?

Vijay: No, it's a friendly competition really, just as in your field.

Kavya: I believe that if a role is destined for me, I will get it.

By the way, in how many languages have you sung?

Vijay: Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi and Telugu.

Kavya: What about the pronunciation?

Vijay: They say my pronunciation is okay. Kannada is a bit tough. Telugu is okay.

Kavya: What's your latest song?

Vijay: Two Ilaiyaraja songs in the new film. What about your latest movies? Of late, you have chosen very serious roles with depth.

Kavya: I am lucky to have got such solid roles. In the beginning, I got the lover girl kind of roles. But now, the kind of characters I play are mature with acting potential...

Vijay: What about your dancing? Can't you have a parallel career as a classical dancer?

Kavya: No I am not cut out for that. I cannot do it like Shobhana.

Vijay: In the industry today, you find a trend: after a few years, heroines are suddenly sidelined as seniors.

Kavya: Heroines have a shelf life of say three to four years. Everyone today gives a lot of importance to family life. When we feel we have had enough, we leave. As for me, today I see cinema as a profession. I take it very seriously now.

Vijay: Which is your next film?

Kavya: Athu Mandarappoo Alla, with script by M.T. Priyanandan who is directing it. What's your next project?

Vijay: My first solo Ayyappa devotional album has just come out. I would like to do something very different... .

Kavya: Like video albums?

Vijay: Yes, but we don't have channels exclusively for that like MTV... Well let's get back to basics. What is your favourite food?

Kavya: Chicken, fried rice and chocolates! And I simply love cooking and experimenting with dishes. But I always eat food I know, I don't go in for any dish that I am not familiar with. What about you? Can you cook?

Vijay: Well, omelette and breakfast with readymade material.