“Crazy Kalyanam”, starring Dr. Naresh Vijaya Krishna, Anupama Parameswaran, Tharun Bhascker and Akhil Uddemari of “Raju Weds Rambai” fame, is gearing up for a worldwide theatrical release on October 16, coinciding with the Dasara festive season.
Anupama Parameswaran spoke about the film, her character Keerthi, working with the cast and her approach to choosing roles.
On the title and the film’s appeal
“We initially considered a different title, but everything about the film felt crazy as we went along. That is how our director came up with ‘Crazy Kalyanam’. It is a story filled with fun and emotion. I have been actively involved in the promotions, and since I am happy with the film, I have been enjoying them too.”
On her character and views on marriage
“You will have to watch the film to find out whether I get married or not. Unlike what happens in the film, my family does not put any pressure on me to get married. They have always told me to do so whenever I feel ready. Personally, I want to have a baby before getting married.
“Kerala weddings traditionally have their own customs, and the food is largely vegetarian. Through this film, I got to experience a different wedding culture in Telangana. Even in Kerala, traditions such as haldi and mehendi ceremonies are becoming more common. Earlier, we generally had just two functions, the engagement and the wedding.”
On Keerthi’s outlook on marriage and working with Akhil
“Once all the characters are introduced, the central conflict around marriage comes into focus. Audiences will get drawn into the story without having to wait too long.
“Marriage should be about two people living happily together. It should not mean turning a woman into a domestic worker. That is what Keerthi believes, and I share that opinion too. That is why we included the dialogue in the trailer, ‘If I cook, you should wash the dishes.’
“Akhil is a talented actor. His performance has emotional honesty, and his expressions never feel artificial. There is a spark in his eyes. These qualities were important for Uday’s character. Keerthi is strict, while Uday supports her and balances her personality. That dynamic is central to the conflict, and Akhil brings the required emotional honesty to the role.”
On creative freedom and speaking the Telangana dialect
“Some projects do not give us much room to express our thoughts. We perform the roles assigned to us and move on. But films like ‘Crazy Kalyanam’ allow us to share ideas, discuss scenes and collaborate. I shared my thoughts with director Badhrappa, and Naresh garu, Akhil, Tharun and the rest of us also discussed scenes while preparing our performances. We all wanted to make the scenes better.
“I speak in the Telangana dialect in this film. I did not attend any special workshops to learn it. Instead, I observed how our director spoke and delivered the dialogues accordingly.”
On choosing diverse roles
“As an actress, I always try to be versatile. I do not want audiences to feel that all my films are alike. I want them to remember a film because of the character I played in it. That is why I look for projects with distinctive roles.”
“I do not want to act just for money. My passion for trying something new should drive me. I am currently working on a series of films in Tamil and Malayalam, and each project is completely different from the others.”