From Delegate Cell to ‘Maathi’ and back: Ramya Vatsala, ‘Udalaazham’ female lead speaks

Ramya Vatsala is one of the volunteers working in the Delegate Cell of the 23^rd IFFK – in fact, she was part of it since five years back. But this year is different; a film that she played a lead role in, ‘Udalaazham’, which is inspired by the life of Kerala’s only known tribal transgender A Raju, is being screened at the fest under the Malayalam Cinema Today package.

Ramya, plays ‘Maathi’, wife to ‘Gulikan’ portrayed by Kerala State Film Award winner Mani, in the Unnikrishnan Aavala directorial, that explores the life of a tribal transperson, who was brought up as a boy while possessing the body and soul of a girl. It is mostly based on the ‘Vipareetham’, a biography, written by the director, of A Raju, who was born and brought up in the Thekkadi tribal settlements deep inside the Nilambur forests.

An M.Phil holder in Performing Arts, Ramya attributes a large share of her success to her experience in drama and theatre. “The practice and dedication, the lessons learnt there, are invaluable”, said she. On being asked her character in the film, she says: “Maathi is wife to Gulikan, the adivasi transperson. They married in their early teens, and are now in their late 20’s – early 30’s. As a result of Gulikan’s sexual orientation, both of them face severe identity crisis. I consider myself fortunate to have got this opportunity, and I never had to put on an act; the flick narrates the challenges in the life of the marginalized, and I can empathize to it, thanks to my life experiences.” 

Having previously worked in Kamal’s ‘Utopiayile Rajavu’ and ‘Aami’, Madhupal’s ‘Oru Rathriyude Kooli’, and Sajin Babu’s ‘Ayal Sasi’, she expressed her desire to be a part of projects, behind the camera. “I was never forced to study a particular stream, and now, I can say that with pride,” expressed Ramya, recounting her early life. “I am extremely excited to be part of the fest, it is all so magical! Always, chase your dreams and one day, you shall succeed.”

“The film was Unni’s (Unnikrishnan Aavala) dream. Often on hearing ‘transgender’, one just thinks about the physical appearance. There is always more to it. Here, the character has a uterus and experiences menstrual cycles. There is love, there is passion, and then there is exploitation of the same,” said she on ‘Udalaazham’. “Every single person in the crew was completely dedicated. We stayed together, and it is this unity, that made the project this successful.”

“A lot of the nuances in the film were unplanned. But just as it is mentioned, the forests and the rivers, are fast becoming instinct,” opined Ramya. The first IFFK screening of ‘Udalaazham’ was on December 08 in Kairali Theatre. “The reception and appreciation that I received from the audience – that is the biggest of awards.”

The other screenings are on December 09 in Screen 1 of New Theatre at 08:15 PM, and on December 11 in Kripa Theatre at 3 PM.