Unassuming, modest, energetic with child-like enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. One might associate these qualities with a young, up-and-coming actor but hardly any seasoned actor would fit this profile. National award winning director, trained classical dancer with an acting career spanning over 25 years, Revathy Menon slips into this description with great ease.

Sharing ideas and with a willingness to learn, Revathy participated in the workshop with the same zeal as an amateur actor. Dressed casually, clicking pictures of other participants at the workshop, she is unassuming and when she speaks of her work, you hear the professional who has found peace and a different level of involvement with her work. Seated comfortably in Ranga Shankara, she looks relaxed and at home. And why not - theatre is her latest venture and her first performance was at Ranga Shankara.

“Theatre has been a completely new field for me. It is very interesting and this workshop has been a great experience for me. For now, I will be travelling with my play ‘One Madhav Baug’ but I intend to be more involved in theatre.” Having donned so many hats, does she have a favourite? “Well, for me be it  classical dance, acting, direction or theatre, what has caught my attention is the process of creating. I love creating new stories, I like observing human emotions. I love being involved in all of this and I’m lucky to be doing what I want.”

Feedback matters

“I feel great when people come to me and say that they remember me in a role from a movie that is almost ten years old! I had a lot of mothers and daughters come to me after ‘Mitr’ and tell me that it helped ease their relationships. That’s when I feel all the work has been worth it,” she says, elaborating on the fact that as an actor and director she couldn’t ask for anything more.

Connection with the city

Revathy also reveals a surprising connection with Bangalore, “My dad used to be in the army and his last transfer was Bangalore. That was sometime in 1981, so I lived here when it was actually the ‘Garden City’. Now when I come here I feel upset because people don’t seem keen on preserving beauty. I have nothing against progress and development but they should be able to do it without losing out on anything. I think the City earlier had character- something I find missing now. One of the reasons why I like Ranga Shankara is that I think it still reflects the character of the Bangalore I remember. So I guess the City is being revived.”

Ask her about her long career and where she is headed to and you see the mature artiste speak up, “When I was younger it was always about constantly working. In fact, until recently before I started directing, it was always about doing so many films and all that. Now, I’m in a position where I can take it slow. I am currently working on a new script. Now I have the time, so I work with an idea that I can live with for a year because I think that a movie actually becomes a part of a filmmaker’s life.

From the time that you have the idea, through pre-production, casting, post-production and the final product- you have almost lived with that movie for more than a year.”

“That’s why it’s very important for me to work with stories of good quality. I am now in a position where I do what I want to do. (Pauses) Actually I’ve always done whatever I’ve wanted! (she starts laughing) But yeah, let’s say now I am where I wanted to be.”