Y.Sunita Chowdhary
It is difficult to ignore this talent from Vijayawada. Roopa Koduvayur who is in her early twenties has made her debut as a lead heroine in Umamaheshwara Ugrarupasya a few months back. In the film, she comes in the second half and changes the protagonist, Mahesh’s perspective of life. We often crib that we don’t have enough local talent but when we spot someone so spontaneous and brilliant, who is pretty, dances like a dream and slips into any role with ease…we don’t give them a second film. Also there were no promotions for the film, and the actor didn’t get her due recognition in the media too.
Ask her about it and she says, “I was on hospital duty as the pandemic was at its peak. It isn’t fair to say I didn’t get offers, I did not like them….rather they were roles that I wouldn’t fit in. The second film I get should also have an essence that connects with the audience. Whatever you are destined to get will come at the right time. I am also putting effort and not waiting for something to be offered to me on a platter. I am waiting to get my degree in a few months,” says Roopa who is studying medicine at Katuri Medical College and Hospital in Guntur.
What is her take on Jyothi, the character she portrayed? “Her words are tough but she has a soft heart. I was briefed before the shoot about her qualities and what was expected out of me to bring the character to life. Jyothi is a straight forward girl, always forthright. When she likes a guy, she takes the initiative and tells him about her past relationship. If you accept it, we shall be together or else not is what she says. In a small place like Araku, Jyothi surprises us with her broadminded views. She stitches clothes, she is a fashion institute student. She trains girls and that is instrumental in getting employment. When I stayed in Araku, I saw Telugu girls working on sewing machine. Jyothi is like them, she is an independent girl. As a college student she does a flash mob to grab audience’s attention. Such dances are common, we give a message and we do such stuff in malls and colleges, there are blood donations and other subjects. Fortunately Mahesh also looks at her at that time.”
Roopa further says, “When you work hard to reach your goal, it will turn true. Lot of people I know are giving that freedom to their girls to explore themselves before they get married. They are inspired by my life. I give complete credit to my mother. If she had stopped me, I wouldn’t have got all this. Many people are surprised when they get to know I am a Vijayawada girl. They assume only Hyderabad girls get into movies.” Roopa is fond of Sridevi and Suhasini’s work and says they were given value for their roles and performances. Beauty and glamour is not priority, it is acting that matters and that inspired her. She was five years old when she was trained in classical dance. She recollects, “When sir would put me in a group and tell me to give out expressions, I would put in effort to be unique. I would dance in front of the mirror at home and practise.
I began questioning about lyrics and also I made sure people noticed and carved an identity of my own. When I was offered a film, I thought it is right time to showcase my talent because cinema is a big opportunity and it has a wider audience. The adrenaline rush that drives you to see yourself on 70 mm screen is different, I decided I will take up acting when I was in the ninth and eighth standard. Our interest in this career develops if someone in the family is connected with cinema, I had none. I was an average in school and would dance a lot in cultural programs and won many awards. I was a good student but I thought if I put in effort and focus I will get a medical seat. Mom likes studying and did her post graduation and allowed me my freedom and I got into medical studies. When I was very young, I would visit hospitals and notice what the doctors did. My mother told me about this noble profession and how it saves mankind.”
“I wanted to dance, study and see myself as a doctor. Everyone asks how I balance but it is difficult to stay at home and do no work. I don’t like a simple life. I would attend college till four in the evening, practise dance for an hour and study for three hours before I would get into bed. I tried multiple things. learnt music too, draw and paint in holidays. Even before the Anatomy exam, many of my friends were nervous, I danced for an hour and it is a stress buster. I study lot faster that way.” She explains how she made a trial to fetch notice. On her friend’s advice, she made a video. She has done zillion shows but none of them have been recorded or documented; so she decide on dance video, a medley of of K Vishwanath’s songs as the theme. She opted for outdoor shoot and hired a local videographer for the same. Roopa recollected director K Raghavendra Rao’s interview on television, “He says he shoots close shots in the morning because the face is fresh and goes for long shots later. It was on my mind and I gave instructions to the videographer accordingly. I planned my shots and the locations and made sure the songs are energetic and background is visually appealing and so had sea behind. Finally, got a lot appreciation for my expressions, people liked it. Minimum budget lo chesina andamaina art piece it is.”
Those doing short films noticed it and encouraged her to give acting a try. She acted in short films with characters having diverse shades. “They loved my work and I began getting offers. Umammaheshwara casting call was forwarded to me by my friends. I was shortlisted in the audition and I got into it the film finally. All this was happening even while I was a house surgeon. They did a workshop and last day they screened the film and said not to see it again because we might imitate and lose our spontaneity and natural flair for acting. We dint watch it again and we had a clear idea what we would be doing. As Jyothi I did justice to that character and we felt bad that we would miss out on theatre screening but we didn’t have any option. It was one of the first films to be out on OTT. It got very good response,” she said
People tell Roopa that by opting for an acting career she wasted a medical seat which would have actually been used by some other person who is serious about a medical career. Roopa disagrees, “I heard this many times, Any doctor gives treatment and that is physical treatment. Cinema provides 100 percent entertainment and especially Telugu audience loves it. Mentally it cures and is an entertainment process. Being happy is the cure for all diseases and it is all about priority. Ill give cinema a try and get back to my field again. Once I go to my field I’ll be busy and have a responsibility. I want to be an Oncologist. Any thing, any film is possible and before I get into serious study and work.”
