Click here if you would like to Contribute or send a feedback.
Click here to go to the main page of Kannada Lyrics.
Click here to go to the main page of Kannada Movie Reviews (Kannada).
Click here to go to the main page of Kannada Movie Reviews (English).
Click here to read more interviews.
Click here to read more Cine News (Chitraloka). Actress Tara made her feature film debut 20 years ago as a child artiste. After acting in various roles in all South Indian language films, Tara decided to produce a film for the Award Winning Director Girish Kasaravalli. The film ‘Haseena’ has won three national awards including the prestigious Best Actress Award for Tara. Mr. Harish Mattur and Mr. Sandeep Shenoy spoke to Tara at the Bangalore Press Club on behalf of OKC. OKC: Congratulations for winning the National Award. Tell us how do you feel being adjudged the best actress?
Thank you. I am very happy. I really did not expect this award. I had a very tough competetion. To win against actresses like Aishwarya Rai and Rani Mukherjee is a dream come true. I had expected an award for my earlier performances in “Kanooru Heggadithi” and “Munnudi”, the Kannada art cinemas, but was disappointed. But I did not lost heart. This year, I got married to cameraman Venu and got a National Award too. Though belated, I am glad that God is still with me. I am overwhelmed with joy over the profuse flow of compliments from my admirers ever since the award was announced. I feel proud that I still have a place in the hearts of the people of Karnataka, after working two decades in the industry. There was very tough competition at high-level from Aishwarya Rai, Rani Mukherjee, Konkana Sen and others. I am grateful to the judges for selecting me. All those who worked with me, share the credit for the award. My husband and I received numerous phone calls from fans who expressed pleasure. The award is an honour for all the Kannadigas. OKC: You are also the producer of the film. Your film has won 3 awards. Did you expect to win three? Can you share your experiences with us?
No, we had no expectations. We thought we could win one. Winning three is really because of my team. They worked very hard to make this film. I would like to thank my director Girish Kasaravalli and the whole crew. 
Actress turned producer Jayamala inspired me to produce a film on my own. Though I am not financially as sound as Jayamala, I managed to produce the movie through loans. I did have some hitches while shooting in Madikeri. Some Bajrang Dal activists, who mistook the temporary set erected near the Gaddige, an archaeological structure of the Lingayat rulers, as a permanent one, protested. The misunderstanding was cleared and they extended their co-operation later. I enjoyed whole-hearted support from all quarters, including the Government. OKC: Did you know that you have won the best actress trophy, which had eluded Kannada actresses for 31 years?
No I did not know this. Kannada always had talented actresses. Even in the direction department we have the best directors. I hope more and more Kannada films are recognized at the national level. OKC: Tell us about your role in the film.
I play a Muslim woman in the film. This is the second time I am playing a Muslim woman. Earlier in P Sheshadri’s MUNNUDI I had acted as a Muslim woman. Since the script was very good it was easy for me to portray the character. OKC: How was the experience of working with Girish Kasaravalli?
He is a brilliant director. He knows exactly what he wants. He works a lot on pre production and scripts. Making a film for him has to be completely planned. I had seen his film Dweepa. I loved that film. That must have inspired me to work with him. OKC: You married your dream man Venu recently. You were supposed to marry long back. Isn’t it?
I know him from the past 16 years. I was very busy as an actress then. But last year when we met; we realized the feelings for each other. May be he had waited for me for so long. It happened finally this year. Venu is a sweetheart. He is a simple hardworking cinematographer. I think he is very lucky for me. I have won the National Award after marriage. I tell him that this is our biggest marriage gift. OKC: Now that you have produced a film. What is your next step?
Direction obviously! I would love to direct a film soon. I always wanted to wear the director’s cap someday. OKC: What about acting? Tell us about your future projects.
Currently I am acting in a Tamil film. I also have a Malayalam film, which has an interesting story. I will also act in Kannada films if the script is good. OKC: Do you find any difference between Commercial and art movies?
For an actor, there is no difference as such as they have to emote in both. However, the story line of an art film will be known even to the technicians, unlike in commercial cinemas where the actors would play their designated roles, without even being aware of the story. OKC: About Remake and non – remake movies?
In the industry, they call them as remake and “ swamake”. In a remake, an actor cannot display his or her original acting talents, as the viewers tend to compare the remake role with the original one. But in a swamake (original) film, whatever the actor portrays is original. OKC: Don’t you feel that you were not able to gain due recognition as heroine?
If I had been choosy about my roles and accepted only glamorous ones, I would have been a non-entity in the film industry by now. But since I did roles of supporting characters, I have survived here, which is a satisfaction. OKC: When can we see Haseena in theaters?
We plan to release the film in August. Please watch the film in the theatre. Haseena is also entering the panorama section of India international film festival. We are also hoping to send it to many international film festivals. OKC: Thank you for speaking to okc. Wish you all the best. Let the film be a huge success.
Thank you very much. Please don’t forget to watch the film. Sandeep Shenoy & Harish Mattur
for OKC Click here if you would like to Contribute or send a feedback.
Click here to go to the main page of Kannada Lyrics.
Click here to go to the main page of Kannada Movie Reviews (Kannada).
Click here to go to the main page of Kannada Movie Reviews (English).
Click here to read more interviews.
Click here to read more Cine News (Chitraloka).
| 
