The Malayalam actor clarifies that her words in an interview with an FM channel have been taken out of context and misquoted.
Actor Mamitha Baiju. (X)
Malayalam actor Mamitha Baiju has recently shot to fame with the blockbuster Premalu (2024).
In a recent interview with ClubFM, she revealed that Tamil director Bala would hit her on the sets of the film Vanangaan.
Mamitha Baiju, who eventually withdrew from the project, disclosed that Bala used to reprimand and hit her during the filming.
She was initially selected to portray the female lead alongside Suriya. However, both actors decided to quit the movie.
Bala is a well-known filmmaker in the Tamil industry. His 2009 film Naan Kadavul won the National Film Award for Best Director.
After the news became viral and was brought to her notice, Mamitha Baiju actor dismissed it as a rumour.
Mamitha Baiju’s Instagram story where she dismissed the news about Bala hitting her during ‘Vanangaan’ shooting as a rumour. (Instagram)
Responding to the viral video, where she mentions that director Bala would reprimand her during the shoot of Vanangaan, the Premalu actor clarified that her words have been taken out of context and misconstructed.
Sharing the same on her Instagram story, the actor wrote: “I would like to clarify that the news being circulated online regarding my involvement with a Tamil film is absolutely baseless. An excerpt from a film promotion interview has been taken out of context and is being clearly misquoted.”
Further reiterating that the director had not hit her, Mamitha Baiju wrote, “I have worked with Bala Sir for close to a year including pre-production and production of the film. He has always been kind enough to help me become a better actor. I would like to reiterate that I have not experienced any mental or physical harm or any other sort of abusive behaviour during my work on that film.”
She added, “I opted out of that film later on, only because of other professional commitments.”
Recalling the shoot days of Vanangaan, Mamitha said, “There’s something called Villadichampaatu in the film. Upon noticing it, I inquired whether my character had been practising it extensively or if the scene depicted her attempting it for the first time.”
The actor said she was informed that her character would be portrayed as highly experienced. “In such a situation, I should be proficient in the movements, right? Because during the performance, one has to sing while playing a drum, and it’s executed in a specific style as well.”
Mamitha further explained: “Bala then directed my attention to a woman, a Villadichampaatu artist, and told me to observe her. When I started observing her, he unexpectedly declared that the take was ready. I was taken aback and unprepared for it.”
Villadichampaatu is an age-old narrative musical art form originating in Southern India. This traditional method of storytelling combines narration with music. It is practised in the Southern states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, as well as in the North-Eastern region of Sri Lanka.
“It took me three takes, and he was scolding in between. I was mentally prepared for the harsh words, as I was advised not to take those things to heart. But he would hit me too,” Mamitha Baiju recollected.
However, the actor did not explicitly say that she quit Vanangaan because of Bala’s behaviour.
When the host of the interview asked Mamitha if her co-star Suriya responded to the abuse, she responded negatively. “Suriya sir had worked with the director previously. So he had a good rapport with him.”
Mamitha Baiju’s Premalu is a huge success. It garnered both praise and box office numbers.
Set in Hyderabad, Premalu is a romantic-comedy entertainer.
The Malayalam movie collected ₹50 crore in just 13 days and became the first blockbuster hit of 2024 in Mollywood.
Its collection crossed ₹60 crore as of Tuesday, 27 February.
(The copy has been updated after the actor’s clarification on her Instagram story.)
May 10, 2024
May 10, 2024
May 10, 2024
May 09, 2024
May 09, 2024
May 09, 2024
