June 11, 2012 Y. Sunitha Chowdhary
With over 250 films in a span of 25 years, Malayalam actor Siddique makes his debut in Prathyayam Telugu film, directed by Rajesh Touchriver. Soft-spoken but frank and upright the actor says he was confused and worried when the director insisted he do the film as the plot was mostly dialogue-oriented and he didn't know one word in Telugu.
He remarks, "I had to speak lengthy lines but luckily the director took short shots. I am not at all satisfied with my characters and my career in Malayalam films and I get embarrassed every time and every day when I see myself on screen. I still continue hoping that my best will come some day. I am more than happy but not satisfied, even then within my capacity I try to do the same characters offered to me in a different way through mannerisms and looks."
Siddique picks Satyameva Jayate that he did in 2000 as a landmark film that changed the course of his career. "For the first time I did a villain role and it was a Tamil character. People remark that I'm the villain in the film but I prefer being called the anti hero, I am the prati nayagan.
I have also observed that when I do humorous roles people don't appreciate me but when I do something negative they accept me as a good actor, I guess it may be the case with every actor. A negative role stretches the scope of performance, the eccentricity and hyper roles get noticed always. I got State Awards when I did offbeat roles."
In Prathyayam he plays Srinivasan, an ordinary but a genuine character who has a loving daughter but after the film releases will he continue to play character roles? "I don't want to be a busy actor in every language, I'm 52 years, getting old and I prefer Malayalam movies and I wish to stay close to the family. Most films are shot in Cochin and I reach home for the evening, the film wraps up in 35 to 40 days and that works for me."
Ask him the difference between Malayalam and Telugu, Tamil films he avers, "We in Kerala are very homely, friendly and closely knit people at work. In Tamil and Telugu industry, there are only stars in fact there are very good actors.
In Malayalam we try to make different films and every person wants a new story, they hate parody of other films. Also we don't make films for A, B and C class audiences..films are made for one class and all the people belong to that class. If the story is good, it is a success."
Siddique runs a celebrity magazine Family Facebook and it has so far completed publishing 13 issues.
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