If you think finding a girl to marry is the most difficult
thing, then take it from me, finding the right girl to act in your movie is far more
difficult. I’ve had the most tiring experience doing so. Contrary to the
popular belief that there are thousands of girls dying to get a chance to act
in movies, the actual fact is that not even a single one from this thousand
suits ‘all’ the conditions set by your project.
She should look convincing enough for the role, besides
being an eye candy. Then in case of a story such as that of ‘Paranjsothy’, the
girl not only has to look pretty, but has to have that tenderness, that would
make someone want to protect them. A subtle level of sensuousness needs to be there
too. Because of the intensity of love in the story.
Now that’s just about how she looks, but that's not all. The girl still has to ‘perform’ in front
of the camera. For that the right attitude has to be there. It could be taught.
But that would be a highly expensive proposition.
The fee factor - most important of all factors - comes at
the very end. Because each artist has to fit into the set budget. Any variation
to the set budget could affect the overall equilibrium of the project.
Some of the girls that attended the auditions we conducted
were outright funny. Tell them to smile. And they would twist their lips to a
neat ‘O’. Tell them to look into the camera. And they would point their chin
towards the camera and strain their vision to bypass their nose and finally
reach the camera. Ask to them imagine like a girl who has just been proposed to
and is expected to give a positive reply. They would pretend having got
proposals from at least a thousand young lovelorn young men – given their
looks, and finally giving a blank stare at the camera – I also love you. A
shake with the head – meaning affirmative – the character she is supposed to
speak to, followed by a sheepish grin – to the crew members who are left
wondering why they even plan to make a movie in the first place.
Then there are others. The experienced lot – usually one
under-production film old - whom we would like to consider for the role as a
second option. Second option, because we aren’t getting what we exactly wanted.
These girls would audition for the role along with a sales presentation of
their talents, and when we call them up to confirm their schedules, they give
some of the lamest excuse to back out. The movie requires some intense scenes -
I can’t do that. Or, I have committed to another project during the same time –
I don’t have the dates available. Or, I don’t know the language – arre! If
these were their excuses, why the hell they come to the auditions in the first
place? I mean, our very invitation that we mailed to each of them had all the
answers to these excuses.
God, help us. Please.
