Ramya Krishnan

Sridevi ’s loss became Ramya Krishnan ’s gain What Ramya Krishnan could not achieve in her youth as a sex bomb, she has achieved that at the fag-end of her career as revered Rajmata Shivagami in the film Baahubali -1 and 2. Readers would be surprised to know that filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli had offered the role to Bollywood veteran Sridevi . Looking at the aura and composition of the character of Rajmata Shivagami, the role was ideally suited for Sridevi but Sridevi declined the role in lure of money. She failed to read the magnificence and the significance of the character. She demanded Rs 6 crore for the role. Hence left with no option Rajamouli had to hunt for an alternative. He found ageing Ramya Krishnan apt for the role but she too turned down the role as she was tied up with other films while Rajamouli wanted bulk date for the film. Disappointed Rajamouli requested Ramya and urged her to read the script. Fortunately when Ramya read the script, she was left dazed by the magnitude and the depth of the character of Rajmata Shivagami, which is the film’s cornerstone and offered Ramya , a life time opportunity to explore her talent to the hilt. She immediately called Rajamouli and arranged bulk dates for Baahublai, adjusting her other films, and even dropping out from few films to focus entirely in Rajmata Shivagami’s character! She fueled all her energy in the film and came out with flying colors. Her performance is equally great as the performance of yesteryear actress Nirupama Roy in Deewar or Nargis in Mother India . She is epitome of power, elegance and strength of mind. Her character has multi shade form a loving mother to a fuming Empress to a sympatric mother in climax. The role rides through a range of emotions in the course of the two films and in each shade she excels!! Truly as Rajmata Shivagami, Ramya Krishnan has been immortalized just as actress Nargis and Nirupama Roy have been immortalized as ideal Mothers in Mother India and Deewar , respectively.