Varshangalkku Shesham star Sreeram Ramachandran – ‘I learnt an important lesson from Vijay’ | Exclusive

In an interview with OTTplay, Sreeram also talked about how switching to television helped him become more widely recognised.

Sreeram Ramachandran | Photo: Instagram

Many people are clueless that young actor Sreeram Ramachandran began his career working in some of the highly regarded South Indian films, despite the fact that he is well-known among Malayalis for his roles in a number of films and the popular Asianet serial Kasthooriman. From Varshangalkku Shesham to Malarvadi Arts Club, the actor has appeared in numerous commercials, short films, and movies.

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In an interview with OTTplay, Sreeram talked about how switching to television helped him become more widely recognised. He also talked about how, over the course of his 14 years in the industry, he has evolved as an actor. Sony LIV is currently streaming Varshangalkku Shesham, his most recent movie.

Vineeth Sreenivasan's Malarvadi Arts Club is where you started your acting career. How does it feel to be back in Varshangalkku Shesham with the same team?

I count it a blessing that I have this kind of opportunity. I was not sure if I would make a career out of this when I had a passing shot in the Malarvadi Arts Club. When I said goodbye to Vineeth that day, I recall him telling me that this was not the end but the beginning. That greatly inspired me, and since then, I have appeared in a number of commercials, short films, feature films, and an Asianet serial. I treasure the journey because it was unexpected. On the set of Varshangalkku Shesham, it felt like I had returned to my family.

Your portrayal of Jeeva in Kasthooriman quickly elevated you to fame. Was switching to television a simple decision?

I did not have many offers, so when I received a call about doing this serial, I decided to do it right away. But the serial made me more popular than my film work did. Every time I am out, people approach me and strike up a casual conversation because they know me as Jeeva. I never imagined receiving such an acceptance, and the praise was on par with what I would have received if I worked on nearly ten films.

An intriguing incident occurred when I received a call expressing a 90-year-old woman's desire to meet with me. Even though she was unable to recall the majority of her family members, she still desired to see me once. She spoke to me as though I were her grandson when I went to meet her.

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After 14 years in the business, do you still feel that you rarely receive the projects you deserve?

I tend to be optimistic in general. I started my career as an assistant in the art departments of Villu, starring Vijay, and Prashanth Neel's Ugramm. I never would have imagined that, and even though I am still having difficulties, I cherish and enjoy this journey. I think it is important for us to acknowledge that things may not always go as planned. It would be more prudent to proceed step by step. I used to dream of getting interviewed someday, and now here I am. It all comes down to giving life some time.

Few people are aware of your beginnings in Villu and Ugramm. In what ways did it help your exposure to the industry?

I was only 23 when I joined, so the industry was nothing like what I had anticipated. I was astonished by every moment and discovered a whole new world. While I was working with Vijay, Prabhudeva, and Nayanthara, I experienced a lot of fanboy moments. The one lesson I took away from this experience was the value of a grounded mindset. Even though he had a caravan, I used to see Vijay sitting outside on a chair and waving at all of the people who had gathered to catch a glimpse of him. I saw these amazing stars when I first started my career, and I have always been careful to keep my perspective in check.

All of my coworkers from my time at Ugramm are now well-known artistes in the industry. We barely had time to socialise during the hectic shoots because everyone was so committed to giving it their all. While working on these two projects, I came to understand the magic of cinema.

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What would you say about the transition from behind to in front of the camera?

My mentor, Sunil Babu, encouraged me to follow my passion on a regular basis. I went to the audition for the Malarvadi Arts Club from the set of Ugramm. It has always benefited me that he used to tell me that having real life experience would make me a better actor. I switched from films to television, and it was a different world. I make an effort to grow as an artiste every day. I developed over the years with the assistance of some veteran actors as well as colleagues, learning different acting techniques tailored to each medium.

The current generation finds watching serials to be extremely draining. What needs to change in the television industry, in your opinion?

The main focus of our serials even now is problems that arise in families after a marriage, and I believe that this is why they become repetitive: people are curious and excited to learn about other people's family struggles. These days, every channel is profiting from that formula. I once had aspirations of working on the Doordarshan serials that were produced by renowned makers like K K Rajeev. However, the times have changed, and dubbed serials are now also hugely popular.

Good content is still hard to come by. Additionally, new productions are available on a number of online platforms, such as Disney+ Hotstar. Television actors make up the majority of the cast of these works. I hope that Malayalam considers more productions of this kind. All we can do is give things a little time; change is inevitable.

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