Exclusive! Lakshmi Manchu: Stop labelling artistes as 'South Indian' and 'Madrasi'

As the celebration of Indian films and music continues with the recent achievement of the first-ever Golden Globe Award for the song Natu Natu from SS Rajamouli's film RRR, actress Lakshmi Manchu is celebrating the success, especially being from the Telugu film industry. She raised an important point, saying that it is it is important to stop categorising Indian cinema based on different regions of the country.

Asked about how she views the win of Natu Natu at the Golden Globes, Lakshmi told OTTplay, "It is a huge moment for all Indians, and I just hope that people stop tagging and separate artistes by calling us just 'South Indian'. I know a lot of talk is happening around it, but we have to put it into practice. Of course, at a personal level, I feel super special, because I am Telugu and it is a Telugu film that won, but the ignorance towards the southern part of our country still exists."

Elaborating further, she added, "How often do we call people of Bengal East Indian? Mumbaikars are West Indians, right, because it is located on the west side of our country. Even now, there are pockets in the northern part of our country where we are called Madrasi...in places, I am called that. So, I think it is time we stop all this."

Lakshmi, who is the daughter of the veteran actor Mohan Babu, is known for acting in films like Anaganaga O Dheerudu, Chandamama Kathalu, Gundello Godari, the Netflix film Pitta Kathalu and the American TV series Las Vegas, Desperate Housewives, and Late Nights with my Lover, among others. She also had successful talk shows Prematho Mee Lakshmi, Luckunte Lakshmi, Doosukeltha, Memu Saitham, Maharani and Aha Bhojanambu.

Lakswhmi was last seen in the Mohanlal-starrer Monster, which was her debut in the Malayalam film industry. She played a lesbian in the film which is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.