Golden Era For Regional Cinema: National Award Winner Manasi Parekh

Actor-singer Manasi Parekh has been honoured with the Best Actress award at the 70th National Film Awards for her stellar performance in Kutch Express. She shared a prestigious accolade with Nithya Menen for Thiruchitrambalam. 

In an interview with SheThePeople, Manasi Parekh discussed her journey from music to acting, the challenges she faced in television, her foray into film production, and the growing popularity of regional cinema.

Manasi Parekh's Journey In Entertainment

Parekh, a Mumbai native with Gujarati roots, discovered her passion for music at a young age and began her singing training early on. She actively participated in school events and even competed in reality shows. However, destiny had fame in store for Parekh. She remarked, "That's why I got selected for one of the shows, and then one opportunity led to another, resulting in nearly seven to eight TV shows, numerous advertisements, and ventures into Hindi films, short films, and Gujarati cinema. So, it's been a fulfilling journey for me."

Parekh, who has been a part of television for over 20 years, attests to the valuable lessons it imparts. She emphasised that television teaches resilience by requiring actors to work consistently under various conditions, whether happy, sad, fit, or underslept. "You know, it's like military training in that sense because you're shooting every day, against all odds. Um, so television helped me build a lot of resilience. It did all my skills in a lot of ways, and I have television to thank for the fact that, because I explored so many characters on television, when I came into film, I was prepared to, kind of, you know, play balls," she explained.

Transition To Acting And Formal Training

Despite her television experience, Parekh recognised the importance of formal acting training for skill enhancement. After completing several TV shows, she pursued a theatre and drama workshop at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York. Parekh also engaged in theatre workshops and she firmly believes that theatre plays a crucial role in an actor's skill development.

When asked about the challenges she faced in television, Parekh recounted her experience on the popular show Gulal, which required her to endure gruelling work schedules. She said, "It was a very popular show called Gulal, and the set was almost one and a half hours away from my house, so it was a one-and-a-half-hour drive and a one-and-a-half-hour drive back. So, for three hours I would be in the car, and for 14 hours I would be on set, so that was 17 hours of work every day. So, I came home just to sleep for seven hours. And I did that for one year."

She elaborated, "Six months into that gruelling schedule, I fell very sick because the body sometimes succumbs to a lot of stress, and that's what happened to me. I had to rush to the doctor, who inquired about my profession. He observed, 'What is your profession like? Your feet are swollen, you have dark circles under your eyes, and you appear extremely tired. You essentially collapsed due to exhaustion.' In fact, I collapsed at home. So experiences like that have occurred."

On Work-Life Balance, Juggling Music & Acting

Parekh also shared insights into her experience in the industry and how she manages her work-life balance. She stated, "I believe that maintaining a work-life balance is crucial. Now I have my priorities sorted out. I want to dedicate time to my daughter as well. I don't want to be a parent who is never present at home for her. So, I organise my days and schedule around her routine as well.”

She elaborated, "It has been about seven to seven and a half years since I started working in films, and I have shot almost seven films since she was born. On average, it's been about one film per year. The best part about films is that it's just one and a half months or one month of being away, and then everything falls into place."

Parekh's journey began with singing, and she seamlessly transitioned into acting. Now, she is successfully juggling both careers, as seen in her latest film, Jamkudi, where she not only acts but also lends her voice to the titular track. She conveyed, "I have sung for my films before this, like in 'Kach Express' and 'Congratulations' with Sharman Joshi. So, singing for my films is a skill I possess, and why not utilise it?"

For Jamkudi, she elucidates, "The music directors were keen on having my voice for the song in 'Jamkudi' since I am playing the lead role and am also a singer. It was easy for me to connect with the character and sing the song accordingly. The audience's response to the song has been overwhelming, and it has gone viral. Composed by Aghori Music, the song is a unique hip-hop Gujarati track that has never been seen before. It's trending globally, and I'm delighted to have sung a song that has become such a massive hit."

Film Production Journey & Ventures

However, Jamkudi isn't Parekh’s debut in Gujarati cinema; she has been associated with several films prior to this. Recalling her journey, she shared, “Around seven years ago, I watched a Gujarati film starring Pratik Gandhi, who's now a big name in Hindi cinema as well. I was captivated by the film and thought, 'I'm Gujarati, and this film is amazing. I should do Gujarati films too.' And that's how my journey began.”

Delving into her venture into film production, she revealed, “We decided to produce our first film part-time, having worked extensively in the industry with writers and directors. We wanted to create a project of our own to gauge the response. Our debut production, 'Golkeri', turned out to be a massive box-office success and a sleeper hit right before COVID hit. It was evident that audiences loved it."

She also talked about Kutch Express, a 2023 Gujarati drama directed by Viral Shah, stars Ratna Pathak Shah, Manasi Parekh, and Dharmendra Gohil. Produced by Parthiv Gohil and Manasi Parekh, the film features music by Sachin-Jigar and is available in both Gujarati and Hindi. She said, "Following that, we produced Kutch Express with Ratna Pathak Shah, which garnered critical acclaim and international releases across numerous countries." Manasi's performance earned her the Best Actress award at the 70th National Film Awards.

Regional Cinema's Rising Popularity

The actor also highlighted Sargun Mehta's significant transition from television to making a mark in Punjabi cinema, emphasising her own commitment to Gujarati cinema and the promising journey ahead. She expressed, "Our confidence in selecting the right scripts and collaborating with the right teams has only grown stronger. It's been a rewarding journey. Sargun (Mehta) is doing remarkable work in Punjabi cinema, and I'm proud of my contributions to Gujarati cinema."

Reflecting on the growing success of regional cinema with audiences, she remarked, "This is a golden era for regional cinema. Audiences are increasingly embracing regional films. We've noticed many theatres in Bombay and Gujarat allocating more screenings to regional films like 'Jamkudi' compared to Hindi films. It's a shift that was unimaginable earlier, but now it's a reality. People crave diverse and entertaining content in various languages. It's an exciting time for regional cinema, and I'm grateful to be part of this flourishing movement."

Parekh also discussed her experience working with Viraj Ghelani on Jamkudi and highlighted his pivotal role in the film's success. She emphasised that witnessing the younger generation embrace regional cinema marks a significant shift from the past when primarily older and middle-aged individuals watched such films. "It's a huge victory for us that we're attracting a younger audience. Many kids and families have even watched the film multiple times in a week, which is unprecedented. Viraj Gehlani has played a crucial role in this success with his valuable insights and hands-on approach. Working with him has been an incredible experience," she said.