Varadaraja’s daughter seeks stardom

(by Vipul Sivakumaran)

Shooting began in South India this week of a Malayalam film in which former North-East Province Chief Minister Varadaraja Perumal’s daughter plays a major role.

The actor-dancer daughter of Perumal portrayed the role of a television journalist in the film, ‘Bombay Mittayi’, the Indian media reported.

Indian politician and former Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh plays a Hindustani classical singer in the film. It also stars Bollywood star Dimple Kapadia, according to the Press reports.

It was after a stage play she performed at the India Habitat Centre in Delhi, that U. Pradeep, the producer of ‘Bombay Mittayi’, approached her with an offer. She liked the ‘Bombay Mittayi’s’ story line and agreed, The Hindu reported.

Neelambari’s family had moved to Chanderi in Madhya Pradesh during her early childhood because of the security threat faced by her family. There were no schools for her to attend. "A tutor used to come to teach us and I learned my Hindi lessons from him," she said in the Hindu report. The family again had to move for security reasons to Rajasthan. There Neelambari attended the Sophia school. "We were the centre of attraction there because of the security cover we had even while attending the class," she said.

She received her first lessons of Bharatanatyam from her aunt and learned Kathak from Guruji Manekchand. The silent, shy girl was slowly evolving into an artist. Finally, after the many journeys to find a secure home with her family, she settled in Delhi, completed her LLB, and is actively involved in theatre, according to the Hindu.

The ex-chief minister was not available for comment yesterday as he was out of Sri Lanka.