Dear Tamannaah
Watching you metamorphose into to this young confident character called Avantika on screen has indeed been a satisfying moment for someone who has known you since you were in your pigtails!
From Jiya in CHAND SA ROSHAN CHEHRA in 2005 [when you were still in school] to S S Rajamouli's BAHUBALI, a movie that is creating a storm at the box-office all over India and an impact, worldwide, this is just The Beginning of your journey!
I understand you went to the South to cut your teeth, so to speak, and found success there early on. HIMMATWALA, HUMSHAKALS and ENTERTAINMENT, did not really give you that impact in Bollywood that you were looking for. With Avantika, you seem to have reignited your Box Office interest in Bollywood. I'm sure serious film-makers here, like Rajamouli in the South, will start looking at you differently. You have worked on the character you were supposed to portray and added that meanness and also left that vulnerability within, which a woman is supposed to have. Excellent!
Business-like body language and a firm resolve as a female warrior, you have stood up to Bahubali in his quest to find his roots. And while The Beginning has just enough of you, I would like to believe that the second part, coming next year, will see a lot more of you.
It took a while for me to realize that it was really you when you came on as a warrior on the screen. The entire presentation and make-up was spot-on. It's difficult to hide milky white skin! I'm sure your new nickname will now be ‘Tan Tan Tam'!
On a serious note, I hope you realize that you are indeed blessed to be a part of history in Indian cinema. BAHUBALI-The Beginning is going to make the world sit up and take notice of Indian cinema. The scale is gigantic, the vision insightful and its execution supremely professional.
Tell me, how many actors get there? Kate Winslett in THE TITANIC, Julie Andrews in SOUND OF MUSIC. Now you, dear Tamannaah Bhatia.
Prabhas and Rana Daggubati along with Sathyaraj who played that very noble character Katappa might have stolen the limelight in the first instalment. But knowing S S Rajamouli and his penchant for giving every character its due, I know something big is up in store for Avantika in 2016.
Tamannaah, The Beginning has just gotten better for you.
God Bless You
Martin D'Souza
