Malayalam cinema recently witnessed a rare performance from an actor whose name, fittingly, is Abhinaya— which means expression. What made the performance truly remarkable was the fact that she lacked one of the most essential tools of acting—the ability to hear or speak. Despite this, she pulled off a powerful and mature performance, leaving the audience wanting more.
Over the past 18 years, Abhinaya has starred in 58 films across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam. Her latest outing in Malayalam is the Joju George directorial debut Pani, where she played the female lead.
In an exclusive interview with Indian Express Malayalam, Abhinaya shares the inspiring story of her life—one that defies limitations and is driven by her passion for cinema.
“As a child, I wasn’t initially interested in acting. My father, who was in the army, had a passion for it and eventually left his job to pursue a career in films,” remembers Abhinaya, whose interest in movies sparked after travelling with her father to film sets and attending acting workshops.
“I would watch Tamil films, especially those of Trisha, and mimic her expressions. By the time I was 16, while working on Naadodigal, I realized I had a genuine inclination for acting. I owe my entry into cinema to my father’s influence and support.”
Abhinaya was discovered by director Samuthirakani while he was searching for a fresh face for his film Nadodigal. She was subsequently cast in its Telugu remake, Shambo Shiva Shambo, and later in its Kannada remake,’Hudugaru. Her stellar performances earned her two Filmfare Awards the following year, one for Nadodigal and the other for Shambo Shiva Shambo.
“Naadodigal’ is a film I will always cherish. The memories of learning my dialogues and interacting with people on the film set are particularly special. It was during that film that I truly felt a deep connection with everyone around me,” recalls the actor, whose mother assisted in learning dialogues in Tamil and Telugu. Abhinaya would then carefully study and practice the lip sync.
She added, “I also ask the director about the character’s presentation—what expressions to use, the nature of the character, whether they’re soft or rough. The assistant directors are also a big help in this process.”
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In her latest, Pani, Abhinaya played Joju’s wife, Gauri. The character, according to the actor, was a bit challenging primarily because it was very subtle.
The actor said, “The dialogues and emotions were very natural. Unlike in Tamil and Telugu, where you have to give a lot of loud expressions, here, you just have to behave naturally.”
One of the most challenging roles so far, according to Abhinaya, was playing a radio jockey in a Tamil film.
“I had a lot of dialogue, many of the shots were close-ups. The shoot began at 6 a.m. and went on til noon, with the lights constantly hitting my eyes, which caused severe strain.”
Despite the limitations and challenges, Abhinaya finds acting very fulfilling and wants to set an example for the speech and hearing impaired.
“There is no truth in the notion that only those who can hear and speak are capable of playing meaningful roles or excel in acting. What truly matters is our talent and skill. This belief fuels my passion, and through my journey, I hope to inspire my community, build their confidence, and show them the limitless possibilities that lie ahead.”
Eager to explore new and unconventional roles, Abhinaya is now looking for more action-driven characters and also roles with dark, negative shades like a villain, don, or smuggler. “People often see me in a certain light, and I want to challenge that perception by playing unexpected, complex roles.”
As Abhinaya waits for opportunities to step outside the typical mould, she is also dealing with the grief of losing her mother, who has been central to her journey.
“My mother was my biggest support. She was always by my side, accompanying me to the film sets, helping me learn my dialogues. She would also carefully plan my wardrobe and styling for every program I attended. Sadly, I lost her four months ago, and I am still in the process of healing. I am now trying to find my own strength and become more independent,” the actor said.
