Manju Warrier on 'L2: Empuraan', Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Why She Wants to Redo All Her Performances

It’s not easy to name many female characters from mainstream blockbusters that come close to the complexity of actor Manju Warrier's Priya Ramdas in Lucifer (2019). Not only is she the only towering woman in a film filled to the brim with dozens of powerful men, but she also has to balance her life's many tragedies with the strength one assumes from a political heir. This already-interesting arc is all set to become even more complex in the film’s sequel.

Often regarded as one of Warrier’s best, she appears excited to watch the film on the big screen come April 27.

Edited excerpts from an interview that happened on the sidelines of the trailer launch of L2: Empuraan in Mumbai:

I realised during my research that L2: Empuraan is your first sequel. What is the approach when you’re going back to a character you played six years ago? 

I do not keep any physical notes or workings for my characters. But unlike other roles, for Empuraan I had the option to rewatch Lucifer as a reference for my character of Priyadarshini Ramdas. Usually, the longest time you get to play one character is when there’s a break between schedules. But this is the first time in my acting career that I’m getting to play the same role five years later.  I also worked a bit to understand what I must do to get the continuity of my look right. The added advantage was that the timeline of the sequel is around six years from where the original left off, so the natural changes in appearance were okay. 

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Your character is also one of the film’s most complex characters. Not only does the film begin with the death of her father but it ends with the death of her husband; her life is tragic but she’s still strong and bold.

Yes, she is challenging and complicated and it is my job to do whatever it takes to fully understand her. But this process of understanding her has to happen organically. Right from when you sign on to do such a film, it starts to play in the back of your mind. We have to talk in depth to both the director and writer and they were available to clear any doubts at any point in time. I don’t remember the exact questions I may have asked, but I have a feeling that I might have asked some of the same questions repeatedly.

How did you see her as a character?

I find Priyadarshini to be simple yet very complex. You’re always just trying to be a part of good films. But a 'good film' rarely comes with the kind of expectations and the grandeur that is naturally a part of films like Lucifer and Empuraan in an actor’s life.

How did you break down the process of playing her?

Honestly, it becomes very easy because both Raju (Prithviraj) and Murali Gopi have such a clearly defined understanding of who she is. Right from the way she talks, walks sits, stares, and even laughs... everything is clear in Raju's head. He’s also extremely articulate at communicating all of this to an actor because he himself is one. Every single movement of Priyadarshini is what he had in mind. So, I didn’t need to give it my own interpretation.

Can you give me an example of how he communicates on sets?

I had never worked with Raju until this. His narrations are brilliant, almost like you can see the film right in front of you. When I talk about his communication skills, I don’t just mean his work with the actors on set. There are several scenes in which the mood created by thousands of extras is vital to the emotion we’re trying to capture; it’s brilliant to see how he commands all their attention and synchronicity to get exactly what he wants.

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Given the scale and the excitement of the film, were you tempted to watch the whole film when you went in for dubbing?

I was, but I only want to watch it in a theatre full of people. When I go to dub, I usually only watch my portions and I’m able to spot all the mistakes I’ve made in my performance.

What is the one role from your entire filmography that you’d want to fully redo?

I want to redo every bit of every performance I’ve ever done (laughs). Given an option, I’d want to scrap everything and do everything all over again. I feel too awkward rewatching my films.

Has your acting process changed now compared to how you performed in your older films?

My process was never too meticulous. I didn't have a process then and I don’t have a process today. It’s not like I sit down to think and then write down the points to plan my performance. It’s not that I don’t want to do that, but I don’t think that process suits me because I’ll forget what I learned. I’m someone who only knows how to be in the moment. 

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I always saw acting as something that happens in the back of one’s mind very subconsciously. I used to think about my characters even in my older films, but I don’t think I was old enough to draw anything from my life experiences. I was only 16 or 17 years old then. But today, maybe I have a deeper understanding of my characters.

Finally, I can't think of another recent Malayalam film that has generated the level of excitement that Empuraan has. Can you remember a few films that were this exciting among the films you watched in your childhood?

I think it was Manichitrathazhu (1993). I remember watching it multiple times with my family. Tickets were so tough to get that we all had to sit separately to watch it!