‘Kalpana never got the recognition she deserved from cinema,' says sister Urvashi: ‘She would have received many good roles today'

Indian Express

12-05-2025

'Kalpana should have been alive today,' Urvashi said without missing a beat. Was it the beloved elder sister or the unparalleled co-star she missed the most? Not sure. But I could see Urvashi's eyes glittering and her face lighting up as she began speaking about Kalpana. A moment or two later, I realised that those must have been the same reactions she noticed in me too, as we were discussing one of our favourite artistes; a talent like no other.
In an exclusive conversation with SCREEN, legendary South Indian actor Urvashi spoke in depth about her late elder sister Kalpana and how she influenced her, not just as a sibling, but as someone who brought joy to those around her by putting a smile on their faces. 'She influenced me in every way. As actors, all our mannerisms came from our mother. Even when talking at home or on the phone, one couldn't tell if it's mom, me or Kalpana. In Tamil Nadu, it's easy for the people to recognise because mom and Kalpana's Tamil had a Malayalam accent. Since I didn't have that, they identified me that way,' she observed.
'As for acting, nobody really influenced me because I didn't come into the world of cinema with that kind of passion or desire. But personally, Kalpana influenced me a lot. Her spontaneous humour… that flow she had… the ability to capture an audience so charmingly. That skill is very rare among women. I haven't seen anyone else like her,' Urvashi recalled.
'Not just now… Even when she was in school, there was always an audience around her. The senior girls in tenth grade would say, 'Kalpana, please come join us,' and take her home to get her to make them laugh. And she'd take me along too. We (Urvashi and their eldest sister Kalaranjini) received special treatment from others for being Kalpana's sisters. She was that popular,' she added.
Nonetheless, Urvashi also strongly emphasised that Kalpana never got the recognition she deserved from cinema. When asked whether Kalpana would have received extraordinary roles — like the one Urvashi played in director Christo Tomy's Ullozhukku, which earned her a sixth Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress — she agreed. The acting legend also shared her belief that Kalpana would have managed to break the glass ceiling, too, and move beyond the stereotypical roles she often received.
'Kalpana should have been alive today, I often wish. I still do. Today's directors have such foresight. I'm not undermining the old directors, nor intentionally praising the new ones. However, those today have the courage to take creative risks. Take an artiste like Indrans, for example. (If not for today's filmmakers) The talent within him would have never come out. He has immense knowledge about costumes, a classic way of thinking, and reads extensively. Today's directors gave him the platform to express those things,' she pointed out.
Urvashi continued, 'The last role that Kalpana did in Charlie (the 2015 Martin Prakkat directorial featuring Dulquer Salmaan and Parvathy Thiruvothu in the lead roles) is an example. Certainly, she could have done many good roles. Maybe even Ullozhukku itself, Kalpana could have done beautifully.'
Anandu Suresh is a Senior sub-editor at Indian Express Online. He specialises in Malayalam cinema, but doesn't limit himself to it and explores various aspects of the art form. He also pens a column titled Cinema Anatomy, where he delves extensively into the diverse layers and dimensions of cinema, aiming to uncover deeper meanings and foster continuous discourse. Anandu previously worked with The New Indian Express' news desk in Hyderabad, Telangana. You can follow him on Twitter @anandu_suresh_ and write (or send movie recommendations) to him at [e-mail]. ... Read More