Shanthini Venugopal returns with one-woman show ‘Look At Me!'

Free Malaysia Today

a day ago

Shanthini Venugopal has a lifetime of stories to share in 'Look At Me!'. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Lifestyle)
KUALA LUMPUR : In the 1999 Hollywood adaptation of 'Anna and the King', she played the trusted nanny to Jodie Foster's character's son.
In 2001, she donned the nun's habit as Mother Superior in Gardner & Wife Theatre's production of the musical 'Nunsense'.
And just last year, she transformed into Patti Shanti, the ruthless leader of a criminal gang in the local TV series 'I.D.'.
But most days, you'll find Shanthini Venugopal captivating children with her animated storytelling and theatrics through her collective, The Jumping Jellybeans.
For the past 40 years, this 67-year-old has coloured Malaysia's performing arts scene with her vibrant voice, boundless talent, infectious energy – and above all, her unrelenting zest for life.
'Whatever opportunity that comes your way, you can either say 'yes' or 'no'. In theatre, you learn to always say 'yes' first, and then you figure out how you're going to do it. And that is how I have lived my life,' Shanthini, a grandmother of one, told FMT Lifestyle.
'There is nothing wrong in saying 'no', but I always say 'yes' because opportunities don't come by very often. But when they do, you should grab it.'
Shanthini is a storyteller at heart, and enjoys entertaining kids. (Shanthini Venugopal pic)
One of the most beloved figures in local theatre, Shanthini is now preparing for her one-woman show 'Look At Me!' – an intimate, two-hour journey through her life as an actor, singer, storyteller, voiceover artist, daughter, mother, and grandmother.
With a mix of humour, song, and heartfelt storytelling, the Kuala Lumpur-born performer, whose first theatre role was in the 1984 play 'My Three Angels', is set to lay it all bare on stage at Studio Ramli Hassan.
'My performing arts journey has not always been smooth sailing. There have always been ups and downs. It's how you pick yourself up, and move forward.
'I don't think of the past, or even the future. I always live in the present, in the now,' a mantra, she said, that has seen her through her illustrious career.
In 'Look At Me!', which she self-funded by working at an antique shop, and as a restaurant hostess, audiences can expect stories from every corner of her colourful life – from a cancer scare which turned out to be about something unexpectedly heartwarming, to poignant reflections on her mother's influence, all woven through with songs by Roberta Flack, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, The Carpenters, and more.
Shanthini says her sharing will get personal, spanning from her childhood to her cancer scare. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Lifestyle)
She's staged the show nine times since 2017, each time reworking and adding new chapters – just like life itself. That life was steeped in creativity from the start.
Born to Nalini – a singer, dancer, veena player, and one of the first Malaysian Indian women on RTM – Shanthini and her older sister Sukania were surrounded by the arts. It's no surprise she later became a founding member of the Instant Café Theatre Company.
'My mother was my inspiration. She was the one who gave us so many opportunities and exposure. If it wasn't for her, we wouldn't have known about the performing arts,' Shanthini, who worked as a lounge singer in her younger days, recalled.
Their father, a civil servant, never discouraged his daughters from pursuing the arts. In fact, despite society's criticism of his wife – 'singers were considered promiscuous back then' – he remained a staunch supporter, fuelling his daughters' artistic pursuits.
Shanthini (second from left) with her father PK Venugopal, sister Sukania, and mother Nalini. (Shanthini Venugopal pic)
'She wasn't bothered by what others said. And I think that's where we got that attitude. I don't care what others have to say about me. I live my life the way I feel is right for myself and for the people around me. I try to be as helpful as possible,' she said.
Ultimately, 'Look At Me!' isn't just a performance – it's a window into the soul of a woman who has shaped, and been shaped by, the Malaysian arts scene.
And through it all, Shanthini made sure she had fun. 'Whatever you do, you must have fun. If you don't have fun, then you might as well quit.'
Look At Me!
Venue: Studio Ramli Hassan, 8A, Jalan Tepian Tunku, Taman Tunku, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Date & Time: July 24-26 @ 8pm; July 27 @ 5pm
Ticket prices: RM120
Tickets can be purchased here. Follow Shanthini Venugopal on Facebook and Instagram.