Darshana Rajendran: The accidental actor who is now one of the finest in Malayalam cinema

Debut

Though she was dismal in her debut movie, John Paul Vaathil Thurakkunnu (2014), Darshana was, shockingly, not the worst thing in the stinker, which itself said a lot about her since the film was utterly insufferable. Fortunately, however, she continued to receive offers, albeit small, in Tamil films such as Moone Moonu Varthai and Kavan and the Malayalam movie Samarppanam. For an accidental actor who developed a penchant for performing on the go, these small opportunities were more than she could dream of.

During a 2019 interview with Film Companion, Darshana recounted her introduction to theatre while working in Chennai when a friend convinced her to audition for a pantomime due to her singing ability. “I remember feeling something I have never felt before when I first got on stage and after my first stage bow. I knew I wanted more of it,” she said. Amidst all the nominal opportunities, Darshana received her first major role in the YouTube web series Ctrl Alt Del (2016).

Mayaanadhi and ‘Baawra Mann’

It was director Aashiq Abu’s romantic thriller Mayaanadhi (2017) that provided her with a much-needed career break. Despite not having significant screen time, her performance received acclaim. Besides, her rendition of the hit Hindi track “Baawra Mann” from Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2003) became a trendsetter. “Initially, I was always told not to take up the smaller roles offered to me, that I would not get bigger roles if I did. But I come from a theatre background, where I have enjoyed doing everything from two-scene appearances to full-length roles. It has never been about the length of the character for me,” she said during a chat with The News Minute in 2022. Mayaanadhi not only revealed enough glimpses of her untapped acting potential but also showcased the enchanting effect she can create when she personally lends her vocals to her characters — something earlier filmmakers overlooked, resulting in the use of dubbing artists for the actor.

Though her journey forward did not improve overnight, Darshana landed substantial projects like Koode, Irumbu Thirai, and Vijay Superum Pournamiyum which, even if her roles were small, offered her a chance for greater recognition. She skillfully embraced these chances, fully committing to her characters and ensuring audiences remembered her even after leaving the theatres.

 

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Aashiq once again played an important role in Darshana’s career by offering her another outstanding opportunity. In the medical thriller Virus (2019), despite having limited screen time, Darshana’s character stood out with its emotional depth. Her skillful performance left a lasting impression on viewers, which is particularly noteworthy given the film’s large cast of seasoned actors.

C U Soon

Just as the actor’s aspirations for meatier parts were beginning to take off, the Covid-19 outbreak hit, and the ensuing lockdowns brought everything, including the film industry, to a standstill. During this time, editor-turned-director Mahesh Narayanan embarked on an experimental journey to create his third movie. With backing from Fahadh Faasil and Nazriya Nazim, Mahesh created C U Soon, India’s first screenlife film. Revolving around the subject of trafficking, C U Soon marked Darshana’s debut in a lead role. She portrayed Anumol Sebastian, a woman who undergoes significant emotional turmoil, trauma and torture but ultimately finds a way out of her prison, with utmost command. From Anu’s initial romantic conversations with Jimmy (Roshan Mathew) to her eventual display of vulnerability and troubles, which were part of her escape plan, and finally, to the climax where her struggles become evident, Darshana impressed everyone. At a time when people were glued to their screens, binge-watching everything available, C U Soon made jaws drop and Darshana became an overnight national sensation.

The chemistry between Darshana and Roshan in C U Soon won over everyone, including Aashiq and when he wore the director’s hat the next time, for a segment in the anthology film Aanum Pennum, he chose them for the lead roles. While Roshan played a manipulative youth desperate to have sex with his girlfriend, Darshana portrayed the role of the latter, a woman unbound by conventional norms. The ease with which they blended with each other, both physically and through their performances, was splendid. Darshana’s controlled performance further highlighted her readiness for greater challenges.

In her next film Irul, Darshana shared the screen with Fahadh Faasil and Soubin Shahir. Though the mystery thriller was mediocre overall, Darshana’s performance stood out, giving Fahadh, one of the finest actors in the country now, a run for his money. Despite many opportunities to overact, Darshana maintained a seamless performance.

Then came Hridayam, the biggest hit of her career. Although the movie was a clichéd potboiler, it showcased Darshana’s ability to take on lighter characters and excel in romantic roles, proving she shouldn’t be limited to playing characters enduring significant life struggles. “The way I was perceived altered slightly after Hridayam. I, therefore, started getting a lot of romantic or college romance movies. While I’m happy to do more of those, I also want to do something new or different. I’m glad that I’m in a position where I can decline opportunities that don’t excite me. Even while turning down 10 such projects, and not knowing if an 11th one would happen, I continue to wait for the one story that I really want to work on,” she told The Indian Express last year.

Dear Friend and Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey

2022 proved to be a significant year for the actor as two more films featuring her hit the screens. Director Vineeth Kumar’s spectacular and criminally underrated coming-of-age thriller Dear Friend was one of those movies that provided a rare opportunity for actors to showcase their full range. Darshana seized this cleverly, portraying the splendidly well-drawn role of Jannath giving her all. As if the character was tailor-made for her and to bring out her A-game, Darshana deftly handled the multiple layers and complexities of both Jannath and the film, effortlessly shouldering even the entire narrative at times.

Jayabharathi in Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey was nothing short of a homegrown superhero who, through self-acquired skills in Karate, put an end to the domestic violence she had endured, stood up to her abuser and achieved autonomy, offering real-life women with similar experiences a moment of catharsis and empowerment. Darshana adeptly handled her character, capturing its essence while perfecting the body language and martial arts movements too. The actor also made her Bollywood debut the same year, though in a small, yet impressive, manner, playing a key role in the segment Gond Ke Laddu in the anthology streaming series Unpaused: Naya Safar.

One of the very few contemporary Malayalam actors who can confidently claim a repertoire of diverse works across various genres, Darshana’s next project was cinematographer-director Rajeev Ravi’s period political drama Thuramukham. With her theatre background, Darshana effortlessly embodied the character of Khadeeja in the film, set in Kochi during the 1940s and ’50s, further solidifying her position in the industry.

Purusha Pretham and Paradise

Prior to Paradise, her last appearance was in Krishand’s Purusha Pretham, portraying a character with heavy shades of grey. The character Susanna was safe in Darshana’s hands and she played the role as if she personally knew Susanna and had observed her actions over the years. Yes, that could be mentioned as one of Darshana’s strengths. Somehow, her performances make one feel that she knows someone like the character she’s playing in a movie, mainly due to the nuances she provides them.

One of the finest Indian films of the year, Paradise, set against the backdrop of the Sri Lankan economic crisis, explores and showcases a new facet of Darshana’s talent. Unlike her previous roles, which were expressive and openly displayed their emotions, the battles of her character, Amritha, mostly happen within. As much as she is helpless and clueless, Amritha is also torn between realising her partner is a self-centered, narcissistic elitist and feeling sympathy for the local population and minorities. Here too, Darshana and Roshan’s chemistry do wonders.

 

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After watching the film when it premiered at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) last year, I wrote in my review of the movie: “She (Darshana) brilliantly conveys the gradual evolution of her character, unravelling the fears and confusions faced by Amritha with astuteness. Even in quieter moments, Amritha becomes the conduit for the intensity of the scenes and Darshana embodies the character with utmost perfection.” Seven months later, now that the movie has hit the theatres, there is not a single word I feel like changing here. As Darshana continues to rise, let’s hope she stays true to herself and avoids taking on projects “that don’t excite her.”