Her rage is like a rock: Anna Ben on becoming the ‘adamant girl’ in ‘Kottukkaali’

When Koozhangal director PS Vinothraj narrated his second film to Malayalam actor Anna Ben, he began with a disclaimer. Ben wouldn’t have to speak in Tamil… because her character doesn’t speak at all.

Kottukkaali stars Ben as a woman who is bundled off to a shaman to get rid of the “curse” of falling for a man outside her caste. The sharp film follows Meena as she sets off with a motley group of family and villagers, including her hoarse-throated and deeply enraged fiance Pandi (played by Soori). It doesn’t matter that Meena says nothing – her rage spills out with every movement of her body and eyes.

Kottukkaali was released in cinemas on August 23. Ben spoke to Scroll about Kottukkaali, immersing herself into the North Madurai location, and being a woman in the film industry today. Here are edited excerpts.

Meena is unlike the bright, beaming characters you’ve played before. How did you get under her skin?

I was initially hesitant about playing a character that is so rooted in Madurai because I’m not culturally inclined to that space. But the positive surroundings organically pushed me into being Meena.

I went there a few days before the shoot. I spoke to a lot of people and they shared with me many stories about...

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