actor Sonalee Kulkarni plays the role of Rangapattinam Rangarani in Lijo Jose Pellissery's Mohanlal-starrer Malaikottai Vaaliban. (Images: Abhiram Krishnan, Sonalee Kulkarni/Instagram)
Yes, Lijo Jose Pellissery's Mohanlal-starrer Malaikottai Vaaliban marks her debut in the Malayalam film industry, but no, it's not Marathi actor Sonalee Kulkarni's first-ever encounter with Malayalam cinema. Besides having watched numerous Malayalam films over the years, she also shares another connection with the South Indian industry. When the Malayalam hits Shutter (2012) and Classmates (2006) were remade into Marathi, with the same titles in 2014 and 2015 respectively, it was Sonalee who played the female lead roles. Her performances in both movies earned significant acclaim, elevating her relationship with Malayalam cinema beyond that of just a viewer.
Nevertheless, Sonalee expresses that when she agreed to play a role in the film, or even during its production, she didn't anticipate Malaikottai Vaaliban turning into such a visual spectacle. "Marathi films share many similarities with Malayalam films. Our audiences are quite similar as well, given our shared appreciation for art and literature, and a protective sentiment toward our respective cultures. Both our cinemas focus on realism, addressing real-world issues and are deeply rooted, humane and local. So, we know the scale of Malayalam movies. Yet, when I discovered that LJP wanted to cast me in his next project, and despite having watched his films like Jallikattu (2019) and Angamaly Diaries (2017) which were also visually insane, I didn't anticipate that Malaikottai Vaaliban would be such a grand cinematic experience," she tells The Indian Express, adding that the film "stands as a magnum opus in Malayalam cinema.