Suhasini Maniratnam has been part of the film industry for 25 years as actor, director, dialogue-writer and producer. She won the coveted National Film Award for Best Actress in 1986 for her role in the Tamil film ‘Sindhu Bhairavi‘.

In 1996, Suhasini stepped into direction, helming her first film Indira. She also wrote the screenplay for the film. The project was produced by G.V. Films. She and husband Mani Ratnam, are both involved in the running of their production company Madras Talkies.

This award-winning actor has been actively supporting many charities and has a passion towards working for the cause of women and children. She chooses roles that portray an empowered woman and has inspired many women through her characterizations.

Suhasini Maniratnam shares with Marie Banu her views on the social sector.

What motivates you to engage in social work?

I get motivated when I see other people who are passionate and single-minded about the work they do as a duty to fellow humans, and not out of pity or guilt.

Which of the social issues are you most passionate about?

Issues concerning women and children are what I am passionate about.

What according to you is the role of a celebrity for an
NGO?

A celebrity should know when to be a volunteer and when to be a beggar and when to be a celebrity to the advantage of the cause that he or she is working for.

Who is your role model in social work?

Mr. M. B. Nirmal of Exnora International and Ms. Jayashri Ravindran of Ability Foundation have been a major inspiration for me to get involved in social work.

How do you think the media can be used as a tool to bring about change?

Media is the voice. There is no war or peace without voice, word and language. Media creates all these three. Hence media is a powerful tool to bring about social change.

How can we bridge the rural-urban divide?

It has already been achieved in many villages. My village is unrecognizable and so is my school. Children have become smart in my native town Paramakudi. But I feel that the urban monopoly would go away if the voices of the rural folk are heard more than that of the urban.

“A celebrity should know when to be a volunteer and when to be a beggar, and when to be a celebrity to the advantage of the cause that he or she is working for.”