‘I DIDN’T RELY ON PHYSICAL COMEDY TO PLAY AN ALCOHOLIC’

Guru Somasundaram discusses playing an alcoholic character in Bottle Radha, what makes it a family drama, why he takes up small roles, and more

- SREEJITH MULLPILLY

URU Somasundaram plays a character who drowns his sorrows in the bottle in his upcoming comedy-drama Bottle Radha. Originally scheduled to release this Friday, the film has been postponed to January 24. Guru is known for his preparation and meticulous approach to supporting roles. From his debut Aaranya Kaandam, to a critically acclaimed performance in Minnal Murali, the actor has always deeply immersed himself in his roles. However, in an exclusive conversation with CE, he says that he has reached a stage in his career where he no longer needs such extensive preparation to transition between different personalities and behaviours. When asked about his approach to portraying an alcoholic in Bottle Radha, the actor lightheartedly says, “I did not drink alcohol to get into the skin of this character.” He adds, “Some personal experiences, along with my background in theatre and film, helped me portray the role. I worked in theatre for 11 years, which taught me how to differentiate between characters, and I know how to adapt that to cinema. That said, I did attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings after one of my co-stars suggested it. There, I listened to the stories of people who had overcome alcohol addiction.”