Lakshmy Ramakrishnan
Lakshmy Ramakrishnan
"The compassion and empathy she has for the victims of social ills; the determination and resolve she holds to do whatever is possible to alleviate the suffering; The happiness and peace she feels when a wrong is righted or justice is done."
- by Ramani .VB
“She embodies the anger of a woman who decides to take up cudgels and cleanse society of vermin” wrote a review about the character ‘Annapoorni’ she successfully portrayed in the Tamil Movie ‘Yuddham Sei’. It is possibly an apt description of Lakshmi Ramakrishnan in her real life too. Intolerance to any ill-treatment or injustice she witnesses in the society and a strong courage and commitment to counter them are the natural characteristics of Mrs.Lakshmi Ramakrishnan, the well known actress, director, fashion-designer and TV anchor.
Born in Palakkad, Kerala as the youngest daughter in a family of six children, Lakshmi was brought up as a liberal thinker by her father Mr.P.K.Krishnaswamy. He was a yarn merchant and was ranked as 4th top among businsessmen in Kerala then.His patriotism led to his involvement in Freedom struggle and close association with great leaders and social reformers like Rajaji
.
Watching the business activities and the social inclination of her father, it is natural that Lakshmi unconsciously picked up both the managerial flair to deal with the world of men and commerce as well as the concern and compassion one should show to the needs and sufferings of others.
Lakshmi ’s mother Mrs.Vijayalakshmih was well educated by the then standards and encouraged and supported Mr.Krishnaswamy in his life. From her, Lakshmi possibly realized the role and power of women in shaping the society apparently ruled by men. The frequent tours and travel with her parents widened Lakshmi’s social perspective and deepened her service attitude.
In line with the practice of those days, as soon as she completed her 10th standard, Lakshmi’s wedding arrangement to Mr.Ramakrishnan was fianlised. Becoming a part of an ultra-orthodox family was the first experience that made Lakshmi realize and understand the way conflicts take root between an individual’s desires and the society’s rules and impositions.
Mr.Ramakrishnan, did MS at IIT , was abroad in USA, Singapore and Gulf. For Lakshmi, it was her stay of 12 years in the Gulf with her husband that shaped her mission in life.
During her stay in Muscat in Oman, Lakshmi Ramakrishnan started a summer camp to about 60 children. While it was started as a venture with a simple aim to assist young minds to develop and acquire new talents by engaging in various arts, drawings and craft work, she brought all her creative talents and professional competence to the venture. Hence, it was no surprise that she gained a fine reputation and the venture grew to cover more than 5000 students at one point.
Her attention was also focused on women, both of Indian and other nationalities including Arab countries. Realising that the best way to empower women was to provide them with additional skills, Lakshmi Ramakrishnan expanded the scope beyond the normal cookery and knitting to cover new areas such as Interior decoration, fashion designing etc.,
Soon, her good work was realized through out the country and she even received an award from the Omani Government itself for her contribution towards welfare of Omani women. “I have been lucky to have got a very understanding spouse who encourages me in all my adventures! There are so many talented women who have not come to limelight” , says Lakshmi with all modesty..
Returning to India in 2006 at her 35 th age, to take care of her daughter’s education, Lakshmi was at her home in Coimbatore when an unexpected opportunity literally knocked on her doors in the form of Mr.Lohidhadas, a film director, looking for a house location to shoot his Malayalam film ‘Chakkara Muthu’. Persuaded by Mr.Lohidhadas to act in a role in the movie, the performance by Lakshmi Ramakrishnan was so convincing that she is even now referred to as ‘Devayani Teacher’ in Kerala, the name of her character in ‘Chakkara Muthu’ !!
Her scintillating debut brought her a deluge of roles in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and even Hindi. As a person who does not miss out to make use of any opportunity presented , she entered Tamil Film industry with the movie ‘Pirivom Santhippom’ in 2008. Awards and accolades started pouring in after each movie.
But Lakshmi Ramakrishnan was not to be content with just acting in the movies. Realising the power the films as a medium to communicate thoughts and connect with the minds and actions of people, she stepped into the role of file director. She tried to convey social problems in proper perspectives so that the viewers would become aware of the problem and the response expected from the individuals in the society to such problems or circumstances. She has so far made six short films and has directed and released one Tamil film with another one on the way.
The debutant Tamil film ‘Aarohanam’ (2012) directed by her was shot with a Canon EOS 5D digital camera and was completed in Just 20 days!! The film, revolving around a mother suffering from bipolar disorder, was rated by many as possibly the best Tamil film of the year.
The fame and popularity has left Lakshmi Ramakrishnan unchanged. She continues to be the simple woman with courage and confidence to identify various evils and aberrations in the society. However, instead of just exposing it, she takes it upon herself to assist those suffering.
Her ‘motherly’ nature and sincerity invokes respect and confidence from others and makes her an ideal counselor to persons with problems. Counseling is normally done in total privacy. On the other hand Television shows, such as chat shows, game-shows etc are mainly meant for entertainment and not for conveying any lasting social message. Lakshmi Ramakrishnan felt that bringing ‘counselling’ to the TV platform with its wide audience would result in the benefit of counseling flow not only to those directly involved, but also to the entire society through the large number of viewers watching the programme.
‘Solvathellam Unnmai’ is a TV show anchored by Lakshmi Ramakrishnan that deals with interpersonal problems, real-life stories, family courts, miracle claims, social issues etc., There have been stunning results to the counseling in the show with many happy endings, some of them sensational.
Lakshmi Ramakrishnan does not talk much about herself or her work or its impact for others. She does not have to; Looking into her emotion filled eyes, one can see the pain she suffers whenever any ill-treatment to anyone is noticed by her; the compassion and empathy she has for the victims of social ills; the determination and resolve she holds to do whatever is possible to alleviate the suffering; The happiness and peace she feels when a wrong is righted or justice is done.
Lakshmi Ramakrishnan is a mother of three daughters in real life and mother of innumerable actors/actresses in the film life. But the soul of Lakshmi coming through her every look, thought, word and action is the mother of all the oppressed, sufferers or needy. “This is only a beginning; there is much to learn and lots to do”, she says.
The famous deity ‘Annapoorni’ holds the rice pot and ladle to keep the hunger and sorrow away from people. Lakshmi Ramakrishnan wields a camera and mike with the same compassion and purpose. May her efforts be crowned with overwhelming success.
“I have been lucky to have got a very understanding spouse who encourages me in all my adventures! There are so many talented women out there who have not come to limelight.” Lakshmi prouds. “I think not missing out on opportunities has been the reason for my success, if we can call it success. This is only a beginning of a journey, there is so much to learn and lots to do..”
