Ramya is the sole actress in Kannada cinema who maintains a robust market presence despite not having released a film in several years. The Sandalwood star, who became a member of the Congress party in 2012, addressed the current state of Kannada cinema during a panel discussion on Women in Cinema at the Bengaluru International Film Festival on Thursday.

Says no being a prop

Ramya expressed her concerns, stating, “Malayalam cinema offers a wide array of roles for women, whereas Kannada cinema unfortunately falls short in this regard. There is a lack of well-developed female characters, and I am reluctant to continue being merely an accessory in a male-led film. I experienced this two decades ago, and the situation remains unchanged. I no longer wish to participate in a few scenes filled with comedy and songs.” She emphasized the need for Kannada cinema to draw inspiration from its Malayalam counterpart and evolve, expressing hope that the industry would begin to create more substantial roles for women.

She further remarked, “I consistently observe dominant male leads in Kannada films. Our directors often perceive vulnerability as a weakness, resulting in a failure to depict authentic characters on screen. This is not the case in Malayalam cinema. Featuring women as central figures in films can foster greater empathy within society. Strong female characters do not have to be confined to roles such as police officers; women possess resilience, and their strength can be portrayed in various other ways. I aspire to see female roles in films that resonate with all women.”

While it is essential for more producers to support films centered around women, the primary concern remains the financial risks and potential rewards associated with such projects. She emphasized that an increase in female audiences attending theaters to view films featuring women could significantly bolster this trend. In response to a question regarding why women in the film industry should wait for male producers to create women-focused films instead of taking initiative themselves, Ramya replied, “I produced Swathi Mutthina Male Haniye in 2023, which featured a female lead and received numerous accolades, yet it did not achieve commercial success. How many women actually came to support the film in theaters?”

Why the pay disparity?

In contemporary cinema, the issue of pay inequality between leading male and female actors has become a significant point of contention. Ramya emphasized the necessity for change and shared her personal experiences. "Several years ago, I collaborated with emerging actors who are now prominent stars. At the time of signing my film, they received lower compensation than I did. However, following the success of our film, their salaries skyrocketed to amounts that were 5000 times greater—measured in crores—than what I earned, while I struggled to secure even one crore. I have even turned down film offers because the remuneration did not meet my expectations, as I aimed to make a statement: unless I was compensated equally or more, I would not participate in the project. Consequently, I have declined roles for this reason," disclosed the star of Ranga SLCC.

The big comeback

Ramya is poised to return to Kannada cinema. "Indeed, I am currently reviewing scripts," stated the Sandalwood queen, and shortly thereafter, it was announced that she had signed a film with director Yogiraj Bhatt. This project marks her return to the industry after nearly ten years, generating considerable excitement among fans. The film will be produced by E Krishnappa and G Gangadhar, known for the Kannada hit Mungaru Male, in collaboration with Ramya’s Applebox Studios. During the conversation, Ramya expressed her interest in a women-centric sports narrative that was presented to her by Tamil director Brinda Gopal and cinematographer Preetha Jayaraman, indicating her desire to explore it further in the near future.

Kangana Ranaut and Emergency

An audience member inquired of Ramya regarding the lack of support for Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut and her film Emergency. In her reply, Ramya stated, “Emergency was poorly executed. While Kangana Ranaut is an exceptionally talented actress, this does not reflect on her character. The film itself was subpar, which led to its rejection by the audience. In contrast, Kangana's film Manikarnika was successful due to its strong content, which resonated well with viewers.”

Currently, her fans are eagerly anticipating her return following the recent announcement.

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