George sir's female characters broke stereotypes: Actress Jalaja

George Sir is one of the best filmmakers India has seen. Being able to act in his Oolkatal and Yavanika is considered a great fortune in my career. I was a co-star in Oolkatal and the heroine in Yavanika. KG George Sir was a soft-spoken and calm director. Necessary instructions will be given to us by him before going for the take. He will watch carefully as we act. If the shot needs a retake, he will tell you why. On Sir's sets where all the actors were the same, there was no difference between anyone.

George Sir used to select the actors according to the characters. Characters were never created for actors. That's why his films stand out and audiences talk more about them. We can't see even a single unnecessary character in those films.

Sir's creation of female characters was the most beautiful. They are the women who broke stereotypes. Ammu in Yavanika (my role in Yavanika was Ammu's sister Rohini) was such a character. Ammu, who was abused by tablist Ayyappan and had to become his wife, ends his harassment once and for all with the help of Joseph. These characters defy the stereotype that glorifies female characters as symbols of patience and tolerance. He showed that women are not goddesses but are made of flesh and blood. Rohini in Yavanika is still remembered by the audience and it is my greatest fortune.

Mattoral, starring Seemachechi, Mammooka, Urvashi and Karamana Janardhanan Chetan, was also a reflection of his revolutionary vision. It's amazing to still re-read the characters he created. I played a girl named Susan in 'Oolkatal'. It was a movie that I, Shobha, Ratheesh Chetan and Venu Nagavalli Chetan thoroughly enjoyed being a part of. Shobha and I became good friends on the sets of Oolkatal. When the shooting was over, we all parted with a lot of sadness.

Recently I acted in Fahadh Faasil's Malik. It was my return to cinema after many years. When I reached the set, the first thing actress Nimisha Sajayan talked about was Rohini in Yavanika. I live in a flat. In the evenings, I would go for a walk and talk with my friends who live there. Yavanika and Oolkatal will somehow come into those discussions as well. Those are things that make me very happy.