Institute with many celebrity alumni but strict "girls should not talk to boys" policy; actress reveals her experience 

There are many who came to cinema from Kalabhavan. Jayaram, Lal, Siddique, Mani.... the list goes on. Actress Thesni Khan also entered the film industry from Kalabhavan. She made her film debut with the films of Bharathan and Padmarajan. Thesni Khan says she worked in Kalabhavan even when she continued to act in films.

"I was Jayaram ettan's senior as I started in the film industry before him. My film Daisy was released before Aparan hit the theatres. Then I acted in Bharathan sir's Vaishali. At that time, Kalabhavan was working under the leadership of Father Abel Periyappuram. He was running the institution very strictly.

One day Father Abel called me to the office room. I got really scared. Why was Father calling me? In Kalabhavan, girls should not talk to boys. If you talk, you are out of Kalabhavan. During meetings, Father Abel often asks, "Those who want to talk to the boys to raise their hands". Once you raise your hand, you're out of there. I thought he called me because he knew somehow that I was talking to boys. However, he just wanted to ask about an incident that took place in connection with a stage show.''