'Superhit debut with Mohanlal, later acted in B-grade films after gaining fame'; director opens about reasons that led to decline in actress' career

Even years after its release, Mohanlal-starrer Ninnishtam Ennishtam remains a beloved film among Malayali audiences. Though a sequel to the 1986 film was later made, it failed to recreate the original's success. The film's heroine was Priya, a Tamil actress. Now, actor and director Alleppey Ashraf has revealed some details about Priya's film career through his YouTube channel.

"Priya's original name is Karpakavalli. She was a student at a dance school. It was Mohanlal who recommended her name for Ninnishtam Ennishtam. Before accepting the advance payment, she touched everyone's feet as a mark of respect. Her name was changed to Priya. She portrayed a blind girl in the film, and she did it beautifully. The song towards the end of the film still lives in the hearts of Malayali audiences. That song is evergreen, and so is Priya in their memories.

We faced significant financial difficulties during the filming of that song. Mohanlal came to know about the situation after he finished the dubbing. He too helped us by contributing money. Mohanlal is someone who understands others' hardships. The film's success gave Priya recognition and she got several opportunities. She even starred opposite Karthik, who was the heartthrob of Tamil audiences back then. Later, she acted again opposite Mohanlal and Suresh Gopi, but unfortunately, she couldn't sustain the fame she once had.

Acting in B-grade films, similar to those in which Shakeela starred at the time, affected her career. Perhaps it happened due to ignorance, financial difficulties, or the absence of someone to guide her. Some people have managed to step away from such films. I know that Priya had such unfortunate experiences in her life. She was not able to build a good career in cinema. Now, she's acting in television serials," Alleppey Ashraf said.