“ Am open to contesting elections only if …..?” asserts Mandakini whose emotional comeback music-video ‘Maa O Maa’ moves the audience to tears

Almost everyone who was invited for the special preview of music-video ‘ Maa O Maa’ at the Carnival big-screen theatre was moved to tears . This emotional music-video has senior beautiful actress Mandakini (of ‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili’ fame ) staging her comeback to showbiz after a long self-imposed gap of 26 years - Chaitanya Padukone

The light-eyed charming actress features in the new music video titled ‘Maa O Maa’ alongside her real-life tall, handsome young actor-son Raabil Thakur who plays her ‘on-screen’ son as well.. It’s interesting to note that Mandakini has come a full-circle as they say. Because even in the 1985 Ram Teri Ganga Maili, directed by showman Raj Kapoor, she played the screen-mother of a young infant-child.

The emotional video, directed by (also lyricist-writer ) Sajan Agarwal sees her playing a caring mother to son Rabbil and Babita Banerjee as they reminisce their times with her in flashbacks. In the song, the sentimental son ( Rabbil) returns home after many years and gets nostalgic as he recalls his fond memories with his loving doting mother and sister.

Composed by Babli Haque and Meera , “Maa O Maa” is sung by Rishabh Giri. Mandakini had earlier shared some of the behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot of the music video.

Did Mandakini have any nervous-jitters when she returned on the sets after a gap of ‘ 26 long years’ ( last movie ‘Zordaar’ in 1996) to face the movie-video-camera once again. Speaking exclusively to me, she smiled and said, “ Once an actress-always-an actress. Honestly, it felt that I just took a brief break for a few days .

Within a few minutes, on day-one, when we started shooting, I was able to give the right expressions and gestures. It’s such a sentimental song with such soulful lyrics and tune. In fact now with the help of high-technology we can also instantly watch what we have just-shot, on the camera-monitor screen.

During our times, this facility had not started, very happy to associate with director Sajan Agarwal I have known him since for past 30 years. But finally we are working together now. Maa O Maa is a very beautiful lyrical inspiring song and I instantly fell in love with it.

The best part of this song, is that my talented trained-actor son Raabil is playing the lead. That’s why I decided to stage my comeback with it, “ justifies soft-spoken yet witty Mandakini ( real name Yasmin Joseph) who is happily married to a former suave Buddhist monk Dr.Kagyur T.Rinpoche Thakur and besides son Rabbil, also has a daughter Rabze Innaya.

Now that her ‘come-back’ has been highly appreciated the new video-song, was she ready to take a plunge into full-time acting ? “ Yes, definitely, I am already discussing with various eminent film and TV and OTT makers and producers. Very soon, the official announcements will be made.

My criteria is, that the roles have to be powerful central female characters crucial to the story with full scope for performance.Amonng the directors whose heroine-centric movies I regularly watch and appreciate is Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

It would be wonderful if I get to work with Bhansali-jee in a strong central character-role,” confides Mandakini who was also seen in the recent past canvassing in outdoor political rally campaigns ( for Janata Dal candidate Amit Kumar Ghosh—Howrah) drawing huge fan-crowds.

Incidentally, as a film-journalist I happen to know ‘Dance Dance’ and ‘Commando’ heroine Mandakini personally since over past three decades. Would Mandakini be interested if she was offered to contest the next upcoming political elections as a ‘candidate’ ? “Actually, I was getting offers to contest elections, but I had not taken up those offers, because it was getting too hectic.

In future, if I get offers as election-candidate,, I will consider them only if I am convinced that I can genuinely do something good for the people and contribute to social welfare. Even when selecting my new movies offers I prefer and select those subjects and roles where I can convey a good, inspiring positive message, to the masses,” insisted the outspoken, articulate senior actress.

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