Priya Mani

Tamil actress Priya Mani, winner of the National Award for Best Actress for her role in Partuthiveeran, owes her success to the film's director, Ameer Sulthan.

"I owe the success to Ameer, as I performed just what he wanted," Priya Mani said.

In the film, she plays Muthazhagu, the rustic village girl who transforms the ruffian lead character, Paruthiveeran [Images], into a mature human being. Muthazhagu, a girl raised in a rural village of Madurai, wore hardly any make-up. Priya also got the State award for Best Actress for the film last year.

Priya, who is currently shooting in Bangalore, said, "I owe my success to my mentors, Bharathirajaa and Balu Mahendra, as well as Karthi Sivakumar [who played Paruthiveeran]."

The actress said she would now be more choosy about her movie roles. After making her debut in Bharathiraaja's Kangalal Kaithu Sei, Priya followed it up with Adu Oru Kanakkalam, directed by another famous cinematographer-director, Balu Mahendra.