Tura, Feb 8: At 70, Biana Watre Momin had settled into a life of quiet routines in Tura, nestled in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya. Surrounded by her books, four dogs, and her family, the retired English literature teacher spent her days teaching Romantic poetry, walking the hills, and engaging in lively discussions at her book club.
Acting? That had never crossed her mind. Her hometown didn’t even have a cinema, and the idea of stepping in front of a camera seemed as distant as the mountains themselves. But life, as it often does, had other plans.
Her journey began with Eko, a Malayalam-language eco-thriller shot in the mist-laden Western Ghats. The film centers on Mlathi Chettathi, a mysterious elderly woman living alone in a crumbling house, surrounded by feral dogs and an air of quiet mystery. For Momin, who had never acted before, the role was as far from her peaceful life in Meghalaya as she could imagine—but fate had decided to intervene.
When director Dinjith Ayyathan searched for the right actor to bring Mlathi Chettathi to life, Biana Momin’s profile caught his attention. Despite having no prior acting experience, she was invited to audition. “I didn’t speak Malayalam, and I had no idea how to act,” Momin recalls with a smile. “But my daughter encouraged me, saying, ‘Give it a try, have faith in yourself.’”
And so, at 70, Momin packed her bags and traveled over 3,000 kilometers to Kerala. She learned her lines phonetically, trekked up mountains under unpredictable weather, and adapted to the rhythm of a professional film set. What might have been intimidating for anyone else became an awakening for her. Momin’s performance, subtle yet powerful, gave Mlathi Chettathi a quiet authority and emotional depth that left audiences and critics enthralled.
“She was fearless,” said cinematographer Bahul Ramesh. “She brought an intuitive, raw energy to the role that you rarely see, especially from someone acting for the first time.”
Eko quickly became a critical success, and Momin’s portrayal of the resilient, independent Mlathi Chettathi became the highlight of the film. Her story, a 70-year-old stepping into cinema for the first time, captured the imagination of viewers across India.
Her efforts were recognized yesterday at the JFW (Just For Women) Awards in Chennai, as she walked the red carpet with the biggest stars of the Malayalam and Tamil Film Industry to receive the award for Best Debutant (Malayalam) for her electrifying role in the film EKO. On stage, Momin shared the personal journey behind her success: “I used to believe I couldn’t act, sing, or dance. But Eko proved me wrong,” she said, her voice full of warmth and humility.
Despite her newfound fame and offers from filmmakers across India, Momin remains grounded. She has returned to her home in Tura, enjoying her family, dogs, and book club discussions—currently exploring Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy. “I never imagined any of this would happen,” she says, reflecting on the journey that changed her life.
Biana Momin’s story is more than a cinematic debut—it is a testament to courage, resilience, and the idea that it’s never too late to embrace something new. Whether teaching literature in the Garo Hills or commanding a film set in Kerala, she has proven that age is no barrier to discovering hidden talents.
At 70, she has reminded us all that life—and cinema—are full of surprises. Sometimes the most extraordinary roles come when you least expect them. And it’s never too late to start something truly remarkable.
Attribution: This story is based on a special coverage by the BBC.
