Rubini Opens Space To Diverse Tamil Speakers

By V. Sankara

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- Rubini Sambanthan is emerging as a powerful new voice in Malaysian Tamil cinema, not only for her performances but for challenging long held ideas of what a Malaysian Indian actress should sound like.

The actress and former beauty queen, who gained attention through Astro Vinmeen’s Aadhira, will next appear as Peggy in Blues, the sequel to the acclaimed film Jagat. The role, she said, became deeply personal because of her concerns about language.

“I really thought I would not get the role,” she told Bernama.

“But when the offer came, I felt awakened. Someone like me who speaks Tamil differently also deserves space on screen.”

Rubini said the opportunity reflects the lived reality of many Malaysian Indians. “There are many of us out there, and we deserve to be seen and taken seriously. Speaking differently does not make us any less Indian,” she said.

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She described Peggy as “a beautiful chaos, flawed, honest and deeply human” and said the character allowed her to bring her own experiences into the performance. “People like me exist and our stories should be represented,” she said.

Rubini, who began acting in the Malay film and television industry in 2019, made her Tamil industry debut in Aadhira, directed by R Azizan. The series deals with domestic abuse, and she said the role required intense mental preparation.

“For me, the mental preparation was the most crucial part,” she said. “Some scenes cut very deep, so I constantly reminded myself that this is a role and not my reality.”

Filming the first physical abuse scene, she said, was the most overwhelming. “I felt the weight of every woman who’s been through that kind of pain. I couldn’t stop shaking or crying.” She added that the director and crew helped her remain grounded.

Working with Jagat director Shanjhey Kumar Perumal on Blues was another milestone for her. “His passion is contagious. He touches reality but keeps it poetic,” she said.

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Rubini believes the shared universe of Jagat, Macai and Blues marks an important shift in Malaysian Tamil filmmaking.

“It proves our voices are not small. Our stories deserve their own universe,” she said.

Despite holding a degree in Finance and Accounting, Rubini said her creative path grew through modelling and pageantry. She represented Malaysia at Miss International 2014, placed first runner up at Miss Tourism Sri Lanka 2016, and was a finalist on Asia’s Next Top Model Season 6.

Born in Kajang, Selangor, she is the second of three siblings. “I started working at 15, selling ice cream in a supermarket. If a small town girl like me can do it, others can too,” she said.

Blues, scheduled for release on Dec 4, carries strong emotional weight for her.

“It mirrors lives that often go unnoticed. If people walk away feeling something, then we have done our job,” she said. “Blues will always stay close to my heart.”

-- BERNAMA