Satyan Anthicaud is one of the most reputed Malayalam filmmakers. And when this reputed director had to find an actress to replace Manju Warrier in his Veendum Chila Veettukaaryangal, it was no less than a challenge. For Manju Warrier, who had just quit films following her marriage with actor Dileep, had already established herself as one of the most versatile performers that Malayalam Cinema had seen in the past few years.

And a replacement to Manju Warrier, an equally (or almost equally) talented actress, and that too a very young one, was to be found out. The character Bhavana, a strong- willed, bold, mature character was almost tailor-made for Manju Warrier. So the job was no less than a real challenge. But Satyan Anthicaud indeed found a new face. Thus Samyuktha Verma faced, for the first time, the arch lights as Bhavana and did the character in a really appreciable manner. And thus in Malayalam cinema entered an actress who stunned the audience with her performances in some of her later films.

Samyuktha Verma, who hails from Thrissur, had never thought of becoming an actress though her aunt Urmila Unni had already been recognized as an accomplished actress. She had also learnt dancing, but had no plans to become a professional dancer either. When she was studying at Sree Kerala Verma College, Thrissur, she got the offer to do the female lead role in Veendum Chila Veettukaaryangal. Samyukta did so well that the film hit the theatres (in 1999) and the audience didn't ever feel that the girl doing the lead role was a miscast.

And people began predicting that this actress is very much likely to be typecast in such other roles in a few films before making an unceremonious exit. But hit-maker Joshi's Vazhunnor, released in 1999 itself, proved these speculations wrong. This film, which was Samyuktha's second film, gave her the chance to do a character that was not at all like her character in Veendum Chila Veettukaaryangal. 1999 saw Samyuktha Verma being cast in her third film, Chandran Udikkunna Dikkil by Lal Jose, in which she was one of the two heroines, the other being debutante Kavya Madhavan. And also in the cast was Biju Menon, co-starring with whom in two of her later films, Samyuktha was to give scintillating performances.

The last year, i.e., 2000, if the box office records of her films are taken into account, was not very fruitful to Samyukta. All the same 2000 would be a year that she would perhaps remember for ever as it gave her two of her most noted characters-that of Bhadra in Mazha and that of Priyamvada in Madhuranombarakaattu. Well, 2000 started for Samyuktha with Nadanpennum Naattupramaaniyum, in which director Rajasenan cast her again opposite Jayaram, her first hero. Though the film appealed very much to Rajasenan's fans, it didn't do much good business at the box office.

And then came a film that could be perhaps one of Samyuktha's most ambitious ventures. She was cast for the first time opposite National award winning superstar Mohanlal in hit-maker Fazil's home production Life is Beautiful. The film bombed miserably. Director Mohan's Angane Oru Avadhikaalaththu, in which Samyuktha was cast opposite Sreenivasan, offered her as well etched out role, which she did to perfection.

The second half of 2000 saw Samyuktha Verma stunning the audience with real scintillating and sensitive performances in three of her films. The first was Mazha, noted director Lenin Rajendran's film based on a short story by noted writer Madhavikutty. Samyuktha won accolades as Bhadra, a young girl caught between two worlds-one full of romantic dreams, poetry and music, and the other replete with bitter and harsh realities. Lost between these two worlds, Bhadra was indeed a well etched out role for Samyuktha and she did full justice to her role.

Then came Kamal's Madhuranombarakaattu, in which she was again cast opposite Biju Menon as Priyamvada, who finds that life for her is an unending war against fate which has nothing but sorrows in store for her. This again was a really sensitive role. Along with Madhuranombarakaattu, Swayamvarapanthal was released, directed by national award winning filmmaker Harikumar. As Priya opposite Jayaram, Samyuktha lived in the role of an insane girl with a haunting past.

Though in 2000 Samyuktha Verma did really wonderful work of her different roles, commercial success went on eluding her films. Her films in 2000, from Naadanpennum Naattupramaaniyum to Swayamvarapanthal, all were flops.But the year ended on a promising note for this young actress, as far as the commercial aspect is concerned.Her last film in 2000, Rafi-Mecartin's Thenkasipattanam, in which she is one of the three heroines, is still doing well at the releasing centres and is almost a hit. Starring opposite Suresh Gopi, Samyuktha dons the role of Meenakshi, a character that is more of a lighter vein compared to her earlier characters.

Meanwhile Samyuktha won some awards too, including the State Award, the Fil Critics' Award, The Lux Asianet Face-of-the-Year Award, Gulf Malayali Award, and Kalavedi Award etc.Well, if 2000 started for Samyuktha Verma with a Rajasenan's film, the same is going to be the case with her in 2001 too. For Samyuktha is being cast in Meghasandesham, Rajasenan's horror movie with Suresh Gopi, newcomer Rajshri Nair and Abhirami too in the cast. Being one of the most promising new faces of Malayalam Cinema, the new year would prove fruitful to Samyuktha and bag her more roles-both meaningful and commercially successful ones.