A retired English teacher from Meghalaya, 70-year-old Biana Momin, unexpectedly became the face of the Malayalam thriller ‘Eko’. Discovered through old photographs, she impressed directors with her presence and willingness to learn, despite no prior film experience or understanding of the language. Her journey highlights that talent knows no age or boundaries.
At 70, Biana Momin never imagined she would become the face of a Malayalam mystery thriller. A retired English literature teacher from Tura Government College in Meghalaya, she had spent her entire life in the peaceful hills of Garo Hills, living a quiet and simple life. Cinema was never part of her dreams. In fact, before ‘Eko’, she had not watched a single Malayalam film. Her world revolved around classrooms, books, and students. But life surprised her with an opportunity that would change her journey in the most unexpected way.
An unexpected audition that opened new doors for Biana Momin
Biana’s entry into films happened purely by chance. Years ago, she acted in a short film that was never released. Though the project went nowhere, photographs from it later caught the attention of director Dinjith Ayyathan and writer Bahul Ramesh. They were searching for an authentic face that could carry emotional depth. As per Onmanorama, the team travelled all the way to Guwahati to meet her. During their first interaction, they asked her to try speaking a few Malayalam lines. Even without understanding the language or formal acting training, she impressed them with her honesty and calm presence. Her confidence and willingness to learn helped her win the role.
Stepping into the role of Mlathi Chettathi
In ‘Eko’, Biana Momin plays Mlathi Chettathi, the elderly woman at the centre of the story. The film follows her and her caretaker as they deal with hidden memories from the past, while a man named Kuriyachan tries to escape those searching for him. As secrets slowly come to light, Mlathi becomes the emotional strength of the narrative. Travelling over 3,000 kilometres to Kerala, Biana entered a completely new environment, facing a language barrier and a professional film set for the first time. Urged on by her children, she confronted every challenge with courage.
Biana Momin’s inspiring journey beyond age and borders
Biana Momin has a unique and inspiring story as part of the Garo tribe in Meghalaya. Having been a teacher for years, she is now seen on the big screen and on Netflix in many languages, amazing everyone. She played the role of Mlathi Chettathi in the Malayalam thriller ‘Eko’ and showed that there is no age limit for talent. She can set an example by showing that trying something different or taking a new path is acceptable. Go to Source
