Aswathy has often listened to her colleagues in the media complain about the lack of proper and safe lodgings when they have to travel as part of their jobs. Most of them experience unwarranted comments and the judgemental gaze of the society when they check into hotels alone, often at night. When Aswathy moved from Kozhikode to Thiruvananthapuram, she didn’t let go of a dream that she had been nurturing for long. She had always wanted to open a women friendly homestay where they could stay safely and comfortably. Now, her premium homestay Oyster Marris, is a favourite place of many women including leading celebrities of Malayalam cinema.
Aswathy and her husband Sentil, who also works in the media, have built the homestay at Thiruvallam, a suburb that is away from the bustle of the city yet has all the facilities. The upper floor of their two-storey house was designed as a homestay during the time of construction. There are two air-conditioned rooms in the homestay. Besides, there is a balcony, open terrace, dining area and a living area too.
Even though there are two rooms, only one room is occupied at a time to ensure the safety and privacy of the guests. However, families can book both the rooms together. The rooms in Oyster Marris have facilities including LED TV sets, highspeed internet connection and availability of hot water. The homestay strictly follows the gold classification guidelines of the tourism department.
Aswathy, who has taken a break from her career, is happy and satisfied that she is an entrepreneur now. A cooking enthusiast, Aswathy likes preparing food for her guests. The guests too are happy as they get to enjoy freshly cooked homely food. Aswathy makes sure to use organic veggies in her kitchen. Even while she has the wholehearted support of her husband Sentil and their son Kashinath, it is Aswathy who manages the day-to-day affairs, including the marketing, of the homestay. Her homestay is listed in almost all online sites. The guests could easily book a room for Rs 2500 per day.
As the homestay is closer to Chitranjali Studio, many celebrities often book rooms here. Actor Sunny Wayne, filmmaker Rajeev Ravi, screenwriter Gopan Chidambaram, lyricist Anwar Ali, director and editor B Ajithkumar, sound designer T Krishnanunni, cameraman Sudheesh Pappu, VFX editor Rohan Rigo and producer Sukumar Thekkepatt have stayed at Oyster Marris enjoying Aswathy and her family’s wonderful hospitality. Meanwhile, Aswathy is joyous that she could manage her own household while earning a decent income as a young and successful entrepreneur.
