‘Happier Performances Are Usually Ignored’

‘If
people
think
that
films
that
are
happy
or
light,
or
comedy
or
romance
are
not
substantial,
that’s
not
true.’
‘I
was
really
happy
when
this
award
was
given
for

Thiruchitrambalam
because
it
highlights
that.’

The
talented
Nithya
Menen,
who
has
just


won
her
first
National
Award
for
Best
Actress
for
the
film

Thiruchitrambalam,
got
her
first
taste
of
acting
as
a
child.

“People
always
say
I’m
a
child
actor,
and
think
I’ve
been
growing
up
in
films.
I
did
not.
I
did
one
film
when
I
was
eight
years
old
and
a
television
serial
when
I
was
12
or
13,”
Nithya
tells

Subhash
K
Jha.

“I
started
properly
doing
films
only
after
college.
So
those
are
isolated
incidents,
and
not
a
big
part
of
my
life.”

The
National
award
for

Thiruchitrambalam
comes
as
a
timely
reminder
of
Nithya’s
talent
and
that
lighthearted
roles
also
deserve
recognition.

“Happier
performances
are
usually
ignored.
The
minute
I
got
the
award,
I
felt
that
is
something
I
should
talk
about,
that
it’s
a
very
imbalanced
thought
process.
If
people
think
that
films
that
are
happy
or
light,
or
comedy
or
romance
are
not
substantial,
that’s
not
true.
I
was
really
happy
when
this
award
was
given
for

Thiruchitrambalam
because
it
highlights
that.

“Though
I
didn’t
expect
a
National
Award
and
it
surprised
me.
I
think
I
really
reacted
to
it!
Normally
I
don’t
react
so
much
but
getting
a
National
Award
is
obviously
big.
It
validates
who
you
are,
and
even
if
you
feel
you
don’t
need
the
validation
or
whatever,
it
still
acknowledges
you
in
a
very
public
way.
It’s
a
big
deal.”

A
natural-born
scene-stealer,
how
does
she
react
to
jealous
co-stars?

“My
first
reaction
is
I
hope
it’s
not
my
problem
to
cope
with.
I
think
if
people
have
issues,
it’s
their
problem.
I
think
what
I
try
really
to
strive
is
to
get
to
a
place
where
I’m
able
to
work
with
people
who
are
collaborative,
and
who
are
so
good
that
they
don’t
feel
that
sense
of
insecurity.

“Also,
to
work
with
people
for
whom
the
project
is
important.
So
when
they
see
talent,
they
value
it
a
lot,
and
appreciate
it.
So
for
me,
the
strife
is
to
try
to
find
people
like
that
and
to
work
with
them,
because
that’s
how
I
am.
When
I
see
talent
or
when
I
see
creativity,
it
gives
me
energy.”

Talking
about
her
journey
as
an
actor
so
far,
Nithya
says,
“There
are
so
many
things
I
wish
I’d
done
differently,
done
better.
But
honestly,
it
would
be
wrong
for
me
to
regret
anything
because
things
have
always
been
given
to
me
and
I
have
to
take
it
with
gratitude.

“I
think
I’m
in
a
really
good
place.
Whatever
decisions
I’ve
made,
thankfully,
have
brought
me
here.
I’m
looking
forward
to
seeing
how
it
goes
from
here.

“My
career
was
not
something
I
had
planned
or
tried
to
make
it
happen.
It
just
happened.
There
were
turning
points
in
my
career.
My
first
Telugu
film,

Ala
Modalaindi
was
a
huge
turning
point.

Ok
Kanmani
was
also
a
turning
point.
It
was
a
big
pivotal
moment.

Thiruchitrambalam
was
definitely
a
huge
turning
point
because
of
the
recognition
and
widespread
success
it
had.
It
reached
the
hearts
of
people,
so
that’s
definitely
a
huge
leap.”