Nithya Menen, the acclaimed actress known for her versatile performances across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada cinema, recently shared a memorable anecdote about receiving her first National Film Award. The award, bestowed upon her for Best Actress in the film Thiruchitrambalam, came with a unique personal touch: cow dung under her fingernails.
In a recent interview, Menen recounted how she went directly from the set of Dhanush's upcoming film, Idli Kadai, to the National Award ceremony in Delhi. For her role in Idli Kadai, Menen learned to make cow dung cakes, a task she embraced wholeheartedly. As fate would have it, she was filming a scene involving handling cow dung the day before the prestigious award ceremony.
"I went straight from this to the National Award ceremony- with dirt in my fingernails having picked up cow dung with my hands just the previous day for a scene," Menen shared. "I went and received the Award from the president with cow dung in my fingernails," she told her friends. She found a certain poetry in the situation. "It's so amazing that I had cow dung in my fingernails when I went to accept my National Award. That is so beautiful, right? That is life".
Menen's willingness to immerse herself in her roles, even to the point of learning unconventional skills like making cow dung cakes, highlights her dedication to her craft. She expressed that she seeks roles that allow her to experience new things and expand her understanding of life. "For Idli Kadai, I learnt how to make cow dung cakes. They asked me if I was willing to do it, and I said yes, of course. So, for the first time in my life, I learned how to roll and round them up with bare hands," Menen stated.
The actress, who has been a part of several love stories, has spoken about her cynicism towards love. When asked if her outlook towards love has changed, the actress said that she is not averse to love. However, she said that she is not actively seeking love.
Thiruchitrambalam, for which Menen received the National Award, is a coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama co-starring Dhanush. In the film, she played Shobana, the protagonist's friend. Idli Kadai marks another collaboration between Menen and Dhanush, with Dhanush also directing and co-producing the film.
Menen's journey, from handling cow dung on a film set to receiving a National Award from the President of India, encapsulates the unpredictable and diverse nature of life. It's a reminder that beauty and significance can be found in the most unexpected of places. As Menen aptly put it, "That is so beautiful, right? That is life".
