Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan starrer Mission Mangal – based on ISRO’s 2013 Mars Orbiter Mission – hit the theaters today.
While the leads did take center stage, the movie was supported by a very able cast, including actor Nithya Menen – who made her Hindi film debut with this movie. And despite a brief role, she proved why she is one of the leading stars of the South film industry.
A multilingual actor and playback singer, Nithya Menen has worked in Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil movies and has three Filmfare Awards to her name. Though technically, she first starred in the 1998 movie The Monkey Who Knew Too Much as a child artist, she’s been a part of the film industry since 2006.
However, it was in 2008, that she debuted in a lead role with the Malayalam movie Akasha Gopuram, directed by National Film Award-winning director K. P. Kumaran. Even though she earned rave reviews for her performance, the movie happened by chance for her – because, at the time, she was in the middle of taking her twelfth-grade examinations.
Today, she has over a decade of experience in movies and has constantly maintained that she will choose ‘intelligent cinema’ over publicity. Even when her movie choices haven’t worked out, she’s not shied away from admitting her mistakes.
I had said no to quite a few big films that came my way as I wanted always to get involved with intelligent cinema. Of course, I won’t say my judgment is great as most of my films were not that good anyway. Still, I’ve tried my best to choose good films.
Over the years she’s worked with veteran directors, delivered blockbuster hits, created intelligent content, and also been a playback singer.
Some of her most popular films include Ala Modalaindi, 100 Days Of Love, Mersal, Kotigobba 2, and others. She also starred in the Tamil romantic drama O Kadhal Kanmani, alongside Dulquer Salmaan, that inspired the Hindi movie OK Jaanu.
Nithya, whose impressive and varied filmography has established her as a leading star and won her critical acclaim, had no qualms about making her Hindi film debut with a multi-starrer like Mission Mangal.
And despite the impressive ensemble cast, that even includes scene-stealers like Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub and Purab Kohli, Nithya’s nuanced performance leaves an impact.
Nithya, who is all set to make her digital debut with the second season of Prime’s Breathe, is definitely no stranger to great performances.
And as she gears up for her remaining 2019 releases, here’s hoping her performances continue to light up the screen in a way only she can.