'What a blessing it is': Nithya Menen pens heartfelt message after winning National Award for 'Thiruchitrambalam'

nithya menen

Celebrating two years since the release of Thiruchitrambalam, Nithya Menen took to Instagram to reflect on her heartfelt journey and express gratitude following her remarkable win at the 70th annual National Film Awards. Announced on August 16, 2024, these awards honored the best of Indian cinema from 2022, with Nithya Menen and Manasi Parekh sharing the prestigious Best Actress in a Leading Role award. Nithya received the accolade for her outstanding performance in Thiruchitrambalam, while Manasi Parekh was recognized for her role in Kutch Express.

In an emotional Instagram post, Nithya wrote, "2 years of Thiruchitrambalam today :) We could all not meet for this one, but it still comes with a celebration. I think it’s poetic that my first National Award should come for us through this film. What an experience it has been.

Thank you everyone who called me, who were jumping with joy, who were so overwhelmed and couldn’t speak. To everyone who I have never met, but who have so much love for me in their heart and bless me from a distance, and always wished this so intensely. I felt that everyone was experiencing it, as if they had won themselves. What a blessing it is when people root for you so personally."

She continued, offering a genuine "Thank You" to the National Film Awards jury for recognizing her performance, adding, "For Thiruchitrambalam, any award that any of us gets will belong to and be shared by all four of us equally. Because I have never before been a part of a film where the lead actors have contributed so equally to the performance of the film as a whole. So this is one quarter Bharathiraja sir, @joinprakashraj, @dhanushkraja's, and mine. I love you guys a lot. Thank you for being so vocal about my strengths. It’s hard to come by in a place where rumours are talked about more than the truth."

Nithya also stressed the essence of good performance, "A Good performance is not synonymous with dramatic weight loss or gain, prosthetics, or any major physical transformation. Those are a part of a performance, but they are not ‘the’ performance. I have always strived to prove this. And you have helped me do so successfully."

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Nithya’s portrayal of Shobana in Thiruchitrambalam highlights her incredible versatility and depth as an actress. Shobana, a warm and relatable character, resonated deeply with audiences through her genuine emotions and nuanced portrayal. Directed by Mithran Jawahar, the film revolves around the life of Thiruchitrambalam (played by Dhanush) and his relationships, particularly with his childhood friend Shobana.

While celebrated for her work in regional cinema, Nithya Menen has also made an impressive mark in Bollywood. She debuted in Hindi films with Mission Mangal (2019), starring alongside Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, and Taapsee Pannu. In the film, which narrates India’s Mars Orbiter Mission, Nithya played the role of Varsha Pillai, a scientist whose work contributes to the mission's success.

ALSO READ: Nithya Menen wins Best Actress for Thiruchitrambalam at 70th National Film Awards

Nithya also made an impact in the web series space with her role in Breathe: Into the Shadows (2020) on Amazon Prime Video, where she played Abha Sabharwal, the wife of Abhishek Bachchan's character. Her ability to handle complex roles in a psychological thriller was widely praised, further enhancing her status as an accomplished actress.