Nithya Menen, who is gearing up for the release of Thalaivan Thalaivii on Friday, says she took up the film because her character has equal weightage to that of Vijay Sethupathi.

In an interview with Sudhir Srinivasan, she said, "It’s always a joy to be offered roles that are as significant as the male lead’s. But such scripts are far fewer than the ones centred entirely around the hero, especially in rooted, rural settings. That’s why I value Thalaivan Thalaivii. It gives both leads equal weight, even within a village backdrop."

Further, she also praised the film's lead, Vijay Sethupathi. "Not every actor is open to sharing that kind of space with a strong female character. I’ve done my share of commercial films where my role was just to amplify the hero. But here, I truly appreciate Vijay Sethupathi for choosing a film that’s character-driven instead of just hero-driven."

Nithya then spoke about the need for commercial cinema and her take on such films. "Sure, some commercial films rake in big money, but I wouldn’t call them 'cinema' unless they prioritise content and storytelling. A film is never meant to exist just for one person."

When asked about the uniqueness of Thalaivan Thalaivii, Nithya shared some universal aspects in the film. "Thalaivan Thalaivii finds its universality in the little things, like how a couple argues, the triggers that start a fight, and the everyday details in a marriage. Those moments connect deeply with the audience."

The National award-winning actor shares anecdotes from the sets of the film to describe how different the experience was for her. "Pandiraj’s films tend to be loud, and Thalaivan Thalaivii is no different. There’s a lot of yelling across scenes. I’m not one for shouting matches. I’d often react during the shoot, but Pandiraj would laugh it off and explain how some real-life couples even get physically aggressive. It was a different world for me."

Nithya, who plays Arasi in Thalaivan Thalaivii, says that she had to step out of her comfort zone to play the character. "Playing Arasi pushed me to an edge. It cracked me open in ways I hadn’t experienced before—and I loved that. I don’t enjoy being confined to a mould. This film made me drop my self-consciousness and embrace something unfamiliar. It reminded me of how I felt doing Kanchana, completely out of my comfort zone, and all the better for it."

Finally, on whether the film has a message, she said, "Not every film is a statement. I’ve heard that line ever since I did Kadhalikka Neramillai and OK Kanmani. Sometimes, a film is simply a slice of someone’s life. It doesn’t always have to carry a message or push an ideology. It doesn’t even have to be universally relatable."

Nithya Menen is collaborating with Vijay Sethupathi for the second time after 19 (1) (a), although the two did not have combination scenes in the film. Thalaivan Thalaivii also stars Yogi Babu, Chemban Vinod Jose, Saravanan, Kaali Venkat, Deepa Shankar, and Roshini Haripriyan, among others. The film is all set to hit theatres on July 25.