Dhanush and Nithya Menen’s first collaboration together, Thiruchitrambalam, clocked three on Monday. The Mithran R Jawahar film hit theatres on 18 August 2022 and opened to overwhelmingly positive reviews, becoming one of the highest-grossing Tamil films of 2022 and Dhanush's highest-grossing film worldwide in his career to that point. The film also got Nithya Menen her first National Award for Best Actress.
Back when she won the award last year, Nithya Menen told CE that she least expected to win the award for a feel-good film like Thiruchitrambalam, of all the films she has starred in. “Not once in my wildest dreams did I think I would receive the National Award for a film like Thiruchitrambalam. I have always felt that only certain genres can get you the National Award, like a biopic, a role that has me wearing prosthetics or a film which gives out a message on social awareness or environmental conservation,” she said in an exclusive interview.
Further, she also revealed that she was informed about her win by her co-star, Dhanush. “I didn’t know the awards were going to be announced, so I was taken aback when I heard the news. Dhanush informed me about the award. He said, 'Congratulations,' and I asked, 'For what?' And then he broke the news to me, after which he said, 'I am so glad I was the first person to call you.'" She then added that feel-good comedy films like Thiruchitrambalam and the performances that go behind such films were being recognised only then.
Nithya Menen is now working with Dhanush for the second time for Idly Kadai. Also starring Arun Vijay, the film is slated to hit theatres on October 1. She is fresh off the success of Thalaivan Thalaivii, co-starring Vijay Sethupathi and helmed by Pandiraaj. Apart from Nithya Menen, Sathish Krishnan also won the national award for his choreography for the song ‘Megham Karukkatha’ in the film.