“I have been waiting for good work and when 35 came my way, I could not let it go. It would have been an injustice had I not taken it up,” says actor Nivetha Thomas, when we met her for an exclusive interview at Ramanaidu Studios, Hyderabad. Directed by debutant Nanda Kishore Emani, “35 – Chinna Katha Kaadu” (not a small story), set to release in theatres on September 6, is a deeply emotional family drama situated in Tirupati.
Having made her last appearance in Telugu cinema with “Saakini Daakini” (2022), Nivetha returned to the silver screen in 2023 with the Malayalam film “Enthada Sajji,” marking her re-entry into Malayalam cinema after a hiatus of nine years. Speaking on the dearth of quality projects, Nivetha reflects thoughtfully, “People think I am difficult to please, which is not true. I wholeheartedly enjoy listening to narrations and reading scripts in different genres. There have been many cases when I have come across interesting scripts but after a few discussions, if I felt that they had not shaped up to their potential, I have stepped back so that they can proceed with another actor. I am game to work in five or six films each year but I would like all of them to be different.”
Nivetha’s career, which began at the tender age of eight, spans the Malayalam, Telugu, and Tamil film industries. On whether her choices are driven by fame and the spotlight, she shares an architect’s precision in balancing visibility and quality work. “This thought has crossed my mind,” she admits, referring to the fear of being forgotten by the audience during her periods of absence. “I believe in a healthy work relationship and strive to strike a balance even for visibility on social media. When I do not have a movie update, I do not like to put out images of me just having coffee… People do not need to waste their time looking at me. But I realise that some of this is also needed for visibility. I wish I could do more films at a better pace.”
The release of “35” and its promos has brought in an outpouring of support from fans and social media. “People told me they are happy to see me in a new film. It moved me to tears. It also made me think that perhaps I have set my standards too high; maybe I should take up more films and learn by making a few mistakes,” Nivetha reflects.
The success of films like “Brochevarevarura” reaffirmed to Nivetha the trust and expectations audiences have from her. “There were many who told me that if they knew that I was in a film, they would consider it worthy of watching. Such trust made me more responsible and also cautious; I wanted everything to be perfect. For “Saakini Daakini,” I gave my 100% and it took me a while to move on when it did not get its due.”
On whether she sees this period as a transition, Nivetha nods in agreement. “When I transitioned from being a child actor to a leading lady, I did not think much. It all happened quickly.
. I was enjoying working and studying.” Even today, she perceives stardom and celebrity status as “additional baggage.” She hopes this next phase of her career will bring more intriguing opportunities. Nivetha also expresses a willingness to venture into film production, though she concedes that handling distribution and release logistics would be challenging.
The film “35”, set in the historic temple town of Tirupati, features Nivetha in the role of Saraswati, a mother of two. “I did not think twice about playing a mother. This is a beautiful character of a woman who has not passed the 10th standard, and her world revolves around her family,” she shares. Saraswati’s character intricacies, from the veena-shaped door handle in her house to the detailed traditions she follows, demonstrate the depth of the script. “We even discussed if she would let go of her ‘madi’ custom and embrace her son in an emotional scene,” Nivetha notes.
Drawing parallels between her character’s story and her personal life, Nivetha mentions how “35” reminded her of her mother’s sacrifices. “When I began acting in the fourth grade, my mom gave up her work to be by my side. She never complained. At that time, I did not know its value.”
The film also reunites Nivetha with Gautami Tadimella, marking their collaboration since “Papanasam” (the Tamil remake of “Drishyam”). “In “35”, Gautami ma’am is a representation of an urban woman. The conversations she and Saraswati have reflect how two women from different worlds discuss aspects such as self-dignity. This time, I was fortunate to have more conversations with Gautami Ma’am, who is as graceful as ever. She never puts down a co-star who is less experienced than her. I also observed the little things she brought into her characterisation. For instance, she wore a bulky watch, her own, because she felt that character would not wear a typical slim wristwatch we associate with older women.”
The cast further steeped themselves in their roles by learning the Tirupati Telugu dialect, starting early with lessons at 7 am. “Prashant helped by preparing training modules and publishing a book. We learnt phonetics and lexical differences, understanding how the Tirupati dialect is different from that of Chittoor, and how people speak it with a mix of Tamil, thanks to the transition crowd,” she explains. The use of sync sound during audio recording meant mastering the dialect was crucial.
In closing, Nivetha promises that “35” will be an entertaining film filled with heartfelt moments, featuring over 60 children, and is bound to bring smiles to the audience’s faces. “Given a chance, I would knock on every door and request people to go watch the film in theatres with their families. When you watch something relatable and personal on the big screen, it can be magical,” she concludes with a hopeful smile.
Don’t miss “35 – Chinna Katha Kaadu” in theatres from September 6.
