There is an obvious pattern: all her characters have been bold, independent and determined, while the actor held the screen with such grace and charm. But there was also a hidden pattern. As Nivedhithaa and I began to talk about her acting choices and what exactly she was looking for in such scripts where her character had very limited screen presence, we chanced upon answers for why she intuitively said yes to these roles.
But to get to the root of her choice, we began to unpack details about Thaenpasiyar through the eyes of Nivedhithaa, who says that she became the character right after hearing Arun Matheswaran’s narration. Thaenpasiyar is a dacoit with whom Dhanush’s Miller teams up, and I feel. after the protagonist, her character is fleshed-out well. Walking out of the theatre, Thaenpasiyar had left a deeper impact on me. If the period actioner Captain Miller is about an average oppressed community that simultaneously fights two different battles for freedom, then Thaenpasiyar fights three: as an Indian, as an oppressed Indian and as an oppressed Indian woman.
Nivedhithaa too had a ray of hope that the character might leave a strong impression. “Irundhichu, ullu kulla konjondu irundhichu. (I had that hope, a small wish that it would be impressive)” But she admits being scared about having a lot of expectations because the film meant a lot more to the actor. “I have done lead roles and character roles. I have also been part of women-centric films and somehow landed these projects early in my career. That said, I needed a bigger film to pull off more on my own and prove my potential. That’s one reason why I did CM even if Thaenpasiyar was one among the many side characters.” She had put in a whole year to train and shoot for the sequences. “All the actors in the film were way established and I am the only new person albeit been offered an equally important role. So I had to work harder. My mindset was that I had now got the opportunity so even if it was going to be just a single scene, I had to steal the show. I always knew it was a win-win situation because I got to work with so many people on a daily basis and learn a lot. I didn’t expect more because I didn’t want to get hurt. But I am overwhelmed by the response.”