From Balamani to Radhamani; Navya Nair on her comeback after 10 years

Balamani is a character that no Malayali can ever forget. As the movie ‘Nandanam’ nears its 20th year, the charisma that emanates from the character of Balamani is still fresh. Navya Nair won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress in 2002 for her performance as the servant girl in the movie 'Nandanam' set against the backdrop of Guruvayoor temple. Navya gifted the Malayali audience many movies and characters to remember and eventually made her presence known in Tamil and Kannada as well. She won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress again in 2005 for her performance in ‘Kanne Madanguka’ and ‘Saira’. Navya Nair who took a long break after her marriage is now making a comeback through V K Prakash’s movie ‘Oruthee’. Navya plays the role of Kochi native Radhamani who fights her way to move forward in life. She shares her joy of being accepted by the audience. 

Oruthee’s Radhamani is receiving praises from all around. What are your thoughts on that?

I have to thank the audience first. I feel extreme happiness in knowing that I am being accepted with wide-open arms as I make my return to the film industry after a break of 10 years. I’ve been getting a lot of calls from people who watched the movie. Many said that they found my character relatable. Oruthee is the story of a common household. I am glad that my wish to make a comeback through a strong character was fulfilled through this movie. 

Were you worried about how people would regard your return to acting?

I was a bit worried initially. But the confidence imparted by the plot and the character was immense. The character is an embodiment of an ordinary woman who struggles to take care of her family. There are many such characters around us. The movie unfurls with the unextraordinary events that take place in the life of this ordinary character. This is a woman-oriented movie. Such opportunities are up for grabs very rarely, So I couldn’t turn down the role. 

There are many changes that have come about since the 10 years I was away from acting. These changes are even noticeable in the taste of the audience. Although I was taking a break from acting, I was always watching movies. I believe that it helped me cope with the changes and work with the team without much trouble. 

What was the shift from Nandanam’s Balamani to Oruthee’s Radhamani like?

Radhamani’s character also leaves a mark in the hearts of the audience just like Balamani’s. Balamani shares her sufferings and her complaints before Lord Krishna in the movie, but Radhamani’s character doesn’t even have the time for that. I went to the set of Nandanam with all the curiosity that a newcomer would have. I remember Ambilichettan (Jagathy) telling me after my first shot that I have good timing. There are many such good memories associated with that movie. 

Did Oruthee pose any challenges for you while shooting?

I acted in most of the scenes of Oruthee thoroughly enjoying those. Riding the scooter, running behind the thief and jumping onto the jangar, all proved to be tough tasks for me. I had to learn to ride the scooter and fainted while getting an injection after an injury. The shooting took place during the summer. So, many scenes were shot with much difficulty.