Actress Nithya Mene recently opened up about the ingrained hierarchy in the film industry while promoting her upcoming film ‘Kadhalikka Neramillai.’ Speaking to Galatta Plus, Nithya discussed how her name appearing before Ravi Mohan’s (Jayam Ravi) on the film’s poster highlighted a shift in traditional practices and how it could be considered “pathbreaking.”

Nithya acknowledged the significance of her name being listed first, especially in an industry where the male lead and director are traditionally prioritized. Sharing her thoughts, she said, “When I saw my name first, that means, it’s healing something in people’s consciousness. Maybe the injustice they had to go through or times they felt inferior, it gets healed a little bit. I consider things like this pathbreaking, and not just Kiru or me, but Ravi is also a part of that. Because he said, go ahead with it.”

‘Kadhalikka Neramillai,’ directed by Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi, marks the first time Ravi Mohan is working with a female director. Ravi had earlier mentioned that Nithya’s name appearing first was intentional, as she has an equally important role in the film.

Nithya shed light on the long-standing hierarchy in the industry, explaining how it impacts every aspect of filmmaking. “There’s a clear-cut hierarchy, right? Hero, director, heroine—hierarchy. That’s how it is. That’s how your caravans are placed, that’s how you’re called on stage. If an aarti is taken that’s the order they’ll give it to you. It’s not even the order the people are standing. It bothers me, all of this is like…really? You want to live a life like this? This is so small-minded, just be normal. Be natural. Give people credit where they deserve, whether they’re a woman or man,” she said.

The actress also shared a troubling observation from her time on film sets, recounting moments when her powerful performances were met with silence while mediocre performances by male leads were applauded. “I have been on sets where there was ‘pin drop silence’ after I performed a scene people have liked, but after the male lead gives a ‘mediocre performance,’ the whole set has clapped and cheered for him,” she revealed.

Apart from ‘Kadhalikka Neramillai,’ Nithya has a busy slate of projects, including ‘Idli Kadai,’ directed by and co-starring Dhanush, as well as ‘Dear Exes’ and another film with Vijay Sethupathi. Despite her success, Nithya recently admitted in an interview with Behindwoods that she had contemplated leaving the industry before winning the National Award for ‘Thiruchitrambalam.’ “This is a profession that I don't like. If I get an option, I’d leave,” she said.