Nithya Menen is an Indian actress and playback singer who primarily works in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada films. She won two Filmfare awards for her role in Telugu films like Malli Malli Idi Rani Roju and Gunde Jaari Gallanthayyinde. Nithya got her big break for her role as Tara in the O Kadhal Kanmani. She worked in several hit films such as Nootrenbadhu, Ishq, Josh, Urumi, Mersal, and Thiruchitrambalam. Nithya Menen became a huge sensation for joining hands with Dhanush in the Idli Kadai movie.
Did You Know?
Nithya revealed in an interview that she never wished to become an actress. Since Journalism was not what it used to be she decided to become a filmmaker, as she could express her ideas through movies.
To enter the entertainment buzz she enrolled herself in a cinematography course at the FTII (Film and Television Institute of India), Pune. At the time of the education entrance exam, she met B V Nandini Reddy, who convinced her to take up acting.
Nandini Reddy later became a director and signed Nithya as a female lead in her first movie Ala Modalaindi.
Nithya acted in Santosh Sivan’s historical fiction movie Urumi and later appeared in Jayendra’s bilingual film 180/Nootrenbadhu. After working in notable films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films she established herself as one of the leading actresses in South Indian Cinema.
Movies
Year
Title
Role
Language
1998
Hanuman
Munna
English
2006
7 O' Clock
Anu
Kannada
2008
Aakasha Gopuram
Hilda Varghese
Malayalam
2009
Josh
Meera
Kannada
2009
Vellathooval
Jiya George
Malayalam
2009
Kerala Cafe
Nithya
Malayalam
2009
Angel John
Sofia
Malayalam
2010
Apoorvaragam
Nancy
Malayalam
2010
Anwar
Asna
Malayalam
2011
Ala Modalaindi
Nithya
Telugu
2011
Urumi
Chirakkal Bala/ Daisy da Cunha
Malayalam
2011
Nootrenbadhu/ 180
D. Vidya Lakshmi
Tamil
2011
Nootrenbadhu/ 180
D. Vidya Lakshmi
Telugu
2011
Violin
Angel
Malayalam
2011
Veppam
Revathy
Tamil
2011
Aidondla Aidu
Gowri
Kannada
2011
Makaramanju
Model
Malayalam
2012
Ishq
Priya
Telugu
2012
Thalsamayam Oru Penkutty
Manjula Ayyapan
Malayalam
2012
Karmayogi
Moonumani
Malayalam
2012
Doctor Innocentanu
Anna
Malayalam
2012
Bachelor Party
Neethu
Malayalam
2012
Ustad Hotel
Shahana
Malayalam
2012
Poppins
Ammu
Malayalam
2013
Okkadine
Shailaja
Telugu
2013
Jabardasth
Saraswati
Telugu
2013
Myna
Myna
Kannada
2013
Gunde Jaari Gallanthayyinde
Shravani / Bangaram
Telugu
2014
Malini 22 Palayamkottai
Malini
Tamil
2014
Bangalore Days
Natasha Francis
Malayalam
2015
Malli Malli Idi Rani Roju
Nazeera Khanum
Telugu
2015
JK Enum Nanbanin Vaazhkai
Nithya
Tamil
2015
100 Days of Love
Sheela
Malayalam
2015
S/O Satyamurthy
Valli
Telugu
2015
Kanchana 2
Ganga
Tamil
2015
O Kadhal Kanmani
Tara Kalingarayar
Tamil
2015
Rudhramadevi
Muktamba
Telugu
2016
24
Priya Sethuraman
Tamil
2016
Okka Ammayi Thappa
Mango / Satyabhama
Telugu
2016
Kotigobba 2 / Mudinja Ivana Pudi
Subhashini / Shubha
Kannada
2016
Kotigobba 2 / Mudinja Ivana Pudi
Subhashini / Shubha
Tamil
2016
Janatha Garage
Anu
Telugu
2016
Iru Mugan
Ayushi
Tamil
2017
Mersal
Aishwarya Vetrimaaran
Tamil
2018
Awe
Krishnaveni
Telugu
2018
Geetha Govindam
Nithya
Telugu
2019
NTR: Kathanayakudu
Savitri
Telugu
2019
Praana
Tara Anuradha
Malayalam
2019
Mission Mangal
Varsha Pillai
Hindi
2020
Psycho
Kamala Das IPS
Tamil
2021
Ninnila Ninnila
Maya
Telugu
2021
Gamanam
Shailaputri Devi
Telugu
2021
Skylab
Gouri Venkataraju
Telugu
2022
Bheemla Nayak
Suguna Nayak
Telugu
2022
19(1)(a)
Penkutty
Malayalam
2022
Thiruchitrambalam
Shobana
Tamil
2022
Wonder Women
Nora Joseph
English
2023
Kolaambi
Arundhathi
Malayalam
2025
Kadhalikka Neramillai
TBA
Tamil
2025
Dear Exes
TBA
Tamil
TBA
Untitled Next
TBA
Tamil
TBA
Idli Kadai
TBA
Tamil
Short Film
Year
Title
Role
Language
2020
Color of a Nation
Pregnant woman
Telugu
Television
Year
Title
Role
Language
2001-2002
Chhoti Maa…Ek Anokha Bandhan
Young Koyna
Hindi
2022
Telugu Indian Idol
Judge
Telugu
Web series
Year
Title
Role
Language
2020–2022
Breathe: Into the Shadows
Abha Sabarwal
Hindi
2022
Modern Love Hyderabad
Noori Hussain
Telugu
2023
Kumari Srimathi
Itikelapudi Srimathi
Telugu
2023
Masterpeace
Riya Kurian
Malayalam
Music videos
Year
Song
Language
Singer
2022
Thaniye/Tanha
Malayalam/Hindi
Siddharth Menon, Nithya Menen
Voice artist
Year
Title
Role
Language
2013
Gunde Jaari Gallanthayyinde
Shruti
Telugu
2019
Frozen 2
Elsa
Telugu
Discography
Year
Song
Film
Language
Composer
2010
"Payasa"
Aidondla Aidu
Kannada
Abhijit-Joe
2011
"Edo Anukunte"
Ala Modalaindi
Telugu
Kalyani Malik
2011
"Ammammo Ammo"
Ala Modalaindi
Telugu
Kalyani Malik
2012
"Oh Priya Priya"
Ishq
Telugu
Anoop Rubens
2012
"Payasam"
Poppins
Malayalam
Ratheesh Vegha
2013
"Arere Arere"
Jabardasth
Telugu
S. Thaman
2013
"Doore Doore Neengi"
Natholi Oru Cheria Meenalla
Malayalam
Abhijith
2013
"Modala Maleyante"
Myna
Kannada
Jassie Gift
2013
"O Premada Poojari"
Myna
Kannada
Jassie Gift
2013
"Thu Hi Rey"
Gunde Jaari Gallanthayyinde
Telugu
Anoop Rubens
2013
"Hi My Name is Malini"
Malini 22 Palayamkottai
Tamil
Arvind & Shankar
2013
"Kanneer Thulilye (Duet)"
Malini 22 Palayamkottai
Tamil
Arvind & Shankar
2013
"Madharthamma (Immigrant Mix)"
Malini 22 Palayamkottai
Tamil
Arvind & Shankar
2013
"Hi my name is malini"
Ghatana (D)
Telugu
Arvind & Shankar
2013
"Navve Kaluva (Duet)"
Ghatana (D)
Telugu
Arvind & Shankar
2013
"Yennali (Immigrant Mix)"
Ghatana (D)
Telugu
Arvind & Shankar
2015
"Paalnilaa: Lets Do the Dandiya"
Rockstar
Malayalam
Prashant Pillai
2016
"Laalijo"
24 (D)
Telugu
A. R. Rahman
2016
"Hrudayam Kannulatho"
100 Days of Love (D)
Telugu
Govind Menon
2018
"Va Va Vo"
Mohanlal
Malayalam
Tony Joseph Pallivathukal
2021
"Thiruppavai"
Margazhi Thingal
Tamil
Ravi G
2022
"Thaniye"
Thaniye
Malayalam
Sidharth Menon
2022
"Thanha"
Thanha
Hindi
Sidharth Menon
Awards and Nominations
Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards
Year
Category
Film
Result
2023
Best Actress
Thiruchitrambalam
Nominated
Chennai Times Film Awards
Year
Category
Film
Result
2012
Promising Newcomer – Female
180
Nominated
CineMAA Awards
Year
Category
Film
Result
2013
Best Actress – Critics
Ishq
Won
Filmfare Awards South
Year
Category
Film
Result
2010
Best Supporting Actress – Kannada
Josh
Nominated
2012
Best Supporting Actress – Malayalam
Urumi
Nominated
2012
Best Actress – Telugu
Ala Modalaindi
Nominated
2012
Best Female Playback Singer – Telugu (for "Ammammo Ammo")
Ala Modalaindi
Nominated
2014
Best Actress – Kannada
Myna
Nominated
2014
Best Actress – Telugu
Gunde Jaari Gallanthayyinde
Won
2016
Best Actress – Tamil
O Kadhal Kanmani
Nominated
2016
Best Actress – Telugu
Malli Malli Idi Rani Roju
Nominated
2016
Best Actress Critics – Telugu
Malli Malli Idi Rani Roju
Won
2017
Best Supporting Actress – Tamil
24
Nominated
2018
Best Supporting Actress – Tamil
Mersal
Won
Filmfare OTT Awards
Year
Category
Film
Result
2020
Best Actor in a Drama Series – Female
Breathe: Into the Shadows
Nominated
Hyderabad Times Film Awards
Year
Category
Film
Result
2012
Promising Newcomer – Female
Ala Modalaindi
Won
2013
Best Actor – Female
Ishq
Won
IIFA Utsavam
Year
Category
Film
Result
2016
Best Actress – Telugu
Malli Malli Idi Rani Roju
Nominated
2016
Best Supporting Actress – Tamil
Kanchana 2
Nominated
2017
Best Supporting Actress – Telugu
Rudhramadevi
Nominated
Nandi Awards
Year
Category
Film
Result
2011
Best Actress
Ala Modalaindi
Won
2016
Special Jury Award
Malli Malli Idi Rani Roju
Won
National Film Awards
Year
Category
Film
Result
2024
Best Actress
Thiruchitrambalam
Won
South Indian International Movie Awards
Year
Category
Film
Result
2012
Best Female Debut – Telugu
Ala Modalaindi
Nominated
2012
Best Female Playback Singer – Telugu (for "Ammammo Ammo")
Ala Modalaindi
Nominated
2013
Rising Star of South Indian Cinema – Female
—
Won
2014
Best Actress – Telugu
Gunde Jaari Gallanthayyinde
Nominated
2016
Best Actress – Tamil
O Kadhal Kanmani
Nominated
2016
Best Actress Critics – Tamil
O Kadhal Kanmani
Won
2016
Best Actress – Telugu
Malli Malli Idi Rani Roju
Nominated
2016
Best Supporting Actress – Tamil
Kanchana 2
Nominated
2016
Best Supporting Actress – Telugu
Rudramadevi
Nominated
2018
Best Actress – Tamil
Mersal
Nominated
2023
Best Actress – Tamil
Thiruchitrambalam
Nominated
2023
Best Actress – Telugu
Bheemla Nayak
Nominated
Vanitha Film Awards
Year
Category
Film
Result
2013
Best Star Pair (With Dulquer Salmaan)
Ustad Hotel
Won
Vijay Awards
Year
Category
Film
Result
2012
Best Actress
Nootrenbandhu
Nominated
2015
Best Actress
Malini 22 Palayamkottai
Nominated
Other Recognitions
Media honours
Year
Magazine
Category
Result
2011
Best Telugu Actresses
Rediff.com
#3
2012
Best Telugu Actresses
Rediff.com
#5
2013
Best Telugu Actresses
Rediff.com
#1
2015
Best Telugu Actresses
Rediff.com
#3
2013
Best Kannada Actresses
Rediff.com
#1
2015
Best Tamil Actresses
Rediff.com
#5
2021
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