Rooting for the underdog: 'Uyir' actor Shruthy Menon on how strong women inspire her

For Shruthy Menon, the past year has been one of the most creatively fulfilling phases of her career. Having simultaneously shot three films while constantly travelling between sets, she describes it as an intense yet immensely satisfying experience.

"While it rains, it pours," she said with a smile during a conversation with Onmanorama. "Last year was exceptionally satisfying for me. It was creatively engaging as I shot three films that were happening almost at the same time. I was constantly travelling between shoots, and I feel fortunate that I got to play characters that were poles apart from each other."

One of those films, ‘Uyir’, directed by filmmaker M Padmakumar hit theatres last week and features Roshan Mathew and Shruthy in lead roles. She says working with Padmakumar was a collaboration every actor's dream of. "He is a soft-spoken man of very few words. He's incredibly calm and zen on set. He never transfers nervous energy to his actors and gives us the freedom to develop our characters and experiment. It becomes a truly collaborative effort. Working with him was thrilling."

Shruthy recalls that ‘Uyir’ writer Nikhil Menon first mentioned the project to her and encouraged her to trust the director. "For some reason, the role was not fitting for me in my head. Nikhil told me to trust him. After months of discussions, I finally got convinced and told him I was ready to convince 'Papettan' that I was Shobha. I became deeply attached to the story because I could clearly see how he envisioned the film," she said, adding that Padmakumar had contacted her when he visited Mumbai and narrated the story.

Among the biggest challenges of playing Shobha was portraying motherhood despite never having experienced it herself. "I am not a mother, so understanding that depth of love was my biggest challenge. I've experienced deep affection for my younger sister, but portraying a mother's love without making it overly sentimental required a lot of thought. I kept asking myself how I would feel if my own child faced such consequences."

Working alongside child actors Aryan and Mithra eventually helped her find that emotional connection. "Mithra is like a butterfly, so curious and full of life. One day she wandered into a small goat shed and started poking the goats. She wanted to climb onto the roof and jump. Spending time with them helped me break the ice. The character had already been beautifully written; I simply had to stay within the emotional boundaries that had been carefully crafted."

Shruthy admits that entering the industry wasn't easy 20 years ago. "Navigating the Malayalam film industry was challenging because I didn't know anyone here. None of my family members had any connection with cinema. There were cultural differences that I had to learn to understand." She says many people misunderstood her because of her appearance and mannerisms.

"I was often misunderstood. People judged me because of the clothes I wore and the way I spoke, without realising that I was simply a girl coming from a different background. There were hurtful moments. But there were also many people who welcomed me with open arms. I had to fall many times, cry, and then pick myself up again. What kept me going was my sheer love for cinema."

Shruthy credits her parents for giving her the confidence to survive those difficult years. "My parents stood firmly by me. At the time, I probably took that support for granted, but today I realise how valuable it was. They always reminded me of the values they had raised me with and trusted me completely."

She also acknowledges that many talented young women never receive the same encouragement. "I've met so many gifted girls who couldn't pursue their dreams simply because they didn't have their parents' support," she says. On the other hand, Shruthy has remained drawn to stories centred on unconventional women.

"I've always been attracted to underdog characters, the ones society has already written off. People don't place their bets on them, but I do. Those are the characters that fascinate me because they possess incredible strength. Many of the roles that brought me recognition were such women." Although she says she isn't overly selective, she admits she gravitates towards women-driven stories and characters inspired by real life.

"I don't get offered many films. But from what comes to me, I choose the ones that excite me. This is my third film based on a real story, and I love women-oriented films. They challenge me as an actor."

Shruthy also shared her opinion on cinema's portrayal of women, particularly when dealing with sexual exploitation. "If sexual exploitation is being shown merely as a trope to attract audiences, then it's outdated. Women today are making their mark across every industry. If you're telling such a story, there has to be redemption and growth. The idea that a woman's life is permanently destroyed after such an experience doesn't reflect today's reality. Women are standing up and saying, 'This does not define me.' That is the reality cinema should portray because the generation watching films has changed tremendously."

While she has worked in multiple industries and appeared in large ensemble projects, Shruthy says the creative fulfilment she finds in Malayalam cinema remains unparalleled. "I enjoy working in South Indian cinema, which is why I continue choosing these films. I've been part of large ensemble casts elsewhere, but the artistic satisfaction I get from Malayalam films is unmatched."