Dr Vinduja Menon on 30 years of 'Pavithram': People still love to be angry with Meenakshi for what she did to Chettachan

We adored her when she sweetly called him ‘Chettacha.’ We resented her when she called him selfish. We felt helpless watching Chettachan lose himself because of her. Yet, no matter what, Malayalis can never stop loving Meenakshi—the heart of the timeless classic Pavithram. Even after three decades, the YouTube comment section still reads, “Anyone watching this in February 2025?” As we celebrate yet another Malayalam classic, we spoke exclusively with actress Vinduja Menon, the talent who made Meenakshi unforgettable to Malayali audiences.

‘Pavithram is my backbone, my identity’

No matter how many movies, serials, or dance shows she has been a part of, Vinduja says that people still cherish her most as Meenakshi.
“The movie and the character are like my backbone, my identity. People still love to be angry with Meenakshi for what she did to Chettachan. When I was filming, I had no idea I was becoming part of something that would be remembered for decades. I was just 16 and didn’t fully grasp the depth and complexity of the character or the film. I only knew that it was a unique story—something I had never heard before. And, of course, there was Rajeevettan (TK Rajeev Kumar) and Chettachan (Mohanlal),” she shared.

‘I still call him Chettachan, he will always be my Chettachan’

We couldn’t help but notice Vinduja referring to actor Mohanlal as ‘Chettachan‘, the cute name Meenakshi had for her brother and father figure—perhaps the only person in the world with the privilege to call the legendary actor that.

“I still call him Chettachan—he will always be my Chettachan. Whether it’s over the phone or during a meeting, it’s always Chettachan for me. If I ever have to refer to him as Mohanlal or Lalettan, it takes a conscious effort. He, too, treats me with the same affection and love,” she shared.

‘All credits to TK Rajeev Kumar and Mohanlal’

Vinduja was just 16 when she portrayed Meenakshi in TK Rajeev Kumar’s directorial. While she admits she wasn’t as nervous as a typical newcomer, she credits both the director and actor Mohanlal for bringing out the best in her performance.
“Rajeevettan knew me from childhood, so I wasn’t afraid to be part of a project led by him. Everyone on set was incredibly supportive. Though I didn’t fully grasp the magnitude of sharing the screen with legends like Mohanlal, KPAC Lalitha, Nedumudi Venu, Innocent, and others, I knew I was fortunate to be there. They all made me feel confident—whenever I made mistakes, they corrected me with kindness. Rajeevettan and Chettachan were like my left and right hands throughout the movie. Above all, my dance background helped me immensely,” the actress shared.

Sreeragamo song and that epic frame

Vinduja shares that every time she walks into a café or an event, she still hears Sreeragamo playing. Though she wasn’t part of the song, she holds fond memories of this all-time favorite melody.
“When I first entered the shoot location, they were filming Sreeragamo. The very first glimpse I had of the movie was the iconic high-angle shot of Mohanlal and Shobhana on the bed. I was so curious to see how the camera was placed above them. Later, they shot another favorite frame—Shobhana’s reflection on the water. It felt like I had stepped into a dream world,” she recalled.

‘What do a piece of mirror and liquid kumkum have to do with womanhood?’

Beyond its unique storyline—where an elderly couple welcomes a daughter and their second son becomes her guardian—Pavithram had several elements that made it ahead of its time. One such moment was the beautifully crafted sequence depicting Meenakshi attaining puberty. A broken piece of mirror floating in the river, Vindhuja’s reflection captured within it, the liquid kumkum falling onto her white skirt—Santhosh Sivan’s frames painted pure magic on screen. Not to miss, it was likely the first time Malayalam cinema introduced the phrase “Blood on the moon.”

“It was all the vision of our director, Mr. TK Rajeev Kumar. True, it was beautifully crafted. Pavithram was the only movie I’ve seen that had a complete storyboard—every shot, every scene was illustrated even before filming began. When I did the scene, I had no idea it would have such an impact. They just asked me to pick up the glass piece, let the liquid kumkum fall, and so on. I didn’t really understand what they were trying to convey. When I asked, Rajeevettan simply said, ‘This is how you elegantly show Meenakshi becoming a woman.’ I remember thinking, ‘What do a piece of mirror and liquid kumkum have to do with womanhood?’ But now, when I watch it, it gives me chills. And of course, it was Santhosh Sivan—he knew exactly how to capture Rajeevettan’s vision,” she reminisced.
Vinduja also highlighted that the love story of Unni and Meera was far ahead of its time. She admitted that it was only after getting married that she truly understood the depth of their bond.

‘It’s these little details that make him the Complete Actor’

Reflecting on her memories from the shoot, Vinduja couldn’t stop admiring Mohanlal—the actor who effortlessly creates magic between action and cut.
“If there was ever a scene where we had to go for a second take because of me, it was the one after Meenakshi’s dance performance. While filming, I was completely in awe of the way Mohanlal’s expression shifted when Meenakshi mentioned Valyettan. In one moment, he was deeply concerned, and in the next, he effortlessly transformed into the cool, composed guy. I couldn’t help but admire him, completely forgetting my cue. That’s when Rajeevettan called cut and asked me what happened!” she recalled with a laugh.

“What an artist he is! He might be joking around and teasing me one moment, but the second they call action, he seamlessly delivers even the most intense scenes—like Meenakshi calling him selfish. Not just that, he was so deeply involved in the film that he even suggested small yet impactful details. I remember in a scene after Meenakshi goes to college, I was holding a comb, and he suggested using a brush instead—to subtly show her change in attitude. It’s these little details that make him the Complete Actor—and rightly so,” she gushed.

‘It was such a heavy moment’

Talking about her favorite scene in the movie, Vinduja shared that her very first shot was Meenakshi calling Unni as Chettachan and seeking his permission for a school excursion. She fondly recalled how the entire set clapped for her after the take, giving her a huge confidence boost.
“These two emotional scenes will always be my favorite—the scene where Meenakshi confronts Chettachan and the climax. I was so tense during the climax shoot. Not many scenes can truly wire you emotionally, but this one did. Meenakshi is just realizing what she means to Unni while watching him lose himself—it was such a heavy moment. And when it ends with that haunting BGM, it still leaves everyone emotional,” she shared.

‘I didn’t realize the weight of the crown they placed on me’

Sharing her excitement about the movie being remembered even after 30 years, Vinduja credits it to the depth of the story and the masterclass performances of the actors, especially Mohanlal.

“Frankly, I had no idea I was part of making history or sharing the screen with Mohanlal in one of his milestone performances. I didn’t realize the weight of the crown they placed on me—I simply did what my director asked me to do. If the movie is still called evergreen and celebrated even in 2025, it’s entirely because of its beautiful story and Mohanlal’s exceptional performance. I feel truly blessed to have played even a small part in it,” she concluded.

Source link