Vinduja Menon on 25 Years of 'Jwalayayi': The serial deserves a re-release, it's worth watching even in 2025

"Jwalayayi!" The name says it all. The iconic Doordarshan TV serial still holds a special place in the hearts of every Malayali. As the show celebrates its 25th anniversary, we caught up with the beloved Nandini, actress Vinduja Menon, to share some of her cherished memories of this timeless serial."Nandini is a character that was chosen by the audience, and even now, people still recognize me for that role. I remember meeting Mammootty sir’s wife, Sulfath ma’am, at a function years ago. I approached her and said, ‘Ma’am, I’m Vinduja, not sure if you remember me!’ She quickly responded, ‘Of course, you were the lead actress in our serial.’ I was really surprised. After more than two decades, if people still come up to me and we’re talking about Jwalayayi, it clearly shows I was part of something special, and I’m proud of that."Speaking about her decision to take on a serial, especially a character with grey shades, Vinduja openly acknowledged the criticism she faced. "At that time, there was a clear divide between the big screen and small screen. When this project came to me, I immediately agreed because it was a character I had never played before, and I was excited about it. But once the project started, oh my! I faced a lot of criticism and taunts. Many people looked down on me, saying, 'Really? You’re doing a serial?' But I never considered serials to be something to be looked down upon," she shared.We've all heard stories of actresses playing negative roles receiving hate from viewers, but have you ever heard of a would-be mother-in-law questioning whether her future daughter-in-law is as evil and disrespectful as the villain she portrays on-screen? Well, that’s exactly what happened to Vinduja in real life."I would say I grew up with Jwalayayi. The young woman who started the serial became a wife and mother by the time she stepped out. But the fun part is, when my marriage alliance was being discussed, I once got a call from my would-be mother-in-law asking me if I was like 'her.' I was confused about what she meant. 'Do you also disrespect and talk back to elders? Is that how you are in the family?' she asked. Then, I realized she was referring to Nandini.I laughed and told her, 'That’s Nandini, a character I’m playing on-screen. Vinduja is different.'"Reflecting on the lasting impact of Jwalayayi, Vinduja shared that its continued popularity over the decades can be attributed to its slice-of-life story and realistic execution."Honestly, I had very little hope for the serial, especially with the time slot—2 PM. Who would expect people to watch a TV serial at that time? But everything changed in an instant. Jwalayayi became a part of the daily routine for Malayalis. I still get messages from people saying, 'I used to watch the serial after school when I was in first grade,'" she said.The actress emphasized that it was the quality of the serial that made it unforgettable."You can never find a single character or shot in Jwalayayi that goes out of line. If we had 60 characters, each one of them had their own importance in the story. There were no over-the-top punch lines or dramatic camera movements to emphasize emotions. Everything was realistic, rooted in true human emotions. It was never like the serials you see now, which are often dragged out for the sake of it. The relationships between every character in Jwalayayi were natural.Even if they fought on-screen, it was always out of love, not to create a dramatic punch for the episode's ending," Vinduja emphasized.When asked about her fond memories from Jwalayayi, Vinduja fondly recalled the experience of sharing the screen with seasoned actors like Nedumudi Venu, MR Gopakumar, and others. She also spoke about how director Vayalar Madhavankutty would guide her in bringing out the best in her performances. However, one particular incident, though heart-touching, remains etched in her memory."We shot the jail sequences at the mental asylum in Trivandrum. We were filming in an empty cell, with the inmates in nearby cells. One day, as I was stepping out after a shot, someone from one of the cells called out to me, 'Vinduja, do you remember me?' He said he had acted with me in one of my movies. I was shattered. Shooting in a mental asylum was already taking a toll on me, and this moment just broke me. I asked the director to please change the location," she recalled.Reflecting on Jwalayayi celebrating its 25th anniversary, the actress expressed her desire for the serial to be re-released."Not just because the serial is special to me, but because the storyline is still relevant. The serial portrayed unconditional love in all its beauty and complexities. When I was doing the serial, I couldn't fully grasp the essence of Krishna Pillai and Kochuthressia's love. I had to become a lover and a wife to truly feel it. People who often laugh at serials should definitely watch Jwalayayi. I hope it gets a re-telecast or is uploaded on an OTT platform as a series for everyone to enjoy.I'm proud to say it's still worth watching in 2025," she concluded.