Tamil actress Nivetha Pethuraj revealed at a Thanksgiving event in Hyderabad on 15 June that she had seriously considered walking away from the film industry in 2023, before her role in legendary director Singeetham Srinivasa Rao's Telugu musical fantasy 'Sing Geetham' drew her back. The disclosure came as the film, released on 12 June, continues to earn praise for her performance.

The Decision to Walk Away

Speaking candidly at the event organised by the film's makers, Nivetha said, 'In 2023, I decided to quit cinema. And I realised life takes you in all the wrong decisions and wrong paths just so you can land in a Singeetham Srinivas Rao's golden blockbuster.' The admission was striking — one of Tamil cinema's recognisable faces had been on the verge of a quiet exit.

She credited producer Nag Ashwin with pulling her back, saying, 'If it wasn't for Nag, I wouldn't be here. I would have just been in some Himalayas or something, just meditating. I wanted to choose a different life, but I'm back at it again. With a great bang, I believe.'

An Emotional Screening

Nivetha disclosed that watching the completed film moved her deeply. 'I watched the film day before yesterday, and I had tears in my eyes because this is something that is actually happening in the world right now,' she said. She expressed a personal wish tied to the film's themes: 'I hope there's a small takeaway from this film — that when a newborn comes to this earth, we try to plant a sapling for every newborn. That will make a huge difference.'

A Musical First for Indian Cinema

The actress, who described attending musicals frequently during her time in London, said she had long hoped India would produce a comparable theatrical musical experience. 'I couldn't believe that I was part of a musical film, which is history. So, I'm glad,' she said. 'Sing Geetham' is being positioned as India's first musical fantasy film, a distinction that clearly resonated with her personally.

Tribute to Singeetham Srinivasa Rao

Nivetha was effusive about the director, calling him 'a director's director' — a phrase that carries particular weight given Singeetham Srinivasa Rao's decades-long legacy in Indian cinema. 'There's only one thing I can say about Sangeetam Srinivas Rao Garu. He's a director's director. That's it,' she said.

Produced by Nag Ashwin under Vyjayanthi Movies and Swapna Cinema, the film features Ayaan, Ahilya Bamroo, and Shalini Kondepudi in the lead roles. With audience appreciation building and Nivetha's emotional endorsement adding a personal dimension, 'Sing Geetham' appears to have arrived at a meaningful moment — both for Indian cinema and for the actress herself.