“I’m a pro legend,” screams Lithanya, as I invite her to play a game of snakes and ladders.

Sure enough, she rolls a six on the dice immediately – the number needed to determine who starts the game. She speeds through the squares. I struggle to even get started.

Within a few turns, she has moved up two ladders and is swiftly making progress towards a successful finish.

Watching her play, it is difficult not to notice the parallel. Much like racing through the board with confidence, she is steadily climbing the ladder of the Tamil entertainment world. Lithanya Sivabalan — or Lithu, as friends call her — is fast rising as one of the most sought-after child artistes.

English homework awaits this third standard student of Vels Vidyashram, but for now, beating me in snakes and ladders is clearly priority. At her residence in Nanmangalam, the terrace of which overlooks a lake, Lithu is basking in the attention she is receiving thanks to Vijay’s Jana Nayagan, her latest film that released on July 23. “It was an amazing experience acting with Vijay mama,” she tells me, “The whole shoot was jolly. ”

In the actor’s swansong, Lithanya features in the opening scenes as Viji, the child artiste who would grow up to become the girl played by Mamitha Baiju. Apart from sharing screenspace with Gautham Menon in these sequences, she also holds the distinction of being featured prominently in actor Vijay’s probable last outing as a singer — the melodious ‘Kanne Maniye’ track in Jana Nayagan.

Unfortunately, Lithanya herself has not seen watched it yet; the film, starring the actor-turned-Chief Minister, was granted an ‘A’ certificate by the CBFC. It is sad, she admits. “It is disheartening. But my parents watched the film and said that I have done a good job,” she says, about the H Vinoth-directorial.

‘An unforgettable phone call’

Having debuted with Tamil film Siren and explored Tamil TV serials with Chellame Chellame, Lithanya is already over a dozen projects old now. But her tryst with camera started much earlier – actually when she was just 1.5 years old. Her mother – Sriguna – was dancing to a film tune in her home, when little Lithanya joined her. “We sensed her passion for dance. As time passed, she even started asking, ‘Can I do like this?’ when she would see a reel. An actress (Radhishree) suggested we take her for an audition, and that’s how Siren happened,” says Sriguna, who has now quit her job to take care of her daughter’s commitments.

Her happiest moment, admits Sriguna, arrived when the family received a call from director H Vinoth’s office, confirming that she was part of ‘Thalapathy’ Vijay’s swansong. “We were all jumping with joy. It was the most unforgettable phone call of our lives.”

Her parents — Sivabalan and Sriguna — are particular that their girl doesn’t let the fame go to her head. Adds Sriguna, “We make sure she understands that acting is something she does, but it doesn’t define who she is. We keep reminding her that appreciation is lovely, but they should never make her feel that she is better than anyone else. For us, the goal is not just to see her become a successful actor, but to see her grow into a kind, grounded and happy person.”

For now, Lithanya has her hands full with projects, key among them being Kavin’s Per Sollum Pillai, Vijay Antony’s Appakutty and a film titled Iranduvanam. Balancing busy shooting schedules and studies is priority, admits the 8-year-old who also likes playing badminton. “Whenever I miss school, my friends send me notes,” she says.

When she grows up, she wants to become a “doctor, skateboarder and actor”. “An all-rounder,” she chimes, as we wrap up our intense game of snakes and ladders that she wins. And, just like that, she proves that she is — in her own words — a “pro legend”.

Published - August 05, 2026 08:45 am IST