Adivasi singer Nanjiamma made a name for herself in the mainstream cinema with her song 'Kalakkatha' in Prithviraj-Biju Menon starrer 'Ayyappanum Koshy'. She also appeared in a small role in the film. When the song became a hit, Nanjiamma and her voice became an instant favourite of Malayalis.

However, Nanjiamma says that after becoming famous through the film, she could not get the Rural Employment Guarantee job she had done before and because of that, when she went to act in the film, she started demanding money, Nanjiamma said in an interview to a Malayalam magazine.

'After appearing in the movie, they stopped hiring me. They say that if I work, it will be bad for them. The amount I receive through programs will be spent for buying essentials. Rice will be provided by the government. But we need to buy the rest as well, right?', Nanjiamma asks.

Now, when she goes to act in a movie, Nanjiamma says demands the money she needs. Nanjiamma, a native of Attappady, says that she has to give up all work and looking after her sheep and cow for cinema. So it would be impossible to live if I don't demand remuneration, she said.