Nayanathara's poems come straight from the heart and are marked by deep sympathy for all those who suffer: from the mythical Vaidehi to the salt-maker and the water-wife who slave for others and are abandoned to their dark fate. But she also is philosophical enough to understand someone like the Buddha whose dedication to a larger cause had compelled him to give up the comforts of home. She has the basic qualities of a poet and I am sure will soon master the form.

- K. Satchidanandan

Nayanathara has been mentioned in several literary journals including Kritya, The Brown Critique, Museindia, Contemporary Literary Review: India, Red Leaf Poetry India, and The Enchanting Verses International Poetry Journal. In 2011, she bagged the ‘Young Writer’s Award -2011’ for her poetry anthology, 'The Scent of Frangipani.' One of her poems was selected in the ‘Highly Commended’ category for the ‘Inspired by Tagore’ International Writing Competition 2011-2012 organized by the British Council and SAMPAD. Her second book of poems, 'In the Shade of the Bodhi', was published by the literary journal, Brown Critique.

Nayanathara bagged the 4th position in the Rabindranath Tagore Poetry Award – 2014 instituted by Poiesisonline.com and Xpress Publications. Her poem, 'The Miracle Man', won commendation prize in the All India Poetry Competition 2014 organized by the Poetry Society of India. In 2016, she bagged the 'Poet of the Year' award in the prestigious Delhi International Film Festival 2016.