Saju Navodaya

Pappanikunnel Thankappan Saju (born 14 October 1977), better known by his stage name Saju Navodaya, is an Indian actor and comedian who works in Malayalam films, television and stage. He began his career as a comedian on stage shows and later forayed into television and into films.[1] Since January 2020, he has been contesting in the second season of Malayalam reality TV show Bigg Boss, he became the Captain of Bigg Boss house four times.

Saju Navodaya
Saju during Kairali TV event in Doha, 2016
Born
P. T. Saju

(1977-10-14) 14 October 1977
Udayamperoor, Ernakulam district, Kerala, India
Other namesPashanam Shaji
Occupation
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • mimicry artist
Years active2014 – present
Spouse(s)Resmi

Personal life

Saju Navodaya was born sixth among nine children to Pappanikunnel Thankappan and Manka at Udayamperoor, Kochi in Kerala, India.[2] He did his schooling at SNDP HSS, Udayamperoor. He was a regular participant in almost all the competitions in school youth festivals. Saju has directed many dramas which won prizes in Ernakulam district level youth festivals in late 1990s. He studied at Sree Rama Varma Government Sanskrit College, Thrippunithura before starting a dance institute in Udayamperoor to teach classical and cinematic dance.[3] He is also an ardent follower of sports and enjoys playing Cricket and Association football. He has organized and managed sports teams, sports clubs and sports events, such as cricket and football tournaments. Saju Navodaya is married to Resmi, a trained classical dancer.

Career

Saju began his career as an amateur mimicry artist performing in stage shows for some local clubs and festivals in his hometown. A professional mimicry artist Manoj Guinness gave him an opportunity in his professional mimicry troupe in Kochi named Cochin Navodaya. Later on, Saju's name was changed to Saju Navodaya after associating with the troupe.[4] He was known for imitating actors that made him a regular performer during stage shows presented by his troupe in India and abroad.

Saju Navodaya's talent was recognized by major television channels. He got opportunities to performs in many television shows, which made him popular among the family audience. He was part of many reality shows in which he portrayed the character 'Pashanam Shaji', that eventually became his stage name. His performance in comedy shows like 'Comedy Stars' was widely accepted by prime time television viewers and helped him to receive offers from the Malayalam film industry.

Saju Navodaya debuted in the Malayalam film industry with the 2014 movie Mannar Mathai Speaking 2 directed by Mamas. He went on to act in superhit movies likes Vellimoonga, Ivan Maryadaraman, and Amar Akbar Anthony. He became a playback singer with the movie Aadupuliyattam in which he also played a major role. His first film in a lead role was the 2018 movie Karinkannan. His future projects include his debut movie as scriptwriter named Panavally Pandavas, which is scheduled to go on floors by mid-2020.

As of 2020, Saju is the Captain of the Mimicry Artists Association Fighter (MAA Fighters), a team in the Celebrity Cricket Fraternity (CCF), a Cricket league that includes film actors, directors, assistant directors, musicians, producers, choreographers, television actors, mimicry artistes, and media professionals.[5] In January 2020, he entered as a contestant in the second season of the 15 week-long Malayalam reality television show Bigg Boss (Malayalam season 2), broadcast on Asianet and hosted by actor Mohanlal. He was elected as the Captain of the Bigg Boss house four times, in week 2, 6, 7, and 8.[6]

Filmography

Films
Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released
YearFilmRoleDirectorNote
2014Mannar Mathai Speaking 2ThiefMamas
VellimoongaKochappyJibu Jacob
Little Superman
2015Mariyam MukkuNazerathJames Albert
Ivan MaryadaramanTraveler in trainSuresh Divakar
Bhaskar The RascalVikramanSiddique
Oru Second Class YathraBijuJexson Antony & Rejis Antony
Thinkal Muthal Velli VareJayadevan's HelperKannan Thamarakkulam
Acha DhinPolice OfficerG Marthandan
Jamna PyariSreenivasanThomas Sebastian
Utopiayile RajavuKamal
Life of JosuttyRameshanJeethu Joseph
PathemariNarayanan's RoommateSalim Ahamed
Amar Akbar AnthonyRejimonNadirshah
2016KattumakkanShalil Kallur
HallelooyaUthamanSudhi Anna
AadupuliyattamSajuKannan Thamarakkulam
Marubhoomiyile AanaKamal's asstV. K. Prakash
Thoppil JoppanEldhoJohny Antony
2017AchayansKannan Thamarakkulam
2018KalyanamPanchayath MemberRajesh Nair
LadooItoopeArungeorge K David
KarinkannanDasPappan NarippattaLeading role
2019Old is Gold Prakash Kunjhan Moorayil
Prakashante MetroHaseena Suneer
Kochin CarnivalNazeerAnish KrishnaFilming
March Randam VyazhamJahangir Ummar
Vattamesha SammelanamVipin Atley
A for AppleB. Madhu and S. Kumar
Mattoru Kadavil Kuliscene 2Rahul K. ShajiShort film debut
2020Panavally PandavasHimselfDebut as writer and director

Television

Playback singer
No.YearSongFilmCo-singersLanguageMusicNotes
12016"Manja Kattil Pokande"AadupuliyattamJayaram, Ramesh PisharodyMalayalamRatheesh Vegha

Awards
No.YearOrganizationCategoryMovieLanguagePlaceNotes
12015Ramu Karyat Film AwardsBest ComedianMultiple moviesMalayalamKerala
22016Asianet Comedy AwardsMost Promising ActorMultiple moviesMalayalamKerala

References
  1. "Saju Navodaya". Filmibeat.
  2. Mangalam.com
  3. "Manam Pole Mangalyam: Pashanam Shaji & Reshmi". jaihind.tv. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  4. Manoramaonline.com
  5. Anand, Shilpa Nair (20 February 2020). "Malayalam film and media celebrities come together to form a league, Celebrity Cricket Fraternity to play cricket". The Hindu. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  6. "Bigg Boss Malayalam 2 update, Day 7: Saju Navodaya becomes the new captain". The Times of India. 13 January 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
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