Saju Navodaya


Pappanikunnel Thankappan Saju, 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. In January 2020, he contested in the second season of Malayalam reality TV show Bigg Boss.

Personal life

Saju Navodaya was born sixth among nine children to Pappanikunnel Thankappan and Manka at Udayamperoor, Kochi in Kerala, India. 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. 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. He was known for imitating actors that made him a regular performer during stage shows presented by his troupe in India and abroad.
As of 2020, Saju is the Captain of the Mimicry Artists Association Fighter, a team in the Celebrity Cricket Fraternity, a Cricket league that includes film actors, directors, assistant directors, musicians, producers, choreographers, television actors, mimicry artistes, and media professionals. 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.

Filmography

Films

YearTitleRoleNotes
2014Mannar Mathai Speaking 2Thief
2014VellimoongaKochappy
2014Little Superman
2015Mariyam MukkuNazerath
2015Ivan MaryadaramanTraveler in train
2015Bhaskar The RascalVikraman
2015Oru Second Class YathraBiju
2015Thinkal Muthal Velli VareJayadevan's Helper
2015Acha DhinPolice Officer
2015Jamna PyariSreenivasan
2015Utopiayile Rajavu
2015Life of JosuttyRameshan
2015PathemariNarayanan's Roommate
2015Amar Akbar AnthonyRejimon
2016Kattumakkan
2016HallelooyaUthaman
2016AadupuliyattamSaju
2016Marubhoomiyile AanaKamal's asst
2016Thoppil JoppanEldho
2017Achayans
2018KalyanamPanchayath Member
2018LadooItoope
2018KarinkannanDasLeading role
2019Old is Gold
2019Prakashante MetroAgasthi
2019Kochin CarnivalNazeer
2019March Randam VyazhamBhargavan
2019Vattamesha Sammelanam
2019A for Apple
2019Mattoru Kadavil Kuliscene 2KochettanShort film debut
2020Panavally PandavasHimselfDebut as writer and director
2021Velukkakka Oppu KaOTT Release
2021KalakaranOTT Release
2022Pothum Thala
2023KenkemamRajendran
2023Dance Party
2024Blue StarBullet BabuTamil film Credited as Pashanam Shaji
2024Once Upon a Time in Kochi
2024Kudumbasthreeyum Kunjadum
2024Prathibha Tutorials
2024Swargathile Katturumbu

Television