When Saju Navodaya a.k.a Pashanam Shaji walked into the annual general body meeting of Association of Malayalam Movie artists (AMMA) in Kochi the other day, he was pleasantly surprised. “It was my first meeting after I got the membership in AMMA and I was being addressed as ‘IG’, ‘DGP’...,” says Saju breaking into his trademark laugh.
The comedian hasn’t had a dull day ever since somebody remarked on his uncanny resemblance to Director General of Police, Loknath Behra. Recently a film magazine even did a photo shoot of him in police uniform. “I am trying to meet the DGP in person. I don’t know whether he has heard about me. A cousin has promised to arrange a meeting with him,” says Saju.
Saju is among those who has made a successful cross over to cinema from mimicry. He has worked in several troupes such as Cochin Mahatma, Cochin Navodaya and Cochin Guinness. The turning point was when he and his friends formed a team and took part in Comedy Festival , a reality show for mimicry troupes aired on Mazhavil Manorama. They emerged winners and Saju won fans for his character, Pashanam Shaji. “ Pashanam means poison. Shaji is a character who enjoys creating problems. It was based on a character we all knew. Now very few people know that my real name is Saju Navodaya. The sad part is that people now call me just ‘Pashanam’…That’s mean!” he laughs.
Post the show, Saju got his big break in Mollywood, the breezy entertainer Vellimoonga. Saju is ecstatic that he is among sought-after comedians in the industry. Saju’s upcoming releases include Thoppil Joppan and Marubhumiyile Aana . Meanwhile he is waiting for his dream role - “a character who hides his villainy under his humorous side.”
