Saju Navodaya
{{short description|Indian actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Saju Navodaya
| image = SajuNavodaya2016SOP.jpg
| caption = Saju during Kairali TV event in Doha, 2016
| birth_name = P. T. Saju
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1973|10|14}}
| birth_place = Udayamperoor, Ernakulam district, Kerala, India
| other_names = Pashanam Shaji
| alma_mater =
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|comedian|mimicry artist}}
| years_active = 2014 – present
| spouse = Resmi
| children =
| relatives =
}}
Pappanikunnel Thankappan Saju (born 14 October 1973), 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.{{cite news|title=Saju Navodaya|url=http://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/saju-navodaya.html|work=Filmibeat}} 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.[http://www.mangalam.com/mangalam-varika/295389?page=0,0 Mangalam.com] 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.{{cite web|title=Manam Pole Mangalyam: Pashanam Shaji & Reshmi|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUxGD_K2v04&index=2&list=PLF_DRILuQySPB_FWSVBpucmAMpdh3lmhH|publisher=jaihind.tv|access-date=24 November 2015}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/women/work-and-life/saju-navodaya.html|title=ഷാജി ഈ വീടിന്റെ ഐശ്വര്യം|website=ManoramaOnline}} 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 (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.{{cite news |last=Anand |first=Shilpa Nair |title=Malayalam film and media celebrities come together to form a league, Celebrity Cricket Fraternity to play cricket |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/tv-film-and-media-celebrities-have-got-together-to-form-the-celebrity-cricket-fraternity-and-bond-over-cricket/article30870451.ece |access-date=23 February 2020 |work=The Hindu |date=20 February 2020}} 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.{{cite news|title=Bigg Boss Malayalam 2 update, Day 7: Saju Navodaya becomes the new captain|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/malayalam/bigg-boss-malayalam-2-day-7-saju-navodaya-becomes-the-new-captain/articleshow/73222339.cms|access-date=14 February 2020|work=The Times of India|date=13 January 2020}}
Filmography
=Films=
{{Pending films key}}
=Television=
- Bhima Jewels Comedy Festival
- Comedy Stars season 1
- Comedy Super Nights 2
- Cinemaa Chirima
- Pashanam Shaji Speaking
- Kaliyil Alpam Kaaryam
- Tamaar Pataar
- Comedy Stars Plus
- Onam Upperi
- Nalla Best Family
- Bigg Boss (Malayalam season 2)
- Priyapetta Nattukare
- Comedy stars season 2
- Star Singer season 8
- Boeing Boeing (Web Series)
- Sura Chettai (Web Series)
- Funs Upon a time
- Wife is beautiful
=Playback singer=
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;" | ||||||
| style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Year !! Song !! Film !! Co-singers !! Language !! Music !! Notes | ||||||
| 2016 | "Manja Kattil Pokande" | Aadupuliyattam | Jayaram, Ramesh Pisharody | Malayalam | Ratheesh Vegha |
Awards
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;" | ||||||
| style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Year !! Organization !! Category !! Movie !! Language !! Place !! Notes | ||||||
| 2015 | Ramu Karyat Film Awards | Best Comedian | Multiple movies | Malayalam | Kerala | |
| 2016 | Asianet Comedy Awards | Most Promising Actor | Multiple movies | Malayalam | Kerala |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|nm7457612}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Navodaya, Saju}}
Category:Male actors from Kochi
Category:Male actors in Malayalam cinema
Category:Indian male film actors
Category:Indian male comedians
Category:21st-century Indian male actors
Category:Malayalam playback singers