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. 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.

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.

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. 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.

Television

 * Bhima Jewels Comedy Festival
 * Comedy Stars season 1
 * Comedy Super Nights 2
 * 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