Exclusive: \"Not in the posters, no qualms,\" says Baiju
Kunjappan in Puthen Panam has brought Baiju to the frontlinea space where he had been as a child actor with roles as important as the heroes.
Actor Baiju feels no shame admitting that he is well-appreciated for a character after 19 long years—that's close to two decades! Kunjappan in Puthen Panam got well entrenched in the heart of Malayali audience that, B.T. Baiju's phone has literally been working overtime. “There was about 500 or 600 personal calls alone that I attended. My role in Mattupetti Machan was the last time I was showered with this much praise,” he says. He then goes on listing actors, figuring Mammootty, Jayasurya, Mukesh, Suraj Venjaramood etc.., who heaped praise upon him for Kunjappan, the devil-may-care goon.
Baiju had in mind only one face while listening to the script, who he knew from close proximity. In a certain way, it is a posthumous salute for a local thug, who never failed to tickle a funny bone with his words and deeds. “He stayed in our locality, spoke serious things that evoked only laughter. There were certain gestures and mannerisms he exhibited. While the story was narrated to me, his face rushed to my mind. I observe people and relating to them becomes easy,” he says. “After all, one need not hold an MBBS degree to enact a doctor, right,” asks the dad of a girl pursuing bachelors in medicine.
Baiju anyway has to keep the comic factor alive for some more time for his role as an artist Sub Inspector in Sunny Wayne-starrer Pokkiri Simon progressing in the capital city. Possibly after this project, he is to join the Saji Surendran movie in September. “The movie was earlier scheduled in April and later postponed to September. Expecting clash of dates, I dropped the movie Bobby in between and agreed to do Saji's film. The postponement happened only after that,” he says. Baiju is intentionally keeping small screen appearances at bay. “Tele serials need commitment for a longer time. In the meantime, chances are that offers from films come down. Since a while, I have not been taking up serials therefore,” he clears.
Despite Kunjappan receiving these many praises, Baiju says he has also been asked why he is not seen on film posters. “My reply was that even I had seen myself on a poster rarely during these 36 years in cinema. On credit scroll, my name mostly appears on the rock bottom of cast. I have no qualms. Things turn out in favour when the time is right.” One more change happened to him. His prefixed his screen name with initials. “It's an honour for my parents,” he concludes.