Mention the name Sajan Palluruthy and many readers would associate his name with various different facets of his professional life. Many would be familiar with the consummate mimicry and parody artiste he is and a few would know of his penchant for singing songs backwards but in his own words, “it took 28 years of my professional life for the audience to understand that I could act too.”
Sajan’s appearance as an actor in recent films like Amar Akbar Anthony, Action Hero Biju and IDI showcased the acting talent in him. It was the role of the meek Kumar in Action Hero Biju that saw the revival of his acting career. A friendship that started on the sets of 1983 had director Abrid Shine ask Sajan to meet him on the sets of Action Hero Biju. “Abrid told me that I would be playing an auto driver and that he needed just two days of my time.”
“Another condition was that I would not be wearing any makeup and that my trademark beard would be closely trimmed. I agreed to all these and came to the sets. When I saw Manju who was to act opposite me as Shirley, I realised that she too was as clueless as I was. The difference in our physical selves was what worked to our advantage as a couple.” The initially-planned two days turned into four and it was a laugh riot off camera as well.
Sajan says that he had to slow down his normal speedy way of talking and ensure that no mimicry crept in. He adds, “We were laughing throughout and at one point, the shoot had to be called off because we could not stop laughing.” The audience appreciation for the role earned him Jayasurya’s lavish praise and a recommendation for the role of a boastful and rich landlord, who loves wearing garish clothes, in IDI. Sajan continues, “When Jayasurya called to congratulate me, I just mentioned that now that he knew I could act could he give me a role in his next film? And he kept his word.”
Sajan’s popularity is in huge part thanks to his TV comedy stints. But at the time Sajan was at his zenith, comedians and mimicry artistes were very few in numbers. Sajan states, “In my times, the comedy scenario was like a bus where the conductor knew each one by name and their stops, but now the bus has become so crowded that the conductor has to ask if anyone has to get down at a certain stop. There are a lot of players who are known by their team names than their own which is very important.” Sajan is currently busy writing and he prefers to keep mum about the subject.
