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Saju Navodaya (Comedian) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 14, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth14 October 1977

Age47 Years (as of 2024)

BirthplaceUdayamperoor, Kochi, Kerala, India

ProfessionActor, Comedian, Mimicry Artist, Singer, Director, Writer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseResmi

FamilyParents: Pappanikunnel Thankappan (father), Manka (mother); nine siblings; one brother named Chetan Suresh

Saju Navodaya (Comedian) Biography

Saju Navodaya, born Pappanikunnel Thankappan Saju, is a Malayalam comedian, mimicry artist, actor, singer, director and writer from Udayamperoor, Kochi. He

Early life and background
Pappanikunnel Thankappan Saju, better known by his stage name Saju Navodaya (also called Pashanam Shaji), was born on 14 October 1977 in Udayamperoor, Kochi, Kerala. Raised in a large family—his parents worked as farmers—he attended S. N. D. P. Higher Secondary School in Nadakkavu, Thrippunithura, and later graduated from Sree Rama Varma Government Sanskrit College, Tripunithura. From a young age he was active in school competitions and college youth festivals, where he both acted and directed dramas and won awards in Ernakulam district events.

Career
Saju’s early post‑college years included a variety of jobs to support his family. He founded a dance school called Magic in Udayamperoor and, while searching for a classical dance teacher, met Resmi, who later became his wife. His performing career advanced when mimicry artist Manoj Guinness invited him to join the Cochin Navodaya troupe and gave him the stage name Saju Navodaya. With that troupe he performed widely at club shows and took the act to audiences both across India and overseas.

Television brought wider recognition. He made his television debut on the comedy reality program Comedy Stars Season 1 (2009) and appeared on other shows such as Comedy Super Nights 2 (2013), Tamaar Padaar (2014) and Nalla Best Family (2019). He was part of the mimicry troupe that won the television reality competition Comedy Festival on Mazhavil Manorama. In January 2020 he entered the Bigg Boss Malayalam season 2 house as one of the contestants.

Saju transitioned into films with supporting roles beginning with Mannar Mathai Speaking 2 (2014). He has performed as a playback singer, lending his voice to the song “Manja Kattil Pokande” for the film Aadupuliyattam (2016). He has appeared in several Malayalam films over the years, including Acha Dhin (2015), Aadupuliyattam (2016), Achayans (2017), Kalyanam (2018) and Prakashante Metro (2019). His first lead role came in Karinkannan (2018). He later moved into filmmaking, credited as writer and director of Panavally Pandavas (2020 or 2021).

Awards and recognition
Saju has been acknowledged within the Malayalam entertainment community. He received the Ramu Karyat Film Award for Best Comedian in 2015 and the Asianet Comedy Award for Most Promising Actor in 2016. He is also a member of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) in Kochi.

Public profile
On screen Saju is known for his comic timing and mimicry, and a recurring on‑screen persona that audiences associate with the name Pashanam Shaji. He has spoken publicly about being typecast into similar roles after the success of certain projects, and has acknowledged both the limits and the opportunities that typecasting brought to his career. Outside of performance he enjoys dancing and playing cricket, and his favorite foods and interests reflect everyday tastes; cricket and football are listed among his preferred sports.

Personal life
Saju married Resmi, a trained classical dancer, on 1 November 2001. The couple does not have children. He comes from a large family with nine siblings, one of whom is named Chetan Suresh. His parents are Pappanikunnel Thankappan and Manka. Physically, he stands about 183 cm (6 feet) tall and has black eyes and black hair.

Latest updates
In addition to ongoing appearances on television and in films, Saju remained visible through reality television in 2020 when he participated in Bigg Boss Malayalam season 2. He continues to be active in Malayalam entertainment as a performer, mimicry artist and member of AMMA.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Saju Navodaya (Comedian), send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Panavally Pandavas

Writer and director credit

2020 or 2021
Karinkannan

Lead actor

2018
Mannar Mathai Speaking 2

Supporting actor debut in film

2014
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Career Highlights

  1. Television debut on Comedy Stars Season 1 (2009)
  2. Supporting film debut in Mannar Mathai Speaking 2 (2014)
  3. Lead role in Karinkannan (2018)
  4. Directed and wrote Panavally Pandavas (2020 or 2021)
  5. Ramu Karyat Film Award for Best Comedian (2015)
  6. Asianet Comedy Award for Most Promising Actor (2016)
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Saju Navodaya (Comedian) born?

Saju Navodaya (Comedian) was born on 14 October 1977.

What is Saju Navodaya (Comedian) known for?

Saju Navodaya (Comedian) is known for actor, Comedian, Mimicry Artist, Singer, Director, Writer.

What is Saju Navodaya (Comedian)’s marital status?

Saju Navodaya (Comedian)'s marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Saju Navodaya (Comedian) married to?

Saju Navodaya (Comedian) is publicly listed as married to Resmi.