KOCHI: These days, life is so beautiful for him. The happiness all around him could be felt at this end when we finally managed to get Biju Menon for an interview over the phone.
‘Marykkundoru Kunjadu’, indeed, has worked wonders for this actor, who has been around carrying the tag ‘the most under-used actor in the Malayalam film industry’ like a burden for many years now.
Basking in the glory of the appreciation and awards that have come his way post playing the gluttonous moron in Shafi’s ‘Marykkundoru Kunjadu’, the actor has little complaints about lost opportunities.
“Personally, I am satisfied. But, yes, many have told me that I ought to have got better roles. The reality is, in the beginning I was not that conscious about saying yes or no to any role. I did all the roles that came my way. If I had planned a career with stardom in mind, it would have been foolish. But, as years passed by, I didn’t have much to choose. In fact, there was a period when I was given only the role of a police officer. When I felt it was high time I made a decision, I stopped doing such roles and switched over to other language films. Thankfully, I got some good roles there. Now I am back in Malayalam since some really meaty roles have come my way,” he says.
He has not committed to any non-Malayalam film for some time now, the last release being ‘Porkkalam’.
The actor who won many hearts as Aloshy in Jude Atipetty’s serial ‘Mikhayilente Santhathikal’, had his debut in tinseltown, in 1994, with the filmy sequel of this serial, ‘Puthran’. “I never had that passion to do films. It was while doing ICWA that I got the role in Jude Atipetty’s serial. Initially, I did it for fun. When it got great appreciation, I began to take acting seriously and started taking lessons and guidance from Jude Atipetty,” Biju says.
Biju is proud that he has done many such roles - be it hero, villain, cop or sidekick - which have not gone unnoticed. Examples being his roles in films like ‘Mannar Mathai Speaking’, ‘Aadyathe Kanmani’, ‘Ee Puzhayum Kadannu’, ‘Kaliyattam’, ‘Chitrashalabham’, ‘FIR’, ‘Pathram’, ‘Chandranudikkunna Dikhil’, ‘Meghamalhar’, ‘Mazha’, ‘Madhuranombarakaatu’, ‘Shivam’, ‘Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu’, ‘Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu’, ‘Chandupottu’ etc and the recent ‘Marykkundoru Kunjadu’ in which the rugged, strong character who spoke little won so many fans owing to his look and mannerisms. In fact, it is being adjudged something extraordinary from him.
With nearly 17 years of experience in the industry, Biju is happy that he is now getting to work with a crop of young film-makers who are open to suggestions and changes.
“There were many directors who were of serious nature. I didn’t have the freedom to put in my suggestions during the time of shooting. Now, it has changed. There are many young, talented film-makers out there. We are very comfortable with each other. I am a part of the discussions on the sets and is quite free to give in my suggestions,” he says.
His forthcoming works include ‘Seniors’ directed by Vaisakh, which has Jayaram, Kunchacko Boban and Manoj K Jayan in the cast, ‘Ordinary’ by debutant Susheeth (associate of director Kamal) which has Kunchacko Boban also in the lead, a film with Dileep directed by Akku Akbar and a Sathyan Anthikad film.
“In all these films I have got enough scope for performance,” he adds.
On a few weeks of break to be with his wife Samyukta Varma and their five-year-old son Dhaksh Dharmik, Biju didn’t rule out the possibility of doing direction in future. “Yes, direction, is one thing I would love to do. But not right now. I have to learn a lot,” he says.
And he is indebted to the industry and audience for one thing. “The viewers approach my roles without any pre-conceived notion. It is that freedom that has kept me in good stead. I would have been easily typecast. But I have been spared of that,” he says with a deep sense of gratitude.