Biju Sopanam

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Biju Sopanam
Biju Sopanam in September 2022.png
Biju in September 2022
Born (1970-01-04) 4 January 1970 (age 55)
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
NationalityIndian
Occupation Actor
Years active1995–present
Known for Uppum Mulakum (Sitcom)
SpouseLakshmi

Biju Sopanam (born 4 January 1970) is an Indian television, theatre, and film actor. He is best known for portraying the character of Balachandran Thampi in the popular sitcom Uppum Mulakum , broadcast on Flowers TV. [1] He made his movie debut by acting in a small role in the hit movie Rajamanikyam in the year 2005. He is a renowned Sanskrit Drama Artist and have performed in many stages across the country. He was trained under Kavalam Narayana Panicker, the iconic Indian dramatist.

Contents

Early life

He was born in Neyyattinkara, Thiruvananthapuram. His younger brother, Binoj Kulathoor, is also a television artist. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Career

He started his career as a theatre artist at the age of 20 in Kavalam Narayana Panicker's Sopanam Theatre Group. [8] [9] [10] [11] Along with the group he travelled across India participating in National Theatre Festival(Bharat Rang Mahotsav) and other prestigious programmes. He wanted to get into movies through this but he later revealed that after joining the group he become totally focused on drama and subsequently he left his dreams of becoming a film actor. From 2005 to 2013 he acted in three different films portraying short roles. Then in 2015 he was cast as Benjamin Brunou, a college principal in the television series Back Benchers, being telecasted in Amrita TV. On seeing him in this programme he was called up by director R.Unnikrishnan for his upcoming sitcom being made for Flowers TV. This programme is considered as his breakthrough. He was cast as Balachandran Thampi, a carefree, loving father and husband in the sitcom which was named as Uppum Mulakum. As he had to spend more time on the sets of Uppum Mulakum, his guru Kavalam Narayana Panicker asked him to stop it. But after being impressed by his work in it, he was allowed to do it, but in return he was asked to never leave theatre, which he agreed and now leads the group after his guru's death in 2016, trying to work there through his busy schedule. He skyrocketed to fame for his work in the programme drawing praise from various media organisations. Then he was called for a supporting role as Advocate Subbu in C/O Saira Banu.

Filmography

Key
†Denotes films that have not yet been released
YearTitleRoleNotes
2005 Rajamanikyam [12]
2006 Bhargavacharitham Moonam Khandam [12]
2010 Nallavan Man in lockup
2011Veeraputhran
2013 Black Butterfly
2014Otta Mandaram
2017 C/O Saira Banu Advocate Subbu [12]
Lechmi
2018 Kuttanpillayude Sivarathri Suneesh [13]
Thattumpurath Achuthan
2019 Janaadhipan
Pathinettam Padi Shalamon Abraham Palakkal
Love Action Drama Dinesh's Uncle
Adhyarathri Satheesh
Kamala Ravi
Gauthamante Radham Shibu Asan
2021 Djibouti [14]
2022 Priyan Ottathilanu Chekkuttan [15]
2022 Upacharapoorvam Gunda Jayan Sugathan
AllyManoharan
Mukundan Unni Associates Dr. Sebatti
2023Laika [16]
Madhura Manohara Moham Jose
Kunjamminis Hospital Fr. Ainickal Joy
Pendulum Tea Shop Owner
Rani [17]
2024 Iyer In Arabia [18]
Varshangalkku Shesham Film producer
Big Ben [19]
Idiyan Chandhu [20]
Oru Anweshanathinte Thudakkam [21]

Television

YearProgrammeRoleChannelNotesRef.
2015Back BenchersBenjamin Brunou, College Principal Amrita TV
2015-2021 Uppum Mulakum Kulathara Shoolamkudi Veetil Balachandran Thampi (Balu) Flowers TV [22]
2018KrithyamShivanna YouTube Short film
2020-2021Double DeckerParamada Veetil BaluFlowers TVReprising his role from Uppum Mulakum
2021Pappanum PadminiyumPappanYouTubeWeb series
2021Eruvum PuliyumBaluZee KeralamTelefilm [23]
2021KattanOmanakuttan (Omana)YouTubeWeb series
2022 Erivum Puliyum Freddy Zee Keralam Reboot of Uppum Mulakum [24]
2022–2024 Uppum Mulakum Season 2Kulathara Shoolamkudi Veetil Balachandran Thampi (Balu) Flowers TV [25]
2024-present Uppum Mulakum Season 3Kulathara Shoolamkudi Veetil Balachandran Thampi (Balu) Flowers TV [26]

Awards

AwardYearCategoryProgrammeResultRef.
Kerala State Television Award2017Best Comedian Uppum Mulakum Won [27]
Flowers Comedy Awards2016Best Star PairWon
Flowers TV Award2017Best ActorWon [28]

Controversy

In December 2024, sexual assault complaint has been filed against lead actors of Uppum Mulakum, Biju Sopanam and S. P. Sreekumar. The complaint, lodged by a female actress, alleges that she was assaulted during the shoot of the series. One of the accused is alleged to have assaulted the actress, while the other is accused of threatening her to prevent her from speaking out. The case was initially registered by the Infopark Police and has since been transferred to the Thrikkakara Police for further investigation. A special investigation team (SIT) has been formed to probe the matter. [29] [30]

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References

  1. ↑ Ur, Arya. "Balu makes a family group in social media - Times of India". The Times of India.
  2. ↑ "ഉപ്പും മുളകിൽ മാത്രമല്ല, ജീവിതത്തിലും ഞങ്ങൾ ചങ്ക് ബ്രോസ്". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam).
  3. ↑ "Biju Sopanam to star in 'Nalla Vishesham' - Times of India". The Times of India.
  4. ↑ "Biju Sopanam joins the football fever; See the picture - Times of India". The Times of India.
  5. ↑ "'Uppum Mulakum' fame Biju Sopanam turns singer! - Times of India". The Times of India.
  6. ↑ "സ്വാഭാവികമായി അഭിനയിക്കുന്നത് എങ്ങനെ? ബിജു സോപാനത്തിന്റെ മറുപടി". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam).
  7. ↑ "Nalla Vishesham Movie Review {1.5/5}: Critic Review of Nalla Vishesham by Times of India". The Times of India.
  8. ↑ M, Athira (8 March 2018). "The family hero". The Hindu– via www.thehindu.com.
  9. ↑ "Uppum Mulakum actor Biju Sopanam wishes his on-screen daughter Shivani Menon on her birthday; see post - Times of India". The Times of India.
  10. ↑ "ബിജു സോപാനത്തിന്റെ വീട്ടുവിശേഷങ്ങൾ". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam).
  11. ↑ "Prithviraj joins the sets of 'Pathinettam Padi'". The News Minute. 20 April 2019.
  12. 1 2 3 s, aravind k (29 March 2017). "A spicy miracle". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  13. ↑ "Review : Kuttanpillayude Sivarathri review:An average watch (2018)". Sify . Archived from the original on 14 May 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  14. ↑ "'ഉപ്പു മുളകും' സംവിധായകൻ സിനിമാ രംഗത്തേക്ക്" ['Uppu Mulakum' director enters the film industry]. Indian Express (in Malayalam). 17 January 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  15. ↑ "Review | Breezy drama 'Priyan Ottathilaanu' with empathetic characters and ample humour". The New Indian Express. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  16. ↑ "Laika to release this Friday". Cinema Express . 28 March 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  17. ↑ "South Duo Biju Sopanam And Shivani Menon-starrer Rani Set To Hit Theatres Soon". News18. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  18. ↑ "Makers Of Dhyan Sreenivasan-starrer Iyer In Arabia Lock Release Date". News18. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  19. ↑ Santhosh, Vivek (9 June 2024). "Anu Mohan and Aditi Ravi's Big Ben gets a release date". Cinema Express. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  20. ↑ "Chandhune Tholpikkan Aavoollada song from Idiyan Chandhu out". Cinema Express. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  21. ↑ "Oru Anweshanathinte Thudakkam trailer promises a gripping investigative thriller". Cinema Express. 27 October 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  22. ↑ "Uppum Mulakum: Uppum Mulakum fame Biju Sopanam and Parukutty celebrate their birthdays". Times of India. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  23. ↑ "Erivum Puliyum: Here's what to expect from this Onam special sitcom". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  24. ↑ "Erivum Puliyum: Juliet and Freddie to spice up the humor quotient". Times of India. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  25. ↑ "Uppum Mulakum preview: Neelu and kids to be extra stringent with Balu; here's why". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  26. ↑ "'Uppum Mulakum' returns with excitement; Fans hope for Mudiyan's comeback". The Times Of India. 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  27. ↑ "Kerala State Television Awards". KeralaTV.in. 22 October 2017.
  28. ↑ "Flowers TV Awards". malayalam.oneindia.com.
  29. ↑ "Sexual assault case filed against Uppum Mulakum actors Biju Sopanam and S.P. Sreekumar". The Times Of India . 27 December 2024.
  30. ↑ "Sexual assault case filed against 'Uppum Mulakum' actors Biju Sopanam and S P Sreekumar". The New Indian Express . 27 December 2024.
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