Suraj Venjaramoodu

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Suraj Venjaramoodu
Photo of Suraj captured by Ujwal Rajeev.jpg
Suraj in 2022
Born (1976-06-30) 30 June 1976 (age 48)
Venjarammoodu, Kerala, India
EducationGovernment ITI, Attingal
Occupations
Years active2000–present
Works Full list
Spouse
Supriya Suraj
(m. 2005)
Children3
Awards

Suraj Vasudevan (born 30 June 1976), professionally credited as Suraj Venjaramoodu, is an Indian actor, comedian, impressionist, and television presenter, who appears in Malayalam films, television and stage plays. He has acted in more than 250 films. He has won a National Film Award [1] and four Kerala State Film Awards.

Contents

Throughout the 2000s and towards mid-2010s, he played comedic roles in numerous films and won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Comedian three times (2009, 2010, 2013). In his later career, he found success in playing character and leading roles. In 2013, Suraj won the National Film Award for Best Actor for his lead role in Perariyathavar . In 2019, he won Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 and Vikruthi . [2]

Early life

Suraj is the youngest of the three children of Venjaramood K. Vasudevan Nair, a retired soldier from the Indian Army and Vilasini, a housewife. [3] He was called "Kuttappan" by his parents and relatives. His elder brother V. Saji, was also an officer in Indian Army. His sister Sunitha V. V. is married and settled in Thiruvananthapuram. Suraj also wanted to serve in the Army after completing his Secondary School Leaving Certificate, but had to give up as he broke his arm in a bicycle accident. He received his primary education from K.V.M.L.P.S, Venjaramoodu. [4] He completed his Mechanical diploma course from Government ITI, Attingal and turned to mimicry soon after. His breakthrough came with Jagapoka, a comedy program which was broadcast on Kairali TV. [5]

Film career

Suraj started his career as a stand-up comedian. His mimicry shows were a success with the audience and he was noted for his artificial mockery of the Thiruvananthapuram accent. Later, he was also criticised for this from some audience during his early film career. [6] He first acted in a film named Jagapoga which was a spoof of Malayalam movies. [7] He played the role of Pachan as well as Dadasahib in this film. However the movie was a box office flop and received negative reviews. Suraj then went on to act in several minor roles in films such as Rasikan , Achuvinte Amma , Bus Conductor and Rasathanthram . Suraj grabbed the attention in Malayalam film industry after he assisted Mammootty with the Thiruvananthapuram accent in Rajamanikyam (2005). He would go on to act alongside Mammootty in many comedy films. The duo is considered one of the most memorable onscreen duos in Malayalam cinema. His first breakthrough came with Thuruppugulan (2006) where he played the sidekick role for the character of Mammootty. [8] Suraj then went on to play the comedy roles in several hit films such as Classmates, Pachakkuthira, Chotta Mumbai and Hallo. In 2007, he got his first major supporting role again in a Mammootty starrer Mayavi, which became another major breakthrough in his career. [9] Suraj received appreciation for his role as Peethamparan in Annan Thambi and Jabbar in Lollipop, both of which released in 2008. He played the lead role for the first time with Duplicate (2009). Suraj's iconic comedy character Dasamoolam Damu came out with the movie Chattambinaadu (2009) starring Mammootty. The character became popular several years after the release of Chattambinaadu and eventually attained a cult status. [10] [11] He won his first Kerala State Film Award in 2009, by winning the award for the Best Comedian for his performance in Ivar Vivahitharayal . He won the award again two times in 2010 and 2013 for the movies Oru Naal Varum and Daivathinte Swantham Cleetus respectively. [12] Suraj's another popular comedy character is Idivettu Sugunan which came out with Pokkiriraja (2010). He was also praised for his role as Vadivelu in the Dileep starrer comedy movie Karyasthan. Suraj played some memorable roles in the movies China Town and Teja Bhai & family, both released in 2011. His other memorable comedy roles came out with the movies such as Mallu Singh , Mr. Marumakan , 101 Weddings , Manthrikan , Sound Thoma, Pullipulikalum Aattinkuttiyum , Ring Master , Bhaiyya Bhaiyya , Cousins and Two Countries . [13]

Suraj's potential to play the character and lead roles came out in 2013 as he won that year's National Award for his performance in Perariyathavar , at the 61st National Film Awards. Noted filmmaker and jury chairman Saeed Mirza, while announcing Suraj's award in a press meet, said: "Suraj has played a municipal sweeper [in the film] but it is an incredibly dignified performance. He excels in comedy but in this film Suraj has brilliantly played a reticent character. I would not have been able to sleep had his name not been in the list of awardees". [14]

Suraj received critical appreciation for his acting with a potent cameo in Action Hero Biju (2016). [15] This movie was also a turning point in his career and a breakthrough performance as he underwent a complete evolution with his acting. [16] In Karinkunnam 6's , he portrayed a ruthless police officer and in Oru Muthassi Gadha , he played the lead role. Suraj returned to do the comedy role with the 2016 blockbuster Pulimurugan . In the movie Aby (2017) he played the character of a selfish neighbour. Suraj's another critically acclaimed performance came out with Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum (2017), where he played a lead character alongside Fahad Fasil, who also received appreciation for his performance. [17] He went on to play lead roles in Varnyathil Aashanka and Kuttanpillayude Sivarathri (2018). He bagged the Kerala State Film Award for the Best Actor in 2019 for his performance in Vikruthi and Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 , both the films in which he played a lead role alongside Soubin Shahir. [18] His performance in Driving License alongside Prithviraj also received appreciation. [19] In 2021, Suraj played the lead role in The Great Indian Kitchen which received positive reactions from various film critics and was well received by the audience. [20] In 2022, he played a pivotal role in Prithviraj starrer Jana Gana Mana which was critically acclaimed and was a commercial success.

Personal life

In 2005, Suraj married Supriya at Vaikuntam Auditorium, near Padmanabhaswamy Temple. They have three children: Kashinathan, Vasudev and Hridya. Kashinathan has acted in the films Annan Thampi and Teja Bhai & Family . [21]

Filmography

Awards and nominations

Suraj Venjaramoodu awards and nominations
The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Rajat Kamal Award for Best Actor (Shared) Perariyathavar (Malayalam) to Shri Suraj Venjaramoodu, at the 61st National Film Awards function, in New Delhi on May 03, 2014.jpg
The President, Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Rajat Kamal Award for Best Actor (for Perariyathavar) to Suraj Venjaramoodu, at the 61st National Film Awards function held at New Delhi on May 03, 2014
Totals [infobox 1]
Wins22
Nominations26
Note
  1. Certain award groups do not simply award one winner. They recognize several different recipients, have runners-up, and have third place. Since this is a specific recognition and is different from losing an award, runner-up mentions are considered wins in this award tally. For simplification and to avoid errors, each award in this list has been presumed to have had a prior nomination.
List of Suraj Venjaramoodu awards and nominations
AwardYearCategoryFilmResult
National Film Awards 2013 Best Actor Perariyathavar Won
Kerala State Film Awards 2009 Best Comedian Ivar Vivahitharayal Won [22]
2010 Oru Naal Varum Won [23]
2013 Daivathinte Swantham Cleetus
Pullipulikalum Aattinkuttiyum
Won [24]
2019 Best Actor Vikruthi
Android Kunjappan Version 5.25
Won [25]
South Indian International Movie Awards 2012Best Actor in a Comedy Role (Malayalam) Mr. Marumakan Won [26]
2013 Pullipulikalum Aattinkuttiyum Nominated
2017Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Malayalam) Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum Nominated
2019Best Actor (Malayalam) Vikruthi
Android Kunjappan Version 5.25
Nominated [27]
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Malayalam) Driving Licence
Finals
Nominated
CPC Cine Awards 2019Best Actor in a Lead Role Vikruthi
Android Kunjappan Version 5.25
Driving Licence
Finals
Won
North American Film Awards2018Best Supporting Actor Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum Won [28]
Asianet Film Awards 2007Best Actor in Humorous Role Hallo Won
2010Various filmsWon
2011Various filmsWon
2014 Cousins Won
2017Best Character Actor Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum Won
2018 Theevandi
Njan Marykutty
Kuttanpillayude Sivarathri
Won
2019Best Actor Critics Award Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 Won
Vanitha Film Awards 2010Best ComedianVarious filmsWon
2018Best Supporting Actor Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum Won [29]
2020Special Performance (Actor) Android Kunjappan Version 5.25
Driving Licence
Won [30]
Asiavision Awards 2013Best Comedian Pullipulikalum Aattinkuttiyum
Daivathinte Swantham Cleetus
Won
2017Outstanding Performer Of the Year(male) Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum Won [31]
Asianet Comedy Awards 2016Award for Multifaceted TalentVarious FilmsWon [32]
2017Top TV Performer
All-time favorite of Media (TV)
Various TV ShowsWon

Controversies

An accident occurred on the Thammanam-Karanakodam road on the night of July 29, 2023 when Suraj was behind the wheel of a speeding car. The collision resulted in injuries to a bike rider, 31-year-old Sarath from Manjeri, who suffered a fracture in his right big toe along with injuries to other toes. This results in a ban of Suraj's licence by MVD. [33]

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