Saju Navodaya (real name: Pappanikunnel Thankappan Saju) is an Indian actor, comedian, and mimicry artist born on 14 October 1973 (Wikipedia: 1973; other sources: 1977) in Udayamperoor, Ernakulam district, Kerala, the sixth of nine children to farmers Pappanikunnel Thankappan and Manka. He did his schooling at SNDP HSS, Udayamperoor, and studied at Sree Rama Varma Government Sanskrit College, Thrippunithura. He began his career as an amateur mimicry artist performing at local clubs and festivals. Professional mimicry artist Manoj Guinness invited him to join the troupe Cochin Navodaya, renaming him Saju Navodaya. He and the troupe performed nationally and internationally. He has also run a dance school, Miracle, in Udayamperoor. He rose to fame on Asianet's Comedy Stars Season 1 (2009) through the character 'Pashanam Shaji,' which became iconic. He won Comedy Festival (Mazhavil Manorama). He made his film debut in Mannar Mathayi Speaking 2 (2014) and has since appeared in Vellimoonga (2014), Aadupuliyattam (2016), Achayans (2017), Kalyanam (2018), and Prakashante Metro (2019). He is the Captain of the MAA Fighters team in the Celebrity Cricket Fraternity. On 5 January 2020, he entered Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 2 as the 5th contestant on Day 1 and remained until the show's cancellation on 20 March 2020 (Day 75), becoming one of the finalists.

Popular mimicry character 'Pashanam Shaji' from Comedy Stars Season 1 (Asianet, 2009) and multiple reality shows; Malayalam films Vellimoonga (2014, with Biju Menon), Aadupuliyattam (2016), Achayans (2017), Kalyanam (2018), and Prakashante Metro (2019); winner of Comedy Festival (Mazhavil Manorama); Captain of MAA Fighters in the Celebrity Cricket Fraternity.

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