Suraj Venjaramoodu

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 and three Kerala State Film Awards.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In 2013, Suraj won the National Film Award for Best Actor for his lead role in Perariyathavar.

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".

In 2019, he won Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 and Vikruthi.

Suraj is the youngest of the three children of Venjaramood K. Vasudevan Nair, a retired soldier from the Indian Army and Vilasini, a housewife.

He was called "Kuttappan" by his parents and relatives.

His elder V. Saji, was also an officer in Indian Army.

His other 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.

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.

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.

He first acted in a film named Jagapoga which was a spoof of Malayalam movies.

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.