On a career high

Biju Menon was keeping his fingers crossed in Dubai when the Kerala State Film Awards for 2010 were being announced in Thiruvananthapuram. Five movies, in which Biju was a part of, were competing for the most prestigious awards in Malayalam cinema.

“I was in ‘T.D. Dasan Std. VI B,' ‘Marykkundoru Kunjadu,' ‘Gaddama,' ‘Pranchiyettan & the Saint,' and ‘Elektra.' I had also dubbed for Santhosh Sivan in ‘Makara Manju.' I was anxious about the awards, wondering how those films would fare. And when the announcement came that I had won the award for the Second Best Actor, I was delighted,” Biju told Friday Review.
Hoping for an award

He says he was hoping for an award, rather than expecting it. “I am glad that the jury appreciated my work in ‘T.D. Dasan...,' I had worked hard on my role as an ad filmmaker, and on the character Nandan's body language,” he elaborates.

Biju is also happy that the film's director, Mohan Raghavan, has been honoured with an award for the best debutant director. “Right from the moment Mohan told me the storyline of ‘T.D. Dasan…' I was impressed. He had worked hard on his script and had planned every shot meticulously. I was sure that I was going to be a part of a good film,” he says.

‘T.D. Dasan…' is about how a letter from a schoolboy reaches a stranger who reaches out to help him and in the process changes many lives. Biju is disappointed that the film didn't do well at the box office. “Yes, it is frustrating to see such films failing commercially. Maybe it should have been better marketed. I was moved by the reactions from the Malayalam film industry, though. People like director Sibi Malayail and producer Suresh Kumar went out of their way to promote the film,” he says.

Biju was also appreciated for his cameo in ‘Pranchiyettan…' “Although I had a brief role in the film, I managed to make a mark. I did the film because I had faith in director Ranjith. I have never been bothered by the length of my role in a film as I want to be associated with good films. I felt glad that it was accepted by the masses,” he says.
As a dubbing artiste

How was his first assignment as a dubbing artiste?

“It was difficult. Director Lenin Rajendran felt my voice would suit Santhosh, but I wasn't too sure. I was also not sure if I had done a good job, but when I saw the film, I realised that Lenin was right; everything came out well,” Biju says.

The award for ‘T.D. Dasan…' is not the only reason for Biju to smile these days. His latest release, ‘Seniors,' is doing good business. “My career is indeed going the right way; I could not have asked for anything more,” says Biju, who has done some excellent work in films such as ‘Megha Malhar,' ‘Mazha,' ‘Madhuronombarakkattu,' and ‘Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu,' which had fetched him his first State award for the Second Best Actor.

And he is now looking forward to working in Sathyan Anthikad's new film, which has Mohanlal in the lead. “I will also be doing Lal Jose's next film,” adds Biju.