The audience will never forget the jeep driver Thangu in ‘Churuli’ who takes the passengers to the mystical world of wonder. The very first film was a huge hit and it was a turning point in the life of the film loving youngster Sajin Gopu. Sajin Gopu is becoming a favorite of the audience after portraying Sajiyathan in ‘Jaane Man’ and now Nirup in Romancham. Sajin Gopu says that getting a chance in three hit films was a great start for a newcomer and he feels happy when his friends tell him that he is not getting tickets for Romancham. Sajin is currently acting in Kunchacko Boban’s Chaveer directed by Tinu Pappachan. Sajin Gopu joins Manorama Online with the highlights of the movie that thrilled the audience.
All like a scroll
I have always loved watching movies. Watch everything that comes on TV. Then when I was old enough to go to the theater, I started watching. After completing his degree, he became interested in acting in films and started participating in auditions. A.P. for some days. He did plays with Anilkumar sir. After that, he played a small role in one or two films and it was not noticed much. Later I felt that the route I was taking was not right. My friend Sanju and I started writing a short script. The plan was to make that film and do good characters through it. Sanju was assistant to Lijo Jose Pellissery at that time. When Lijo curled up, Lijo made a chance to meet Chetan. He cast me when he felt that I had a suitable role in Churuli. That’s how a jeep driver in Churuli becomes. My friends call me Thangu, the character in Churuli. Now when the excitement has subsided, I am called by another name. Just happy to be known by the name of the character.
Jaane Mann will be cast at the same time as the trailer of Churuli is released. Both were released on the same day. The role in Churuli was well noticed. Everyone watched the movie because it was released in OTT. It was a much discussed film. Everyone watched and noticed my character to know what it was. Jaane Maan was also a hit movie. It was noticed. After that, the thrill was done. It is my luck as a beginner that all the three films I did were hits.
The thrill that John Paul called for
It was John Paul Chetan who called me and asked if there is a film or any other commitments. I said nothing. He said, “We are making a film and director Jithu will call and narrate the story. The shoot is in Chennai and Bengaluru, if it’s OK, go ahead.” I liked the story as soon as I heard it. A character that is equally important to all is a character that has never been done before. You can share the screen with Soubin Ikka, Arjun Ashokan, John Paul George, Sushin Shyam, Girish Gangadharan etc. This was the attraction of the movie.
Ojo board has not been played
I haven’t played Ojo board yet. Before the shoot, we all played together. But there was no result. We did it for fun. We moved here and there and looked, but neither the ghost nor the spirit came. Many people who have played have said many experiences, so you will feel a belief. It’s Jithu’s story, Soubin said that he had played with it when he was young.
Missed hostel experience made up for with thrills
My house is in Aluva and I have not studied in hostel yet. The college was nearby. Sometimes he has bypassed the warden and stayed in the hostel where his friends stay. It was a good experience. I thought it would be fun to stay in a hostel. When we went for shooting, we all stayed together. We had a vibe like a movie. We all stayed together in a hostel near where the shoot was taking place. In the morning you will walk to the location and walk back to reach the hotel. Soubika and Arjun behaved very friendly.
Jaane Manil has acted with Arjun. Arjun and I are also in Tinu Pappachan’s film, we are old friends. Seeing Arjun Ashoka’s character makes you laugh, but doesn’t it go away? Sinu is my favorite character. This is a different character that Arjun has never done before. Soubika was a very senior artist and everyone was reluctant to go and talk to him. But Soubika says if you stay like this it will not be right. He would take us out and buy us food, go for rides, hang out at the hotel and talk together, so I developed a great friendship with him which helped me in the film as well.
The boss of the haunted house
My character Nirup is the boss of the house where the friends live in Romancham. The person who keeps everyone standing and ruling and shaking but inside is poor and afraid. When the mother calls on the phone, the true nature of the heroic hero will be revealed in front of the mother. I am not really strict but very flexible. Not like the character in this movie. And it should be very different from the previous characters. Jithu has given a lot of input. Nirup is Jithu’s true friend, Jithu had given him an idea of how to do each and every thing, his walk, sit, look and other characteristics. I did as Jithu said. When Nirup’s character changes later, if it is to work, you have to be terribly bossy first. Glad to hear that the character has done well.
Curly my luck
As a newcomer, I got a chance in Lijo Chetan’s film by lottery. Lijo Chetan is a director who chooses the people he needs for the characters and will not take anything for the sake of friendship. I don’t even know if I will get Lijo Chetan’s film. Call him only if he needs you. There are people waiting to get a chance in his film. It is a great fortune to be able to act in Lijo Chetan’s film. Everyone was paying attention to the jeep driver in Churuli. Idukki Kulama was the jungle where the jeep was going. Driving the jeep in the jungle was a big task. I drive the car really well which is a plus point. Nothing read in the script was shot there. If you go to the set saying that you can do it as you read the script, it will be useless. When you go there, you have to do it as Lijo Chettan says. It was a very good experience.
Glad to hear you are not getting tickets
The films made so far are getting a terrible response than when they were released. Everyone is calling and talking about the character. The movie is reaching everyone. Many people are calling and saying that they are not getting tickets. I will tell them that you may not get the ticket for some more days. Special shows had to be added in every theatre. Every theater was full house. It is a great pleasure. Many people have no money after covid. People who come after work or children who are studying make money and go to watch movies for entertainment. They like funny movies. The responses are that Ramancham has managed to satisfy everyone.
When I went after the movie, there was tension at home
Father, mother and younger brother are at home. They were tense when I said movie. That’s how he decided to go to work. I used to work in a logistics company. Film was his dream, he quit when he realized that work and film could not go together. When I rolled up, they realized that I was doing the film seriously. They are happy when all the three films they have done become hits.
Shyam to Sushi who gave me a thrill
The music is the main reason why the theater experience is not to be missed. Background music and songs by Sushin Shyam are the highlight of the movie. You can’t get the pleasure you get in the theater in OTT. Music is the life of the movie. Just listening to the music is thrilling. The song Adaranjali Nerete was a huge hit. Other songs are also becoming hits now.
From curls to death
I first acted in Churuli and after that I did the role of Sajiyathan in the movie Jaane Mann. He acted as a jeep driver in Churuli. Romancham was the next film. Tinu Pappachan’s Chaveer is now coming out. It stars Kunchacko Boban, Arjun Ashokan and Anthony Varghese. A good role was played in it, one of the four heroes. Looks like it will be a Vishu release. The shooting of another film is about to start.