Jai Mahendran star Appunni Sasi: 'I had a lull phase after Puzhu...'| Exclusive

Appunni Sasi's success in the Malayalam cinema industry can be attributed to his inherent talent, which he developed using his theatre career. The actor, who has starred in over 94 films, received a lot of accolades for his role in the Mammootty-starrer Puzhu. In an interview with OTTplay, Sasi discusses his part in the Malayalam web series Jai Mahendran on Sony LIV and why taking on different parts allowed him to grow as an actor.

How would you describe your role in Jai Mahendran?

I portray a politician who works alongside Mahendran (Saiju Kurup) to accomplish goals in his own manner. I have portrayed various politicians in my career but this one attracted my attention instantly after hearing the screenplay. I became incredibly excited to be a part of the web series once the dubbing for this character was done. Working on this set was quite comfortable, especially for the young crew and cast.

Even though you have been in the industry for a while, Puzhu was the one to finally give you the credit you deserve. What are your thoughts about it?

I reject the idea of luck. For the movie Njaan, I was the recipient of the Kerala State Youth Icon Award. Nevertheless, it was overlooked since the spotlight was diverted by a number of other scandals that occurred in the Kerala Legislative Assembly at the same time. I was given the opportunity to display my abilities as a theatrical artist, which include playing four roles at once on stage, by Puzhu, offering me a demanding role.

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Do you ever worry that you will be stereotyped into roles that are mostly oppressed?

I see a benefit to my appearance since I get approached for more complex roles like Vasu in Kadha Innuvare. I have portrayed a wide range of roles in films from different social classes. I regard it to be a blessing able to do so. Regarding Vasu, I think it was harder than the character in Puzhu, even though I got a lot of praise for my performance in it. Only these kinds of characters allow us to appreciate the beauty of cinema and improve as performers.

Do you believe that theatre artistes now have more options in the film industry?

Of course! Dramas used to be the only thing theatre artists could make a living off of, but these days, films provide a variety of options. Take the recent Malayalam movie Aattam, which included a number of these performers. With Paleri Manikyam, I made my film debut in Malayalam, and theatre gave me this opportunity. After that, I had numerous small and major roles in films. I am proud to work in theatre since it allows us to hone our performance skills, body language, vocal modulation, and personality. 

What are your upcoming films?

I have a major part in Tovino Thomas's Narivetta. Soon this month, filming in Wayanad will resume. In addition, I have two more films committed that are not yet publicised. I'm also involved in theatre; I just got back from Australia, where I was in a play called "Chakkarapanthal." In addition, there was a little lull in my career following Puzhu since many directors were hesitant to contact me for small roles. However, things are starting to change, and I am getting some exciting projects.

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