“I grew up not watching but hearing cinema,” actor Suraj Venjaramoodu said.

His statement at a ‘Meet-the-artist’ programme at the International Children’s Film Festival of Kerala (ICFFK) here left child delegates attending the event puzzled.

Suraj explained that though there was a thatched roof cinema Sindhu near his ancestral house, he did not have even ₹2 needed to buy a ticket for a show.

So, he would only hear the sound and dialogues of the movies playing there.

He would then faithfully recount the plot to his friends in school, much to their envy at being the only one to catch all the movies. Only once a year would he be taken to watch a film from home, and he would not let go of that opportunity either to discuss it with friends.

Not seeing the visuals and hearing only the soundtrack was what set him on the mimicry path.

First it was his relatives whom he mimicked.

Mimicking Jagathy

When he started mimicking Jagathy Sreekumar, he knew for sure that he could mimic well.

Incidentally, when he stepped into movies, his first shot was with Jagathy, and the actor felt he was fortunate to get that opportunity.

From a small village Venjaramoodu in the district to mimicry, serials, and eventually cinema, his success was not overnight but the result of hard work.

Today, young actors and actresses had avenues, including social media, to start careers in cinema, Suraj said.

Film award

The actor said he had won the National Film Award for Best Actor for Perariyathavar but was sad that not many had seen the film.

Many wondered if he could do justice to roles other than those that required him to crack jokes.

Even he shared those doubts, Suraj confided to the audience.

Deepak S.P., general secretary of the Kerala State Council for Child Welfare, organisers of the festival, gifted a memento to the actor.

Curtain will come down on the second edition of the ICFF on Thursday.

Film-maker Adoor Gopalakrishnan will inaugurate the valedictory at Kairali cinema at 12 noon. He will also give away awards for the best film, best actor and best actress at the festival.