Even amid busy schedule, Kunjikrishnan stays close to people; Kerala celebrates the ‘Judge’ with a perfect score

PP Kunjikrishnan, who first captured Malayalis’ hearts through his debut film, has earned a perfect score from the residents of his ward as a people’s representative. Beloved by locals as both ‘Master’ and as ‘Member,’ Kunjikrishnan has long been active in the arts field, known for his street plays and children’s camps. In 2015, the CPM contested him from Thadiyan Koval Ward 8, and again in 2020 from Thadiyan Koval–Nadakkavu Ward 9.

As a representative, he performed well. In 2022, quite unexpectedly, he appeared as a judge in Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval’s film Nna Thaan Case Kodu, starring Kunchacko Boban. Kerala loved the character — the ‘Judge’ became a household name. Despite his growing commitments in cinema, Kunjikrishnan never neglected the people who elected him.

Alongside regular panchayat projects, he implemented his own ideas through the ward committee. He led cleanliness drives that made the ward garbage-free. With the help of ASHA workers, he visited homes distributing leaflets on sanitation awareness, conducted surveys, and ensured hygiene with the help of health inspectors and junior health inspectors. Five houses received cleanliness awards. To promote organic vegetable cultivation, every household was initially given free seeds and fertiliser, later limited to interested families.

Families with the best vegetable gardens received cash awards of ₹3,000, ₹2,000, and ₹1,000. Around 65 senior citizens in the ward received festive gifts — Onakkodi and Vishukkodi — every year. Another idea close to Kunjikrishnan’s heart was providing Kottanchukkadi Thailam (a traditional medicinal oil) to the elderly. With the help of Kudumbashree members and physician Krishnaprasad of Trikaripur, he produced and distributed 200 grams of the oil to each home — a comforting gesture that was deeply appreciated.

Under his leadership, road cleaning and clearing of roadside vegetation became routine. He also planted native mango and jackfruit trees — some have already begun to bear fruit. This year, he planted Kunjimangalam mango saplings; a few were lost, but most are thriving. When asked how he finds time for all this, he quips, “If needed, I’ll make even the jackfruit bear fruit from its roots.”

According to him, it was the collective effort of the ward committee, Kudumbashree, ASHA workers, Haritha Karma Sena, and residents — beyond political lines — that made the ward exemplary. Over 10 years as an elected representative, he hasn’t spent a single rupee of his honorarium for personal use. Every bit went back into the ward — for seeds, fertilisers, equipment rental, herbal oil, and cash prizes.

When asked if he plans to contest again, his answer is a firm ‘no’. He already has film commitments lined up from December to April, and believes the party will not ask him to contest again