It has been 18 years since Mammootty’s Big B first hit theatres. Yet, the affection for the character ‘Bijo’, played by Sumit Naval, remains intact—the actor quite literally sealed his place in the hearts of Malayali cinephiles through his memorable performance in the iconic film.
“I consider myself truly fortunate,” the actor said in a conversation with Sreelakshmi Menon for Mathrubhumi.com.
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Sumit, who is still fondly remembered as Bijo John Kurishingal—Mammootty’s brother in Amal Neerad’s cult directorial—expressed his joy at once again being part of a Mammootty film years later through Bazooka.
“Malayalam is still not a language I’ve fully grasped. But yes, Kochi is still the same old Kochi!” he said playfully, referencing Mammootty’s popular dialogue from Big B.
The actor shared that returning to Malayalam cinema after a hiatus evoked a strong sense of both nostalgia and freshness. He also said he was overwhelmed by the love he continues to receive from the people of Kerala.
In the candid conversation, the actor added, “Even now, wherever I go, people still call me Bijo John Kurishinkal. I haven’t had the chance to visit Fort Kochi this time, but that place holds so many beautiful memories for me. In the next couple of days, I’ll be going there. I want to visit Bilal and Mary Teacher’s house and take a photo on that staircase.”
For the unversed, Sumit Naval is the brother of actor Simran. He has acted in a handful of films, including the 2017 movie Comrade in America (CIA), starring Mammootty’s son Dulquer Salmaan—an actor Sumit holds in high regard. The film was also directed by Amal Neerad.
Meanwhile, Bazooka hit screens worldwide on Thursday.
Published: 10 Apr 2025, 01:56 pm IST
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