Most Malayalis would remember the sitcom Akkarakazhchakal , which portrayed the life and times of a Malayali family settled in the U.S., aired on Kairali TV in 2008. The protagonist, insurance agent George Thekkinmoottil (played by Jose Valiyakallumkall), is still obsessed with his hometown and struggles to come to terms with the American way of life where as his wife Rincy (played by Sajini Sachariah) who works as a nurse, has adapted well to her new life. She aspires for a better life and is enamoured of the American lifestyle. The popular sitcom was later made into a movie (in 2011) by the same team Abi Varghese and Ajayan Venugopalan.
Years after the sitcom, Sajini recalls the fun and excitement in playing Rincy. “It was an unforgettable experience. The sitcom ran for two years across 50 episodes and it didn’t feel like we were acting. We enjoyed one another’s company and it was just like a friends’ get together. It was that sense of camaraderie that was translated to the screen,” says the actor based in New Jersey. Sajini played Rincy in the film version too.
When an offer came her way to play Dulquer Salmaan’s mother in Martin Prakkat’s ABCD, Sajini didn’t have second thoughts. “Though I had not planned a career in films at all, acting has always been a passion,” Sajini says. Later, she played Fahadh Faasil’s mother in Abi Varghese’s Monsoon Mangoes (2016). She will be playing Nivin Pauly’s mother in Althaf Saleem’s next project.
A professional drama artiste, Sajini has been involved with Fine Arts Malayalam, a theatre group in New Jersey. “I have been doing professional drama for years and when movies happened, I was only happy to welcome them.”
Settled in the U.S. for over 30 years, drama was a way of keeping in constant touch with Malayalam. “For drama, you need to learn the dialogues and deliver them,” she says.
The transition from theatre to cinema was not very difficult for her. The sets of ABCD were “friendly” and she says she was very comfortable with the crew. “I like to prepare for my roles, read up on it. When you are acting out what someone else has thought out, it is a challenge so I always ask the director what is expected of me. I like to learn the dialogues before hand and familiarise myself before the shot,” Sajini adds. However, there is still a lot to learn, she adds. “I am enjoying every bit of it. And it is still a learning curve for me. I am like a sponge, just absorbing every thing that I can learn from it,” she says.
Sajini is full of praise for her family who supported her acting. She started acting when her children were young and she was handling a full-time job as in the Credit Union’s mortgage service department. “I could not have pursued my interest had it not been for the support of my family,” she says.
Cinema for Sajini is full of possibilities. “You don’t know what you are capable of until you get a chance. Though I have done these mother roles, I would love to essay other character roles, too,” she says.
