Elvis Chummar is the villain we love to hate! Malayalam cinema has a long list of unforgettable villains, each of whom left an indelible image as evil or manipulative characters with no heart or soul. Some of the older villains with their trademark mannerisms and one-liners are frequently resurrected in comedy acts. The villains used to go on a rampage on screen as they waited for the hero to arrive and do the needful. Joju George joins that list of greats with his sterling act as Elvis in Ranjith Sankar’s
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But Joju’s Elvis is a more nuanced role and his is a character most of us know or have known at some point of time. “Ranjith sir took a big risk by casting me!” The irrepressible Joju George was at his candid best while talking about his character . With great finesse, Joju was able to breathe life into Elvis, a short-tempered, alcoholic and egoistic womaniser who also happens to be an unsucessful film producer.
Role call
Definitely, Elvis is his best role so far. And Joju knows it for sure. “It is a milestone in my career. It feels great when people appreciate your work,” says Joju. His success, he says, has inspired artistes who are struggling to find a place in the industry, to stay optimistic and wait for their next role.
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Joju is all thanks to his director, his co-actors and crew. “Ranjith sir was clear about how Elvis should be and I have done just that. Had Anu Sithara and Chackochan (Kunchacko Boban) not supported and encouraged me with their performances, Elvis wouldn’t have come out so well. Then there is Madhu Neelakantan, our cinematographer. He never made me feel that I was in front of the camera,” gushes Joju. He adds that he didn’t have any reference point. “I have imitated myself... the way I rage, my moods, my body language and the like.”
The toughest part was getting him to say yes to the role. He was not confident about playing a full-length character and was a bundle of nerves till the day the shoot started. “Apparently many had dissuaded Ranjith from casting me. I am always nervous about every role I do. But once I get my timing right, I just forget the anxiety. However after finishing each shot, I ask every one on the set, including the light boy, about my performance. I know my limitations and because of that I am still scared about working with certain filmmakers. I like to be in a comfort zone,” he laughs.
It is because of this comfort zone that he became one of the three producers of Charlie. He is now producing Manju Warrier’s new movie, Udaharanam Sujatha with Martin Prakkat.
“I don’t have a lot of money, but I am willing to invest in a project I am confident about. This film brings together a lot of talented artistes.”
Joju also has a role in the film that is currently being shot in the capital city. After this, he will join the sets of Abrid Shine’s Poomaram .
Tumultuous journey
Now when he looks back at his career, Joju says that the struggle to reach tinsel town and find a foothold was worth it.
“I had no work for over 10 years. Now when people message me requesting a role, I am at a loss for words. It is not easy at all. I was lucky that after a point I got roles that helped me grow as an actor. There are a few friends of mine whose help I still seek for my characters. Thankfully I was never typecast and that became an advantage,” he muses.
So there is nothing on his wish list? “There are many filmmakers with whom I am dying to work with: Aashiq Abu, Anwar Rasheed, Rajeev Ravi, Lijo Jose Pellissery... I am not ashamed to say that I keep pestering them for roles...,” he says with a guffaw.
On a roll
Joju was first seen as a junior artiste in Mazhavilkkootaram . The films that got him noticed include Beautiful, Trivandrum Lodge, Pullippulikalum Aattinkuttiyum, Hotel California, Rajadhi Raja, and Neram . He got special jury mention at the Kerala State Film Award (2015) for his role in Lukka Chuppi and Oru Second Class Yathra .