Surjith Gopinath

Surjith Gopinath Biography

Panamukkath Gopinath Surjith, shortly called Surjith Gopinath is a popular character artist associated with Malayalam cinema in the recent times. A late entry to the field of acting, he is a ‘discovered talent’ who has worked in Malayalam cinema behind the camera for many years. Silent Dark Eyes (2011) was one of his early appearances. Yet he became popular among Kerala audience with two notable roles - Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi (2013) and Paavada (2016) belonging to new wave Malayalam cinema and commercial cinema genre. In Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi he played the role of Raghavan, a matured old person who helps Dulquer Salmaan in his journey in search of someone he loves, while he played an extremely opposite character, a drunkard in the commercial hit – Paavada. Where was he for so many years – ask many who loved him to see on screen.

Surjith was associated with Malayalam cinema very early in his younger age, as a clap boy of Amma Ariyaan, a new wave movie of 1986, directed by the legendary film maker, John Abraham. The movie is regarded as a landmark movie of Malayalam cinema, a complex story with many layers of story lines interpreted by critics over the years. It’s the only south Indian film which found place in British Film Institute's Top 10 Indian Films list. His closeness to one of its actors Joy Mathew and his theater background are the prime factors which gave him this first opportunity in films. When he became the clap boy, he was the youngest person of the group. He also got opportunity to play a bit role, surprisingly a girl, in this landmark film.

After the movie, he got active in cultural activities in his hometown. He also worked as a photographer at Wayanad. He joined the prestigious School of Drama, New Delhi after completing graduation and since 1995, as a member of a travel troupe theatre he toured across India with stage shows. Since 2002, he worked in the theatre section of Calicut University. As an actor, he appeared in the National award winning short film of Geethu Mohandas – Kelkkunnundo. Since then he played small roles in Malayalam movies such as Laptop, Utopiayile Rajavu, Iyobinte Pusthakam, Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi and Paavada. His wife has played bit roles in a few Malayalam movies such as Shayanam, Achuvinte Amma etc. Now his daughter is into theater and son is studying.

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Updated: March 06, 2016