Saiju Govinda Kurup (born 12 March 1979) is an Indian actor who works primarily in Malayalam cinema. He debuted in a leading role with Mayookham (2005), directed by Hariharan. He has starred in over 150 films, in supporting as well as leading roles.
Early life Kurup was born to N. Govinda Kurup and Sobhana in Alappuzha district, South Kerala. Although a native of Cherthala, he was brought up in Nagpur, where he completed his schooling and college education. He studied engineering in Nagpur. His father was posted in Kamptee. Following his father's retirement, the family relocated to Cherthala. After returning from Nagpur, Kurup joined Airtel office in Thiruvananthapuram. In 2004, while working there, he met singer M. G. Sreekumar as part of his sales role. Sreekumar, who had recorded a song for the film Mayookham, encouraged him to audition for the lead role. Kurup subsequently auditioned in Chennai and was selected for the role.
Career
Kurup made his acting debut in a leading role with Mayookham (2005), directed by Hariharan. Approximately a year and a half after the film's release, he resigned from his position at Airtel, though initial opportunities proved limited. Reflecting on his early performances, Kurup later noted that, "around the time of Mulla (2008), Doubles (2011), and Karmayogi (2012), I learnt to bring what I observed into my performances. That's when I found my rhythm".
His first breakthrough came with Trivandrum Lodge (2012), in which he portrayed a comedic character that marked a departure from his earlier roles. He observed that, "until then, I played clean-shaven, shirt-tucked-in characters. But Shibu Vellayini was raw and real, and people connected with him". He played another comedic role in Vedivazhipadu (2013).
Kurup starred and wrote the screenplay for the 2013 film My Fan Ramu. He appeared in a dual role in Hotel California (2013). He later played Pappan, a supportive brotherly figure in the sports drama 1983 (2014). For his role as an oncologist in Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela (2017), he undertook preparation by consulting a practicing doctor. In 2018, Deccan Chronicle noted that "very few have been able to carve a niche among the clan of supporting actors in Malayalam cinema where they have been an integral part of the movies as their characters work as adhesives in building up the story line. Saiju Kurup is one among them". His performance as Vijith in Theevandi (2018) received critical acclaim.
Kurup appeared as Johny Peringodan in Driving Licence (2019). In 2021, he played the lead role in the crime thriller Guardian. He played a pivotal role in Meppadiyan (2022), which was a commercial success. He played a psychologist in his first horror film Bhoothakalam (2022), which received positive response. Kurup played the lead role of a circle inspector in the thriller Anthakshari (2022). In the same year, he starred in the title role as a headstrong thug in Upacharapoorvam Gunda Jayan (2022), produced by Dulquer Salmaan.
In 2024, Kurup played the lead role in the drama Porattu Nadakam. He also made his television series debut that year with Jai Mahendran on SonyLIV, portraying the titular character, a principled yet astute tahsildar. The same year, he ventured into production with the comedy-drama Bhrathanatyam (2024), in which he also played the lead role. Although the film underperformed at the box office, it later received critical acclaim following its release on streaming platforms. In 2025, he played a leading role alongside Arjun Ashokan in Abhilasham. In 2025, The New Indian Express observed that Kurup "has built a steady presence in Malayalam cinema — not by chasing stardom, but by consistently turning in performances that resonate".
Personal life Kurup married Anupama B. Nambiar in 2005. She was a personality language development trainer in a multinational company. The couple have a daughter, Mayookha, and a son, Aftab. The family resides in Panampilly Nagar in Ernakulam district.
Filmography
Malayalam Year Title Role Notes 2005 Mayookham Unni Kesavan Debut film 2006 Lion Prasad Ashwaroodan Divakaran Baba Kalyani Tahir Mohammad 2007 Sketch Shivahari Iyer Hallo Praveen Indrajith Zaheer Mustafa Chocolate Manuel Abraham 2008 College Kumaran Raghu Jubilee Joji Mulla Bharathan Parunthu Vineet Anthiponvettam Nitin Novel Lekshmanan 2009 Pramukhan Ramesh Nambiar Brahmasthram Indrajeeth 2010 Koottukar ACP Antony Alex 2011 Doubles Sameer Makaramanju Raja Raja Varma Scene No: 001 Chandramohan Makeup Man Sorrya's fiancé 2012KarmayogiKandhaa Trivandrum LodgeShibu Vellayani Poppins Job 2013Red Wine Navas Paramban Kutteem Kolum SreehariHotel California Tarun Singh Deol / Rafeeq Ahmed Thank You ArunLeft Right Left Mathew Tourist Home Bicycle Thieves Rameshan My Fan RamuRamu Vedivazhipadu Sanjay 20141983 Pappan Konthayum Poonoolum Johny Medulla Oblongata Appachan Munnariyippu Rajeev Thomas Njaan V P Kunjikannan The DolphinsKandi2015Aadu Arakkal Abu Chirakodinja KinavukalCommissioner K P Benny Lukka Chuppi Father Xavier Nirnayakam Ravi Shankar KL 10 Patthu Ajmal Kohinoor DySP Mohan Raghav Cameo appearance Salt Mango TreePraveen Nambiar Rajamma @ Yahoo Yohanan RockstarRegistrar 2016 Maalgudi Days Manu Varma Action Hero Biju CI Manoj Mathew Aakashvani Jamal Sahapadi 1975 Oola Valleem Thetti Pulleem Thetti Bhajrangan Happy Wedding Dhanendran Annmariya KalippilanuDr. Roy IDIMr. X Kavi Uddheshichathu..? DySP Noble Jacob KolumittayiSatheeshan Puzhakkara Sivapuram 2017 Mannamkattayum Kariyilayum Kadam Kadha Srikanth Alamara Prakasan 1971: Beyond Borders Nathan Adventures of Omanakuttan Phillip Careful Ramesh Nath Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela Dr. Saiju Pokkiri Simon Beemapally Noushad Tharangam Siju Vimaanam Ananthan Aadu 2 Arakkal Abu 2018Captain Gupta IPS KalyanamKishore Kala Viplavam Pranayam RameshanB.Tech Prasanthan Naam Masthan Sebastian Iblis Sukumaran Theevandi Vijith Padayottam Sreekuttan Dakini Vikraman Parudeesa 2019Kodathi Samaksham Balan Vakeel Vidhyadharan Sathyam Paranja Viswasikkuvo Kuriyan Janamaithri Samyukthan Kalki Sooraj Pranayaa Meenukalude Kadal SI Eldho Sebastian Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 Prasannan Jack & Daniel DySP Philip Vaarthakal Ithuvare Haneef Thrissurpooram DoctorCameo appearancePrathi Poovankozhi SreenathDriving License Johny Peringodan 2020 Forensic Xavier "Xavi" John Kattookkaran C U Soon Dr. Prashanth 2021Mohan Kumar Fans Shobi AarkkariyamVyshak NizhalChief Judicial Magistrate AjithPidikittapulli Disney Guardian Dr Arun Jacob Kurup CI Praveen Chandran 2022 Meppadiyan Varkey (Philip) BhoothakaalamGeorge Lalitham Sundaram Sandeep Oruthee Sreekumar Antakshari Yesudas Upacharapoorvam Gunda Jayan Gunda Jayan 12th Man Mathew Prakashan Parakkatte Kozhi Kuttan Theerppu Parameshwaran Potti Mei Hoom Moosa Meeran Saturday Night Justin GoldJomon Malikappuram Ajayan / Ajayakumar 2023 Enkilum Chandrike Abhi Janaki Jaane Unni Mukundan Madhura Manohara Moham Jeevan Raj Valatty Dobermann VoiceoverPappachan Olivilanu Pappachan Rajni Abhijith A Ranjith Cinema Sunny 2024 Abraham Ozler Krishnadas Gu Sai Nunakkuzhi Dr. Jayadevan Pallotty 90's KidsManjulan Bharathanatyam Sasidharan Nair Porattu Nadakam Abu Anand Sreebala DySP Sankar Das 2025 Daveed Kochappa Aap Kaise Ho Abhilasham Abhilash Kumar Azadi Written & Directed by God Jijo Flask Sumathi Valavu Hari Diés Iraé George 2026 Aadu 3 Arakkal Abu and Padanayakan Koma Kurup Bharathanatyam 2 Mohiniyattam Sasidharan Nair Ankam Attahasam Aaram The Third Murder https://www.mathrubhumi.com/amp/movies-music/reviews/the-third-murder-malayalam-movie-review-f1dmbdfy Lurk Post Production
Tamil Year Title Role Notes 2010 Siddhu +2 Police Officer 2012 Marupadiyum Oru Kadhal Jeeva 2013 Aadhi Bhagavan ACP Ranadev Patel 2015 Thani Oruvan Charles Chelladurai 2023 Aval Peyar Rajni Abhijith
As dubbing artist Year Film Dubbed for Character2014 @AndheriAtul Kulkarni Rajan PillaiMr. Fraud Dev Gill Nikhil Adharva
Web series Year Title Role Notes 2024 Jai Mahendran Mahendran
Short films Year Title Role Notes Ref. 2015 Night Muller The Husband Malayalam Comedy Short Film 2016 Purakathumbol Prabhakaran M. L. A. Malayalam Short Film 2017 Invisible Actor The Film Star Malayalam Short Film 2018 Sunnath Kalyanam Abu Malayalam Short Film 2020 Kaazhchakkappuram Circle Inspector Kerala Police Awareness Movie
Television Year Title Role Language Channel Ref. 20166 Piece PizzaMalayalamAsianetAnnie's Kitchen Guest Malayalam Amrita TV 2021Swantham SujathaHimselfMalayalamSurya TV
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