When a Mammootty-starrer provided an early glimpse of Suraj Venjaramoodu’s acting prowess

In all honesty, Suraj’s face remained unchanged and devoid of variations in films such as Rasathanthram, Thuruppugulan, Pachakuthira, Mayavi, Chotta Mumbai, Hallo, Ali Bhai, Rock n’ Roll, Katha Parayumpol, Kanaka Simhasanam, College Kumaran, Annan Thambi, Madambi, Twenty:20, Love in Singapore and Ivar Vivahitharayal.

Aashiq Abu’s Daddy Cool (2009), starring Mammootty and Richa Pallod in the lead roles, was one of the first movies to showcase Suraj Venjaramoodu’s hidden talent, although it didn’t gain much recognition possibly because the audience was unfamiliar with the actor’s unique and unprecedented appearance.

Daddy Cool signified a striking divergence from Suraj’s previous cinematic endeavours, wherein he often embodied characters that were predominantly based in southern Kerala and featured either a Thiruvananthapuram accent or a region-neutral accent. However, in Daddy Cool, Suraj underwent an impressive transformation as he breathed life into the character of Aimutty, an unassuming proprietor of a small eatery in Ernakulam. Fluent in Kochi Malayalam, Aimutty immerses himself in the intricate tapestry of local politics, assuming the extraordinary role of a peacemaker -— a venerated mediator entrusted with harmonising the discord between rival gangs in the port city. Embracing this unique position, Aimutty becomes a sought-after confidant, the reliable anchor for both the police and those treading the treacherous path of transgression.

Despite the actor’s noticeable struggle to conceal his usual characteristics and gimmicks, which he had consistently utilised in all his previous films, and the filmmaker’s lack of effort in providing proper instructions to the actor, Suraj managed to demonstrate glimpses of his acting talent with the limited resources and screen time available in Daddy Cool. The movie also highlighted the actor’s effortless ability to adapt to various regional dialects.

If writer-director Aashiq Abu had provided the character with greater substance and skillfully crafted it to be free from Suraj’s overused cliches, the character Aimutty and the actor’s performance would have garnered significant attention, accelerating the actor’s journey to fame and success.

Nonetheless, Daddy Cool will hold its place as a notable gem among Suraj Venjaramoodu’s extensive filmography, thanks to the actor’s sudden shift in approach. This pivotal change opened the doors to a promising future, where the actor would go on to portray numerous memorable characters.