Saju Navodaya, often credited by his stage name Pashanam Shaji, is an Indian film actor mainly cast in comedy roles in Malayalam cinema. He is born as sixth among nine children to Pappanikunnel Thankappan and Manka at Udayamperoor, Kochi. He did his schooling at the SNDP HSS Udayamperoor. He, along with his brother Suresh, were regular participants in almost all the competitions in school youth festivals. Both of them were specialized in mimicry. Also, Saju was the director of many dramas which won first prize in Ernakulam district level youth festivals in late 90s. After completing his education, he started a dance institute in Udayamperoor for children for teaching classical dance, break dance, cinematic dance etc. He is married to Resmi who is a trained classical dancer. She was a dance teacher in his dance institute. Later they fell in love and dramatically got married on the very next day of his elder brother's marriage. Reshmi was a big support for him to continue his art life when he was planning to quit mimicry, because of severe financial crisis. Saju started his married life in a small rented room in Kumbalam, Kochi. He worked as a painter in early stages of his married life. It was Manoj Guinness, who gave him an opportunity in a professional mimicry troupe in Kochi. Later on, Saju's name got changed to Saju Navodaya after associating with the mimicry troupe Cochin Navodaya.