In Nagpur, we’d somehow try to get banana leaves for the Vishu sadya: Saiju Kurup

Actor Saiju Kurup, who grew up in Nagpur has fond memories of Vishu celebrated in his native Cherthala. Sharing his earliest Vishu memories, the Malikappuram actor said, “We celebrated Vishu both in Nagpur and Cherthala over the years, depending on when my exams would end. In Nagpur, a few of us Malayalis would get together for lunch or dinner. We would try to get our hands on banana leaves from somewhere for the sadya.”

The actor pointed out that the festival has a totally different vibe back home in Cherthala. “In Nagpur, we burst crackers for Diwali but in Kerala, we’d do that for Vishu. I recall bursting crackers when we were young with my cousin. We would tie the crackers to the end of something long to be safe,” says Saiju, who is going on a long-planned family trip for this festival holiday. On movie locations, he says Vishu is mostly just a scrumptious feast.

Saiju has fond memories of the Vishu kani, an important part of the celebrations. "My mother would ask us not to peek. But often, that would make us more curious. Amma would guide me to where the kani was set up. And also, back then whoever gave us children the most handsel (kaineettam) money was our favourite person.”