Pic of the day: Did you recognize this Malayalam superstar from his child actor days?

KS Sethumadhavan’s directorial 'Odayil Ninnu' is celebrated as one of the best classic films in Malayalam cinema.

Recently, a fascinating piece of trivia has caught the attention of audiences as they spotted a now-famous superstar in a child role in this black-and-white film released in 1965.

The child actor in question is none other than the superstar Suresh Gopi, who played the role of a feudal lord's son. Suresh Gopi made his debut in the film industry as a child artist in 'Odayil Ninnu', marking the beginning of his magnificent career.

In 2015, on the movie’s 50th anniversary, Suresh Gopi shared his memories of the experience with Deccan Chronicle. He vividly recalled his first encounter on a film set, which was quite dramatic. “The first thing I saw when I went there with my father was a knife being held to Sathyan master’s neck. Though it was to shave his beard before applying make-up, that scared the hell out of me, and I ran out of the Ashramam guest house,” he recounted. The legendary actor Sathyan was one of the leading figures in Malayalam cinema, and the scene was a preparation for his role, but to young Suresh Gopi, it was a terrifying sight.

Despite his initial fright, Suresh Gopi’s father persuaded him to return to the set and fulfill his role in the film, eventually leading to the birth of a superstar.