Exploring his inquisitive self

From the rib-tickling comedian he was once to a man with an opinion on many a thing in the world, in his comeback edition to small screen, actor Tini Tom is an analytic commentator. He has taken up the baton of Malayali Darbar, the debate show on Amrita TV from Maniyan Pillai Raju. Tini, the show host, is here to prove that no matter what subject he has at hand, he is capable of donning many hats with élan. This is an avenue for Tini to dust off his alter-self, the verve of a political science student since college days.

“I have proven myself as a comedian. I always loved anchoring talk shows and I see this as an opportunity to explore my liking to involve in general issues,” explains Tini.

Topping his years of experience before camera, he has another reason that stands him in good stead as a speaker. “At the behest of my dad, I had a stint as law student after my degree. My studies enabled me to speak well. Despite the well-manned research team of the programme, I get immense possibilities to do homework and studies from my side and make suggestions accordingly,” says Tini.

The first time he got an invitation to anchor the programme, Tini had to say no due to his busy schedules with movies. The ‘historian’ in him pops out each time he conducts a visit overseas for stage shows. “Wherever I go, I study that place,” he goes on sharing his knowledge about Salala, the origin of Christianity and Islam, how the Aboriginals in Australia and Maoris in New Zealand are connected and so on. After all, he is not adamant that “an actor  should die as an actor.”

His next, Daffedar to be out in a month, he’s thrilled to have played father to actors older than him. “I have played my age on screen so far. The Daffedar is a 65-year-old for which I underwent a tip-to-toe makeover. The film wanted sons taller than their father. Finding actors above 6.1 ft. was a challenge until finalising on Sudheer Karamana and Jayakrishnan,” he smiles.

“In the meantime, I met the real-life Daffedars in the collectorate and this is a story none has focused on before. Having had my dad’s mannerisms before me, I barely looked elsewhere for models in that front,” he signs off.