Beyond the emperor’s clothes, we take a look at what Sijoy Varghese has got up his sleeve

Sijoy’s looks can be deceiving. As a wise copywriter once said, “It’s all in a headline.” Thus, I started with a line to ensure that your eyes move to the next sentence, after all the photographs may hold you captive.

Accoutered in a plush vine bandghala, Sijoy Varghese walked towards the shoot proudly, to take his position. He adjusted his cravat, rested his arm upon his sceptre and with very focussed eyes, posed like a king. Frozen for the frame, his poise reflected the same image as portraitures of kings and emperors on the walls of ancient castles. As soon as the camera snapped a shot, his sharp eyes relaxed, and he broke into a smile which instantly quelled the air
of authority. Beyond the portrait, Sijoy was anything but a formidable feudal lord, he is a funny, laid back adman, who is also effectively the most selfeffacing celebrity you would meet. “Though people think I am stylish and cool by my appearance. I believe I am a typical Malayalee at heart. I am the sort who is interested in Ashaan Kalari and grew up writing Malayalam letters on ezuthola (palm leaf) with ezuthani (stylus used to write on palm leaves).”

So for someone penning down letters on palm leaves, it doesn’t come as a surprise that this man-of-many words in fact belongs to advertising. At the first go, one would think he is the brand ambassador for something like the Braun shaving trimmers. His movie roles have only proved time and again his affliction to styling his beard; which our stylist would vouch for in a book on how to style Sijoy’s beard. But instead, he is the ‘Charlie’ of his factory. He spearheads the TVC Factory, an ad film production house that operates in Kochi, Mumbai and Dubai. Pun intended, he said that the last movie he enjoyed was ‘Charlie’ and he feels there’s a little Charlie that runs in his wild- pirited mind. “If you are in advertising, you are naturally  just a bit crazy.”An example? Martin Prakkat was quite sure Sijoy would  bail out from his role, but he still  gave the tailors the measurement for his costume. When Sijoy tried on the police uniform, he stared at himself in the mirror, twirled his moustache and said he was taken back by a storm of power. He walked into the setunrehearsed-as commissioner Benny Thomas, and, oh well, made his first debut in a movie, ABCD.

Tell Tales

I found the interview to be rather very easy going. Stories ebbed and flowed, with no interruptions from intermittent questions. Rather, it was evident that he is fascinated with story-telling, which he confirmed has been the case since he was a little boy. “When grandparents narrate a story, they put in the actual emotion and expression, and these minor things will enhance the creative visualisation capacity in a child’s mind who sits and listens to them keenly.” He retorts that when he winds up with storyboards at work, the next set of stories unfurl as bedtimestories for his children – a lovely pack of four- Adhitya, Amy, Annie & Anthony, who never cease to ask, “And then what happened?”

Sijoy wasn’t one to decide his career path, he didn’t think he was particularly cut out to become a doctor or engineer, and neither did he think he would get into the creative field.

He says, “According to me, being creative is not something you realise one fine morning. It is a continuous process which is understood by the way you behave in certain situations and the way you talk which will build a conviction in your mind.” His earliest memory of having a way with words was one time when he quarrelled with his sister who teased him saying that he stole the lines of the poem he had written. She jokingly added that he was seen sneaking into the Ernakulam Public Library as well, for this feat. Undaunted, he proved his wits by writing a poem impromptu and recited it in front of everyone, an arduous one about his mother. To this she replied, “You are not that bad after all, you have brains.” A phenomenal impetus surged in him.

An undertone unravels when you look into Sijoy’s works. From his first venture into scriptwriting with Sidharth Bharathan for the vignette ‘Isha’ in Amal Neerad Production ‘5 Sundarikal’ to his role in Peter in ‘James and Alice’, it’s pleasant to see how words can uplift an unsought idea. He believes that whatever career one pursues, there should always be an effort to hone skills and impart the best you can. One of his revered muses is late Mathew Paul, ad director most known for the Poppy umbrella ads and one who started the initiative, ‘Indian ad filmmakers association’. Sijoy was the secretary at the time, with an aim to be socially-responsible by promoting inspiring videos. For him running an ad agency goes beyond just hitting the right target audience and being successful.

Role Play

A green tea later, Sijoy casually slid into the couch, nonchalant about the camera. He talked about how coach Zach in ‘Bangalore Days’ was a lifechanging role and joked about how biker jackets did a great job making one look rough and tough. “A group of students from Mangalapuram and Coimbatore invited me to their college to inaugurate their biking clubs  thinking I am an awesome rider who could perform stunts. But the truth is I am no daredevil, I just enjoy riding a bike, like a normal rider. ”Away from the mettlesome role, Sijoy like Coach Zach embraces something, the pursuit of happiness.

The formal tone of the interview waned when he addressed me by my name. The more we conversed, the more apparent it was on his attentiveness- a trait he acquired in the youth motivation programme he attends. “I like the fact that the younger generation today is trying to maintain the traditional setting of Fort Kochi. My colleague prevented his uncle from destroying an old property of theirs by merging it with Biennale. I appreciate that action of his.” While most feel the word youth has become trite, his belief in today’s youth is remarkably lucid and vocal.

“The young generation fosters our future. I am happy to see them instill an ambiance of creativity in the field of advertising here in Kerala.”

Sijoy mentioned that while directing ad films is his ultimate passion, he enjoys doing fresh and challenging roles occasionally. His recent role as Peter in ‘James and Alice’ was his toughest but most fulfilling role, he says. “After reading through the script and wrapping up our discussion, the first thing I wanted to do leaving that meeting was to go have lunch with my wife Tessy and our children.” An advocate for always being there for the family, he said the movie didn’t fail to narrate in realism, and that it gives an agreeable insight into marriage. Playing the role of Peter, Sijoy said that it is roles like these that make the world of films much more meaningful. “In the end, it always

comes down to your family. They are the ones who make me realise ‘jeevitham ente lahari aanu’. And if there’s anything that beats a glass of spirit, it’s his humour. “During the shoot of ‘James and Alice’, there was a scene where the protagonist Prithvi Raj had to walk through the hospital hallway. All the nurses were thrilled, clad in their veils. When we had to retake the shot, they were all waiting eagerly to see him again, and even took off their veils. But much to their disappointment it was me who walked in.” He mimics their reactions, still unable to keep from laughing every time he thinks about it. And so, unlike how this interview began, beneath his proud stance and emperor moustache, Sijoy Varghese is really a funny, funny (so good you say it twice) adman. The lights faded, the cameras were switched off. He laughed, “Interview over?”

I replied, smiling, “You may have to tell us another story.” He grinned, unable to refuse.

That’s why there are a few more lines beyond this full stop.

Beyond the full stop

All in a Handshake

“During the promotion of ‘Bangalore Days’, a child went running up to him and shook his hands with deep respect. He was so flattered. Things took a drastic turn when the child innocently asked him, “Can you pass this hand shake to Dulquer?” He still chuckles at this story.

The Unexpected Entrance

When ‘Jamna Pyari’ was released, there was a major cheer for Kunchacko Boban by his fan club in the theatre. There was much noise and hype for Kunchacko’s character, Vasu. In the scene where the protagonist was coming out, the fans released a huge burst of confetti. nly, it wasn’t Kunchacko but Sijoy. He said that he never expected such a welcome.

Now available on : http://goo.gl/NVkK8v

Model: Sijoy Varghese

Photographer: Jinson Abraham

Words By Atheena Wilson

Styling: Lakshmi Babu

Makeup & Hair Styling: Blessy Mary Chacko

Costumes: Kim India

Retouch: Jemini Ghosh

Location: David Hall and Fragrant Nature, Kochi

Production: FWD Media

Special Thanks: Metro, Lulu Mall