A ceremonious entry, then an unceremonious low-profile career and then making sort of a comeback, that too with a bang- seems not much unusual, but of course interesting. This is exactly what has happened to Sai Kumar, an actor for whom the last few months of the last year holds promises for the new year and the new century.

Ramji Rao Speaking , which was released just over a decade ago, failed to draw viewers in the initial days of its release. It was just a matter of a few days and Ramji Rao Speaking  began to be spoken of as one of the most spectacular box office events in Malayalam cinema. Siddique and Lal, who directed the film, their debut venture, went on to make hits after hits and Ramji Rao Speaking  proved to be a real trendsetter and even inspired a sequel few years later in Maannaar Maththai Speaking.

And as one of the two heroes, alongside Mukesh, was introduced a new young man-Sai Kumar. And naturally this film, which was sort of a maha-event in itself, should have catapulted Sai Kumar into a really busy career. But it was not to be. He did go on doing films, but not very remarkable ones. And soon everybody seemed to have written him off.

In the last couple of years, Sai Kumar began to be cast in villainous roles. And when Shaji Kailas' Valiyettan  was released in September last and when the audience greeted with loud applause Superstar Mammootty's performance as the hero, they also took special note of the villain character, Patteri Sivaraman.

It was none other than Sai Kumar, whom they had been seeing in not-so-significant roles for almost a decade, who won their appreciation as Patteri Sivaraman, the villain whose sole aim in life was to see the downfall and the end of his enemy, Arackal Madhavanunni  (played by Mammootty). Sai Kumar did play the role to perfection. People were heard saying, "Mammootty adipoli, Sai Kumar kasariyittundu" (Mammootty superb, Sai Kumar too has been splendid). And with the latest Christmas release Dadasahib  by director Vinayan, Sai Kumar has again proved himself, this time also as the villain.

For Sai Kumar, born in Kottarakara of Kollam district, acting has been there as a part of the family itself. His father Kottarakara Sreedharan Nair, who passed away in 1986, was one of the most versatile actors of Malayalam cinema. Lovers of cinema can never ever forget Kottarakara's (as he was known popularly) sterling performances in films like Chemmeen , Nirmaalyam , Chembaraththi , Velu Thampi Dalava , and Aranaazhika Neram  etc. Sai Kumar's sister Shobha was an actress in the reputed drama troupe KPAC. Sai Kumar's entry into the realm of acting was coincidental. It was Sai who used to take Shobha daily to the KPAC and in the process he got familiar with those in the troupe.

And one day Late Thoppil Bhasi, noted writer and dramatist, just asked him if he could act in a play. Thoppil Bhasi wasn't sure if this young son of so illustrious a father was really talented. Yet he asked him and Sai agreed. Sai was given a role in the Sanskrit play Mrichchakatikam.

Sai had never acted before in his life. But he had grown up seeing and breathing drama and cinema. His father's acting skills were the real inspiration for this young man. Of course he hadn't much knowledge of Sanskrit. But Thoppil Bhasi helped him out and gave him the necessary guidance. And thus started his acting career. Sai then went on to act in many of KPAC's plays including Thoppil Bhasi's own Thulabhaaram , Ashwamedham  etc, which were doing their second run after being done on stage years ago.