Actor Suraj Venjaramoodu has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Kalabhavan Navas, remembering him as a dear friend and a rare talent who brought both warmth and humanity to every space he entered. In a heartfelt message shared on his social media page, Suraj described Navas as someone who entered his life through cinema and stayed on as a cherished presence, both professionally and personally. The two had shared the screen in films like Chattambinadu, Kaaryasthan, and Driving License.

“Navas ikka was one of the very few friends who truly walked into my life through cinema,” Suraj wrote. “Not just as an artist, but as a person full of warmth, kindness and deep empathy for others, a true lover of humanity.” Their friendship, Suraj recalled, went back to a time before his own acting career began. He spoke of the joy in hosting Navas as a guest at stage shows and the admiration he held for Navas’s distinctive mimicry and singing skills.

“He had this rare ability to switch between a man’s and a woman’s voice during a sigh. That, along with his singing, made him a complete performer,” Suraj added. He also recalled the shared laughter, backstage moments, and long-standing camaraderie built over years of working together on stages and in films. “In recent times, he had been getting some wonderful roles. I remember how happy he was when we last met. He waved goodbye and walked away. It still feels unreal.”

Navas began his career as a mimicry artist with the Kalabhavan troupe and made his film debut in 1995 with Chaithanyam. He became widely known for his comic timing and roles in films such as Mattupetti Machan, Junior Mandrake, My Dear Karadi and Chandamama. Though his film appearances had reduced in recent years, he was reportedly preparing for a comeback, with roles in Tiki Taka and Prakambanam. He had wrapped up work on the latter on the very day he passed away.