Director Shafi And How He Mastered Comedy Genre In Malayalam
Rasheed MH, who is famous as Shafi, is a famous director and screenwriter who has significantly contributed to Malayalam cinema, particularly in the comedy genre. Director Shafi’s films, particularly Kalyanaraman, Pulival Kalyanam, and Mayavi, have become ingrained in the daily lives of Malayalees, with their iconic dialogues and scenes frequently referenced and recreated in everyday conversations. Shafi has been instrumental in helping Mammootty to establish the great actor in comedy genre as well with movies like Thommanum Makkalum, Mayavi, Chattambinadu and Venicile Vyaapari.
Born on February 18, 1968 in Ernakulam, Kerala, director Shafi has worked with most of the big names from the Malayalam industry including Mammootty, Dileep, Jayaram, Biju Menon, Jayasurya, Kunchacko Boban, Kalabhavan Mani, Navya Nair, Kavya Madhavan, Lal, Gopika, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Prithviraj, Samyuktha Varma, Lakshmi Rai, Bhavana, Mamta Mohandas, Salim Kumar, Siddeeque, Kochin Haneefa, Roma among others, in his more than two-decades long career.
Shafi hails from a family with strong ties to the film industry. His elder brother, Rafi, is part of the renowned writer-director duo Rafi Mecartin, and acclaimed director Siddique is their uncle. Rafi, along with Mecartin had done writings for him in Mayavi and his debut film One Man Show.
Shafi commenced his career in the mid-1990s, gaining valuable experience by assisting director Rajasenan and the Rafi Mecartin duo. This apprenticeship provided him with a solid foundation in filmmaking, leading to his directorial debut with the comedy-drama “One Man Show” in 2001. The film, featured Jayaram, Lal, and Samyuktha Varma, was well-received and marked the beginning of Shafi’s successful journey as a director.
Over the years, Shafi has directed many films, predominantly in the comedy-drama genre. Some of his notable works include:
“Kalyanaraman” (2002): A romantic comedy starring Dileep and Navya Nair, which became a commercial success.
“Pulival Kalyanam” (2003): Featuring Jayasurya and Kavya Madhavan, this film further established Shafi’s reputation for delivering engaging comedies.
“Thommanum Makkalum” (2005): A family entertainer starring Mammootty, Lal, and Rajan P Dev, showcasing Shafi’s versatility in handling different narratives.
“Mayavi” (2007): This film, with Mammootty and Gopika in lead roles, was both a critical and commercial success, reinforcing Shafi’s status in the industry.
“Marykkundoru Kunjaadu” (2010): A comedy featuring Dileep and Bhavana, which became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of the year.
“Two Countries” (2015): Starring Dileep and Mamta Mohandas, this film was a major box office hit and was later remade in other languages.
In 2005, Shafi ventured into Tamil cinema with “Majaa,” starring Vikram and Asin. Although primarily focused on Malayalam films, this project showcased his ability to transcend linguistic boundaries.
Beyond filmmaking, Shafi has also been involved in stage productions. In 2018, he directed “Madhuram 18,” a mega stage show that performed across 15 venues in the US and Canada, highlighting his versatility and commitment to promoting Indian culture globally.
In recent years, Shafi continued to contribute to Malayalam cinema with films like “Children’s Park” (2019) and “Aanandam Paramanandam” (2022).
