Director Shafi’s Condition Critical, On Ventilator Support

Ernakulam, Kerala: Acclaimed Malayalam filmmaker Shafi, who has given many blockbuster movies especially in comedy and drama genres in Malayalam, is undergoing treatment at Aster Medicity Hospital in Ernakulam following internal bleeding. He is in a critical condition, a family member confirmed to Timeline.

Shafi is currently on ventilator support. An emergency brain surgery was performed on him Thursday. Following an internal bleeding, he was admitted to the hospital on January 16.

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The medical team is closely monitoring Shafi’s health. A team of expert doctors is treating the Kalyanaraman director.

Rasheed MH, famously known as Shafi, is a famous director and screenwriter who has significantly contributed to Malayalam cinema, particularly in the comedy genre. His films, particularly, Pulival Kalyanam (2003) and Mayavi (2007), have become ingrained in the daily lives of Malayalees, with their iconic dialogues and scenes frequently referenced and recreated in everyday conversations. Shafi and his works have carved their place in the Malayalam pop culture.

The director has been instrumental in helping Mammootty to establish the great actor in comedy genre as well with movies like Thommanum Makkalum (2005), Mayavi (2007), Chattambinadu (2009) and Venicile Vyaapari (2011).

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His last directorial was Sharafudheen’s Aanandam Paramanandam released in 2022.

Born on February 18, 1968 in Ernakulam, Kerala, 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, Roma among others, in his more than two-decades long career.