Aashiq Abu | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | Asiq Punnakkaparambil Aboo [1] 12 April 1978 Edappally, Kochi, Kerala, India |
Occupation(s) | Film director and producer |
Years active | 2009–present |
Spouse |
Aashiq Abu (born 12 April 1978) is an Indian film director, producer, cinematographer, [2] actor, and distributor, who works in Malayalam cinema. He is best known for his films such as Daddy Cool (2009), Salt N' Pepper (2011), 22 Female Kottayam (2012), Idukki Gold (2013), Mayaanadhi (2017) and Virus (2019). [3] Abu is often known for his collaboration with screenwriters Syam Pushkaran and Dileesh Nair.
Abu produces and distributes under the banner OPM and OPM Dream Mill Cinemas. OPM produced Dileesh Pothan's directional debut Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016), which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam.
Aashiq Abu was born in Edappally, Kochi, Kerala [4] to C. M. Abu, and Jameela Abu. Aashiq Abu completed his school education at SRV High School, Kochi. As a pre-degree student at Maharajas College, he was elected to the Students' Union and was a union member for four consecutive years. He married actress Rima Kallingal on 1 November 2013, in a simple function held in Kakkanad Registration office, Kochi. [5]
Aashiq Abu has been part of Anbodu Kochi, a Facebook-based group which works with the local administration, collecting and distributing relief materials in the aftermath of natural disasters. [6] In 2019 November, Kochi Music Foundation of which Aashiq Abu is a part of organised a musical event 'Karuna' in Kochi promising that the proceedings from the event will be donated to the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF) to help flood victims. There was a delay in Chief Minister's office receiving the funds, sparking a controversy. [7]
After working as an assistant director to Malayalam film director Kamal [4] for about five years, Abu made his directorial debut with Daddy Cool in 2009 starring Mammootty. Salt N' Pepper was his second directorial effort. Salt N' Pepper’s Tamil, Telugu and Hindi remake rights was bought by actor-director Prakash Raj. In 2012, he directed 22 Female Kottayam which was followed by Da Thadiya , Gangster and Rani Padmini . Aashiq Abu has also done a short film, Lost in Bangalore for Mathrubhumi. His 2017 release was Mayaanadhi . [8] On 7 June 2019, his latest movie Virus was released. The movie is based on the true events of the Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala in 2018.
† | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Year | Film | Director | Producer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | Daddy Cool | Yes | ||
2011 | Salt N' Pepper | Yes | ||
2012 | 22 Female Kottayam | Yes | ||
Da Thadiya | Yes | |||
2013 | Anchu Sundharikal | Yes | Anthology (Segment: Gauri) | |
Idukki Gold | Yes | |||
2014 | Gangster | Yes | Yes | |
2015 | Rani Padmini | Yes | ||
2016 | Maheshinte Prathikaaram | Yes | Directed by Dileesh Pothan | |
2017 | Mayaanadhi | Yes | Yes | |
2018 | Ee.Ma.Yau | Yes | Directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery | |
2019 | Virus | Yes | Yes | |
2020 | Halal Love Story | Yes | Directed by Zakariya Mohammed | |
2021 | Aarkkariyam [9] | Yes | Directorial debut of Sanu Varghese | |
Aanum Pennum [10] | Yes | Anthology film, (Segment: Rani) | ||
Bheemante Vazhi [11] | Yes | Directed by Ashraf Hamza | ||
2022 | Naaradan [12] | Yes | Yes | |
2023 | Neelavelicham [13] | Yes | Yes | Adaptation of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer's story |
2024 | Rifle Club | Yes | Yes |
Year | Film | Director | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Rappakal | Kamal | As a 'Photographer' |
2012 | Theevram | Roopesh Peethambaran | Cameo as himself |
2013 | Annayum Rasoolum | Rajeev Ravi | Rasool's brother Hyder |
2014 | Iyobinte Pusthakam | Amal Neerad | P. J. Antony |
2017 | Parava | Soubin Shahir | Police Sub Inspector |
2022 | C/o56APO | Anoop Oommen | Mukhlis Azad |
2023 | 2018 | Jude Anthany Joseph | Party Member |
Year | Title | Director | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | Rifle Club | Himself | [14] |
2025 | Lovely† | Dileesh Nair | [15] |
Year | Film | Award | Category | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | 22 Female Kottayam | Mohan Raghavan Award [16] | Best Director | |
2016 | Maheshinte Prathikaaram | 64th National Film Awards [17] | Best Feature Film in Malayalam | Award shared with Dileesh Pothan |
Kerala State Film Awards [18] | Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value | Award shared with Dileesh Pothan | ||
Filmfare Award for Best Film – Malayalam [19] | Best Film | |||
CPC Cine Awards [20] | Best Film | |||
Vanitha Film Awards [21] | Best Film | Award shared with Dileesh Pothan | ||
Asianet Film Awards | Critics Award for Best Film | |||
2017 | Mayanadi | Padmarajan Award [22] | Best Film | Award shared with Syam Pushkaran and Dileesh Nair |
2019 | Virus | Jagaran Film Festival [23] | Best Indian Feature Film | |
Critic's Choice Film Awards [24] | Best Director | |||
CPC Cine Awards | Best Director | |||
Balachandran Chullikkad is an Indian poet, orator, lyricist and actor in Malayalam-language media.
P. J. Antony was an Indian stage and film actor. He received the National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in Nirmalyam in 1974. He was also the first actor working in Malayalam cinema to receive the award. Antony was also a respected figure in the professional theatre field, working with communist cultural and art bodies like the K.P.A.C.
Rima Kallingal is an Indian actress and film producer who primarily works in Malayalam films.
Baburaj Jacob, mononymously known as Baburaj, is an Indian actor, director, and screenwriter who works predominantly in Malayalam cinema and has also appeared in Tamil and Hindi films. He began and established his career in cinema by playing antagonistic roles and graduated to comedic and character roles after the 2011 film Salt N' Pepper.
Salt N' Pepper is a 2011 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy film directed by Aashiq Abu and produced for Lucsam Creations. The film stars Lal, Asif Ali, Shwetha Menon, and Mythili in the lead roles, while Baburaj and Vijayaraghavan play supporting roles.
22 Female Kottayam, also known as 22FK, is a 2012 Indian Malayalam-language thriller film directed by Aashiq Abu. Written by Syam Pushkaran and Abhilash S. Kumar. The film stars Rima Kallingal and Fahadh Faasil. It was set and filmed in Bengaluru.
Rex Vijayan is an Indian composer, guitarist, singer, record producer and multi-instrumentalist from Kerala. He is best known for being co-founder and guitarist for the alternative Malayali rock band Avial. He started out his career as a composer in the Malayalam film industry through Kerala Cafe by giving the score to Anwar Rasheed's segment 'Bridge'.
Sadanandan Rangorath is an Indian film producer and businessman best known in Malayalam cinema. He entered Malayalam cinema producer of Salt N' Pepper directed by Aashiq Abu which got released in 2011 The Movie was the block buster of the year winning the Kerala State Award. for the popular movie of the year.
Dileesh Philip, also known as Dileesh Pothan is an Indian film director, actor and producer, who works in Malayalam cinema. He made his directorial debut with the 2016 comedy drama film Maheshinte Prathikaaram, starring Fahadh Faasil. The film received the Best Feature Film in Malayalam Award at the 64th National Film Awards. Pothan also won the Best Director Award at the 64th Filmfare Awards South.
Dileesh Nair is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works in Malayalam cinema. He started out as a 2D animator. He made his script writing debut with Salt N' Pepper (2011) along with Syam Pushkaran. He debuted as film director with Tamaar Padaar (2014).
Rani Padmini is a 2015 Indian Malayalam film directed by Aashiq Abu, starring Rima Kallingal and Manju Warrier in the lead. Produced by the company Fort Entertainment. The script was written by Syam Pushkaran and Ravisankar. The music score was composed by Bijibal. It is a portrayal of the journey towards the amative awakening of two women from different backgrounds with a blend of feminism. The film pays homage to Narendra Prasad. It was released on 23 October 2015.
Syam Pushkaran is an Indian scriptwriter who works in Malayalam cinema. He is known for his collaboration with directors Aashiq Abu and Dileesh Pothan. He made his debut with Salt N' Pepper (2011), co-written with Dileesh Nair. He has written screenplays for popular films such as 22 Female Kottayam (2012), Da Thadiya (2012), Idukki Gold (2013), Iyobinte Pusthakam (2014), Rani Padmini (2015), Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016), Mayaanadhi (2017), and Kumbalangi Nights (2019) and Joji (2021). He also served as co-director and wrote the dialogues for Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum (2017). Pushkaran won the National Film Award for Best Screenplay for Maheshinte Prathikaram at the 64th National Film Awards (2016).
Maheshinte Prathikaaram is a 2016 Indian Malayalam-language comedy drama film directed by Dileesh Pothan, in his directorial debut and produced by Aashiq Abu. The film stars Fahadh Faasil in the title role alongside a supporting cast including Aparna Balamurali, Anusree, Alencier Ley Lopez and Soubin Shahir. Written by Syam Pushkaran, the story is based on an incident in the life of Thampan Purushan from Thuravoor, Cherthala. Shyju Khalid was the film's cinematographer, and the music was composed by Bijibal.
Shyju Khalid is an Indian cinematographer, film director, and producer who works in Malayalam films. Shyju Khalid made his debut as cinematographer with Traffic (2011). His notable works are 22 Female Kottayam (2012), Idukki Gold (2013), Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016), Traffic (2011), 5 Sundarikal (2013), Sudani From Nigeria (2018), Ee.Ma.Yau (2018) and Kumbalangi Nights (2019). He is a member of the Indian Society of Cinematographers (ISC). Film director Khalid Rahman and cinematographer Jimshi Khalid are his brothers.
Mayaanadhi is a 2017 Indian Malayalam-language romantic thriller film directed and co-produced by Aashiq Abu, and written by Syam Pushkaran and Dileesh Nair. The film stars Tovino Thomas as a criminal on the run and Aishwarya Lekshmi as an aspiring actress. Their troubled love and struggle for survival form the basic plot of the film. It released on 22 December 2017 to widespread critical acclaim from critics. The film was praised for the way it tackled with sexuality and was included in The Hindu 's top 25 Malayalam films of the decade.
Virus is a 2019 Indian Malayalam-language medical thriller film co-produced and directed by Aashiq Abu set against the backdrop of the 2018 Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala. The film was written by Muhsin Parari and Suhas-Sharfu. It stars an ensemble cast consisting of Kunchacko Boban, Indrajith Sukumaran, Asif Ali, Tovino Thomas, Poornima Indrajith, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Revathi and Rahman.
Unnimaya Prasad is an Indian actress, assistant director and producer who works in Malayalam cinema. She worked as the casting director of Maheshinte Prathikaram (2016).
Binu Pappu is an Indian actor and assistant director primarily working in the Malayalam movie industry. He is the son of actor Kuthiravattam Pappu. He is mainly noted for his performances in the movies Helen, One, Operation Java and Bheemante Vazhi.
Aashiq Vanna Divasam is a 2018 Indian Malayalam-language children's drama film directed by Krish Kymal and starring Priyamani and Naseer Latif.
Rifle Club is a 2024 Indian Malayalam-language action comedy film directed by Aashiq Abu and written by Syam Pushkaran, Dileesh Karunakaran, and Suhas. The film is produced by Aashiq Abu, Vincent Vadakkan, and Vishal Vincent Tony under the banners of OPM Cinemas and TRU Stories. The film features Vijayaraghavan, Dileesh Pothan, Anurag Kashyap, Vani Viswanath, Suresh Krishna, Vineeth Kumar and Surabhi Lakshmi.