Shafi debuted with ‘One Man Show’ (2001) which was scripted by Rafi. Having worked with Rajasenan and Siddique, Shafi had developed his own style in filmmaking with slapstick comedy as its trademark.
Published Jan 26, 2025 | 7:27 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 26, 2025 | 7:27 PM
Director Shafi. (Supplied)
Malayalam director Shafi best known for his comedy films is no more. The director breathed his last at a private hospital in Kochi on Sunday, 26 January, at around 12.30 am. His mortal remains were laid to rest the same day.
The director is known for his comedy films which were blockbusters at the box office.
Shafi started his career in cinema after assisting director Rajasenan and has also worked with his elder brother Rafi who is also an actor and director.
The superhit combo Rafi-Mecartin happened only after Shafi introduced Mecartin to Rafi.
Shafi, originally named Rashid, worked with Rajasenan on five films and late director Siddique on two films Hitler and Friends.
He had also worked closely with Rafi-Mecartin in different films.
Shafi debuted with ‘One Man Show’ (2001) which was scripted by Rafi. Having worked with Rajasenan and Siddique, Shafi had developed his own style in filmmaking with slapstick comedy as its trademark.
Interestingly, the comedy characters in these films are still celebrated in the online spaces as trolls.
Who will forget the combination of Manavalan (Salim Kumar) and Dharmendra (Cochin Haneefa) in Pulival Kalyanam (2003)? The comedy scenes in these films are still watched even by the new age audience.
Similarly in Kalyanaraman (2002), the character of Innocent named Ponjikara is one of the most hilarious ones in Malayalam cinema.
Suraj Venjaramoodu’s Dasamoolam Damu in Chattambinadu (2009) is still celebrated in the online space. In the recent past, Shafi had hinted at a standalone movie with Damu in the lead.
In his condolence note, Suraj Venjaramoodu said that Shafi was a mentor and elder brother to him as he had given a break in cinema.
Similarly the character of Sranku by Salim Kumar in ‘Mayavi’ is another caricature character. Shafi had said that this character was developed further and the initial script didn’t have this many scenes.
Shafi had delivered superhits in his career spanning two decades and had worked with Dileep, Mammootty, Jayasurya, Jayaram, Prithviraj , Kunchako Boban and Biju Menon. He was closely associated with his brother Rafi and Benny P Nayarambalam.
‘Kalyanaraman’ (2002)
Kalyanaraman.
Kalyananaraman had Dileep and Navya Nair in the lead roles. The movie is known for its comedy scenes involving Dileep, Innocent and Salim Kumar. A major caricature character of this movie was Ponjikara played by late actor Innocent. The movie has a love story which involves two families led by characters played by Lalu Alex and Lal. The movie was a superhit after its release.
Thommanum Makkalum (2005)
Thommanum Makkalum.
Thommanum Makkalum was scripted by Benny P Nayarambalam and it told the story of Thomman (Rajan P Dev) and his two adopted sons played by Mammootty and Lal. The movie was a superhit and once again comedy was a major highlight of this movie.
The comedy numbers including Salim Kumar, Mammootty, Lal and Rajan P Dev still have repetitive value.
Mayavi (2007)
Mayavi.
Mayavi had Mamootty in the lead role as a prisoner who is out of jail. He reaches a village and he is on a mission to save the family of his friend whom he met in the jail. The events that happen in the village is the major plot of the movie and it was a blockbuster.
The movie has some good comedy moments including Suraj Venjaramoodu and Salim Kumar.
Chocolate (2007)
Chocolate was a fun movie which has a blend of drama and entertainment and it has a different subject of what happens when a male student is admitted in a woman’s college.
The movie starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, Jayasurya, Roma and Samvritha was a superhit and had hilarious moments happening inside the college. The film also had good songs which was also a major highlight.
Two countries (2015)
Two Countries.
Two countries starring Dileep and Mamta Mohandas in the lead roles was a super hit movie. It dealt with the character played by Dileep marrying Mamta Mohandas’s character who is living in Canada. She is a drunkard and the hilarious moments that happen between the duo is the major highlight of the movie.
Shafi had planned to do a second part of the movie. In an interview Shafi had said that his films had strong comedy characters who stood along with the major leads such as in Mayavi, Chattambinadu and Venicile Vyapari. His films were mostly love stories with comedy in it.
Shafi directed 18 films in his career and most of them were blockbusters. However some of his last films Anandam Paramanandam (2022), Childrens Park (2019) didn’t work at the box office.
Shafi was born in Kochi. Director Siddique was his uncle.
Before entering the glamorous world of cinema, Shafi and his elder brother Rafi had to struggle a lot as their father’s business suffered losses and they had faced financial issues.
Even though they wanted to join the film industry, they didn’t have the courage because it was a world of uncertainty. Both of them launched a bag manufacturing business before entering cinema.
As the business was successful, Rafi first came to cinema and he directed films with Mecartin. Rafi became a writer and the success of his film ‘Aniyan Bava Chettan Bava‘ made him a much wanted writer.
Later on, Shafi ended the bag business and entered the film industry. From his debut movie ‘One Man Show‘, the director had only directed comedy films and that was his trademark area where he shined.
His last film, Aanandam Paramanandam featuring Sharafudheen in the lead role was released in 2022.
(Views expressed here are personal. Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
