Published Aug 08, 2023 | 12:04 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 09, 2023 | 3:08 PM
Versatile actor Fahadh Faasil turns 41 on 8 August. (Facebook)
Fahadh Faasil, son of popular Malayalam director Fazil, has fans across India.
Apart from his mother tongue Malayalam, Fahadh acted in Tamil and Telugu films and made a mark for himself. His notable works in other languages include Pushpa: The Rise (Telugu, 2021), Vikram (Tamil, 2022), and Maamannan (Tamil, 2023).
Fahadh is perhaps the only actor — a male lead in particular — who made a statement by daringly sporting a bald head in a pan-Indian flick. Yes, his bald-head look became quite popular across India after the release of Allu Arjun-starrer Pushpa.
Indeed, there’s a rumour that many bald men in Kerala let go of their wigs after watching Fahadh Faasil’s work.
And guess what? It’s not just his expressions but his eyes too earned him many fans.
As the versatile actor turns 41 on Tuesday, August 8, South First lists out five must-watch films of Fahadh Faasil.
Director Dileesh Pothan once said that KG George’s Irakal (1985) inspired him to direct Joji, a direct OTT release (Amazon Prime).
In the film, Fahadh plays the titular character and delivers a brilliant performance. Joji’s lust for power is infectious and allures his other conniving family members to help him.
Fahadh Faasil in ‘Joji’. (Supplied)
Joji wants to take over his father’s assets. His desperation and anxiety are almost tangible and come out through physical and non-physical acts.
The actor splendidly portrays Joji’s conspiracies to murder his siblings who realise his true intentions. Joji turning into a criminal mastermind is a haunting realisation and isn’t sudden or spontaneous.
Fahadh Faasil doesn’t act like a psycho, but he is slow and consistent. His way of handling situations turns into murders.
Frustration, anger, and the need to break free, everything is safe in the hands of the versatile actor. Inarguably his most off-beat role, Fahadh showcases his unexplored range as an actor in Joji.
‘Kumbalangi Nights’ was a huge hit. (Supplied)
Kumbalangi Nights was an introduction for many non-Malayalis to Malayalam films, a smaller industry compared to Tamil and Telugu.
The movie has an ensemble cast, including Fahadh Faasil, Soubin Shahir, Shane Nigam, Sreenath Bhasi, Anna Ben, and Grace Mathews.
Fahadh appears as Shammi, a male chauvinist. His dialogue, “Shammi Hero Aanu (Shammi is the hero)” gives a complete outlook of his character.
His body language and his conversations with his wife get on the nerves of the audience. Well, it’s a victory for Fahadh as an actor.
Team #Pushpa2TheRule wishes the Massively talented #FahadhFaasil a very Happy Birthday ❤🔥
Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat Sir will be back on the big screens with vengeance 🔥
Icon Star @alluarjun @iamRashmika @aryasukku @ThisIsDSP @SukumarWritings @MythriOfficial @TSeries pic.twitter.com/vaimlpQS9u
— Pushpa (@PushpaMovie) August 8, 2023
One of the best qualities of Fahadh Faasil is that he plays a character artiste too, rather than insisting on a full-length role.
‘Take Off’ was directed by Mahesh Narayanan. (Supplied)
Mahesh Narayanan’s Take Off is one such movie where the actor appears in the crucial role of a bureaucrat.
Take Off is based on real-life incidents of Indian nurses getting stuck in Iraq during a war. These films usually have a saviour, mostly a hero.
But here, Fahadh plays the role of a determined bureaucrat whose unrelenting and boundless efforts save the lives of Indian nurses on foreign soil.
Take Off is an edge-of-the-seat thriller that retells the inspiring story of Indian nurses who were saved from a terrorist outfit in Iraq.
While Parvathy is the heart of the story, Fahadh, with his extended cameo role, entertains the film buffs with some heart-warming moments.
Fahadh Faasil in ‘Thondimuthalum Drikshakshiyum’. (Supplied)
In Dileesh Pothan’s Thondimuthalum Drikshakshiyum, Fahadh Faasil’s disarming smile, tender gaze, and steady demeanour give his character Prasad an innocent and child-like quality.
In the movie, the artiste appears as a thief who is accused of stealing a gold chain inside the bus.
Suraj Venjaramoodu and Nimisha Sajayan also play important roles.
Fahadh’s scenes in the police station are some of the best hilarious moments in the flick.
The climax scenes are quite interesting and are shot well by the director.
Thondimuthalum Drikshakshiyum is definitely a must-watch movie for Fahadh fans.
Amen was a surprise hit directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery and written by PS Rafeeque. The fantasy film revolves around the events that happen in a village in Kuttanad in Alleppey.
‘Amen’ was a surprise hit in Malayalam. (Supplied)
It featured Fahadh Faasil, Indrajith Sukumaran, Kalabhavan Mani, and Swathi Reddy in key roles.
In the movie, Fahadh plays the role of Solomon, a saxophonist who falls in love with Shoshanna (Swathi Reddy), a rich girl in the village. Their parents are against their relationship.
Solomon is not a confident man and is often scolded by his teammates in the music band. Shoshanna also speaks harshly to him every time he believes that he is a failure.
Fahad’s performance as the saxophonist was well appreciated by movie buffs and critics.
The movie is not at all a Fahadh Faasil show, but the music and the performances by other actors make it a good entertainer.
