Popular Malayalam filmmaker Shafi, known for directing some of the most beloved comedies in Malayalam cinema, passed away late on Saturday, January 25. He was 56. Shafi had been admitted to a private hospital in Ernakulam after suffering a stroke on January 16, and had been undergoing medical care. He remained in critical condition for several days before his demise.
Some of his most popular films include One Man Show (2001), Kalyanaraman (2002), Pulival Kalyanam (2003), Thommanum Makkalum (2005), Mayavi (2007), Chocolate (2007), Chattambinadu (2009), and Two Countries (2015).
Shafi’s legal name was Rasheed MH, but he was more widely known by his stage name. He began his film career as an assistant director, with director Siddique and the director duo Rafi Mecartin, of whom Rafi is his elder brother. In 2001, Shafi directed his first film, One Man Show, a comedy-drama starring Jayaram, Lal, and Samyuktha Varma.
Over the course of his career, Shafi directed more than 10 films, many of which became massive hits in Kerala. In 2002, he directed Kalyanaraman, starring Dileep, Navya Nair, and Kunchako Boban. The film was a huge success, with the character played by Innocent, Mr Ponjikkara, becoming an iconic comedic role in the history of Malayalam cinema. This was a recurring trait in most of Shafi’s films, where comedic actors often shone with their riotous humour, memorable catchphrases, and performances that endeared them to fans across generations. Other such celebrated characters under Shafi’s direction include Salim Kumar as Manavalan and Cochin Haneefa as Dharmendra in Pulivaal Kalyanam, Salim Kumar’s Kannan Sranku in Mayavi, and Suraj as Dasamoolam Damu in Chattambinadu.
Shafi’s ability to create ‘repeat-viewing’ magic with these characters were unmatched, making his films a staple of Malayalam family viewing, often quoted and memed years after their release.