Shafi; the unstoppable hitmaker with a midas touch

In local parlance, it’s often said that some people have art flowing through their veins. More formally, we call it inborn talent. The late veteran director Siddique and his talented nephews, Rafi and Shafi,  undoubtedly fell into this category.

However, being born into a financially struggling family, the brothers faced many hurdles in showcasing their artistic gifts. Pursuing a career in cinema, a field brimming with uncertainties, came with its risks. If both Shafi and Rafi chose to follow their cinematic dreams at the same time, it would have meant hardship for their family and perhaps even an empty kitchen.

In those days, the wages for assistant directors were meagre --barely enough to get by. There was no guarantee that an assistant director would ever get the chance to direct a film on their own. Even if that opportunity came, their survival in the industry depended entirely on their debut being a box-office success and on more projects following in its wake.

With these risks in mind, the brothers decided to chart a safer course for their future. While Rafi began working as an assistant to Siddique-Lal and other directors, Shafi took up a job as a leather bag vendor to support the family. However, when Rafi eventually found his footing in the film industry as a screenwriter, he never forgot Shafi’s dream of working in cinema.

During his collaborations with the hit director Rajasenan, Rafi introduced Shafi as an assistant director, ensuring he could learn the ropes of film-making. Although Shafi picked up the fundamentals of direction, two major hurdles still stood in his way to becoming an independent director.

First, he needed a producer willing to trust and invest in his abilities. Second, he needed one of the leading stars of the time to agree to work with him. Fortunately, Shafi’s address as Rafi’s younger brother -- of the renowned Rafi-Mecartin duo--proved to be a blessing. He eventually got his big break directing 'One Man Show' with Jayaram in the lead. The screenplay for the film was penned by Rafi-Mecartin.

Back-to-back hits
With his debut film itself securing a spot in the hit charts, Shafi quickly carved out a name for himself in the industry. Critics and audiences alike began recognising him as a director who truly understood his craft. Shafi’s knack for delivering commercial films infused with humour became his signature, a skill he would consistently showcase over the coming years.

It was Shafi’s brother, Rafi, who encouraged him to step beyond the scripts of the Rafi-Mecartin duo and explore his creative independence. Although he did not pursue the idea of making films in quick succession, Shafi maintained an impressive streak, releasing one hit film each year.

His second movie, 'Kalyanaraman', starring Dileep, was written by Benny P. Nayarambalam and became a massive blockbuster. The following year, he directed 'Pulival Kalyanam', based on a script by Udaykrishna, which also became a huge hit. Shafi then delivered 'Thommanum Makkalum', a Mammootty-starrer that cemented his reputation as a hitmaker.

This success opened doors to new opportunities, including a chance to remake 'Thommanum Makkalum' in Tamil. The remake, titled 'Majaa', starred Vikram, the leading star in Tollywood at the time, and featured Asin, a sensation in the Tamil industry. 'Majaa' too achieved moderate box-office success in Tamil.

By then, Mammootty was keen to collaborate again with Shafi, who had become synonymous with delivering superhits. This led to 'Mayavi', another successful venture that reinforced Shafi’s reputation as a master of the craft. With one hit after another, the name Shafi had started to become synonymous with box-office success.

While heroes and screenwriters changed over time, Shafi consistently delivered hits. His success lay in his extraordinary ability to create movies that kept audiences hooked, ensuring not a single dull moment.

The most wanted director
The film industry heavyweights, always eager to secure hitmakers, competed fiercely to lock in dates with Shafi. Top producers were determined to collaborate with him, while leading actors lined up, hoping to star in his next film. Shafi had become synonymous with guaranteed success- a shortcut to a hit without taking risks.
However, Shafi was never the one to rush into decisions. As a film-maker who meticulously planned every step of his career, he patiently waited for the right project to come his way.

His film 'Chocolate', starring Prithviraj and written by debutant screenwriters Sachi and Sethu, became a massive hit. The success of the movie further solidified the industry's trust in Shafi’s directorial prowess. He followed it up with 'Lollipop', featuring Prithviraj and Jayasurya. While the film wasn’t a blockbuster, it managed to hold its ground at the box office without being labelled a flop.

After 'Lollipop', Shafi collaborated once again with Mammootty, an actor who had always been a lucky star for him. The result was the big-budget movie 'Chattambinadu', which turned out to be another success.
This was followed by 'Marykkundoru Kunjaadu', marking the much-anticipated reunion of Shafi with Dileep after their earlier hit 'Kalyanaraman'. The film, featuring the lucky pair of Dileep and Bhavana,  too became a massive hit.

The smile that kept success from going to his head
At a time when consecutive hits had become nearly impossible for even stalwarts like Priyadarshan and the Siddique-Lal duo, people marvelled at Shafi’s unbroken string of successes. Yet,  Shafi remained grounded and he was rarely seen celebrating. Instead, he was mostly at home, wearing his trademark warm smile, further surprising those around him.

Shafi always took a break after completing each film. This time off was for rest, watching new movies and listening to potential stories for future projects. He was particularly careful to maintain a routine of making only one film a year.

Unlike many in the industry, Shafi had no greed or lofty ambitions. Despite receiving lucrative offers from film industries in other languages, including Hindi, Shafi never succumbed to the temptation. In Malayalam, too, producers eagerly lined up to offer him handsome pay packages. Leading stars, with their market value intact, were equally keen to work with him.
There were even stories of top stars waiting eagerly for Shafi’s call, willing to put aside projects they had already signed in order to work with him. A man of few words, Shafi continued to embrace his success with a humble, gentle smile, letting his work speak for itself.

For many in the industry, especially those with little experience, success often led to arrogance--some would even turn audacious and insult their colleagues. Shafi, however, remained a wonder in this regard. When asked about this, his response was insightful;

“In cinema, no one’s success is permanent. Even legends like Sasikumar Sir and IV Sasi faced flops at certain points in their careers. I’m just an ordinary man, and I have no guarantee that today’s success will be repeated tomorrow. That’s why I approach every project, which comes after a hit, with utmost caution. The life of a film-maker isn’t about arrogance--it’s filled with uncertainty,” he said.

In his career spanning 25-years, Shafi deviated from his usual practice of doing only one film a year on just two occasions, in 2007 and 2011. In 2007, luck was on his side, as both 'Mayavi' and 'Chocolate' became massive hits. However, in 2011, the story took an unexpected turn. While the Jayaram-starrer 'Makeup Man' performed well at the box office, 'Venicile Vyapari', starring Mammootty, did not reach the expected success.

The second coming with 'Two Countries'
In the following year, Shafi directed '101 Weddings' with Kunjacko Boban, but it didn’t quite match the level of fame Shafi had long enjoyed. Perhaps the timing wasn’t right for him. The so-called experts jumped in with rumours, suggesting that Shafi’s career was finally on the decline. However, Shafi never responded to any of these claims.

With his signature smile that disarmed everyone, he withdrew from the limelight and spent three years in solitude. Then, in 2015, Shafi made a triumphant comeback with 'Two Countries'. This time, it was his brother Rafi who supported him in the project with an entertaining screenplay. As was the case whenever the duo joined forces, the movie became a massive hit. Dileep, too, had always been a lucky star for Shafi.

After this success, however, Shafi’s luck appeared to take yet another downturn. 'Sherlock Holmes', starring Biju Menon, failed to perform well at the box office. The same fate befell 'Oru Pazhaya Bomb Kadha', starring Bibin George. Even with his brother Rafi’s screenplay, 'Children’s Park', featuring Vishnu Unnikrishnan, couldn’t repeat the previous success. Shafi’s last project, 'Anandam Paramanandam', starring Sharafudheen, also failed to make an impact.

It’s no small feat that out of the 18 movies Shafi directed, all but a few--those towards the end of his career--became massive box office hits. This remarkable achievement has also solidified his place among an array of hitmakers in Malayalam cinema. Beyond the success of his films, the majority of them had remarkable repeat value. 

Shafi was never one to boast about his accomplishments or make unnecessary claims about his work. He was a filmmaker who always kept things simple. His main goal was to engage the audience without ever boring them, ensuring that people left the theatre with a smile on their faces.

At a time when life expectancy is rising, 56 is hardly considered old. Yet, Shafi’s untimely departure came at this age. His passing, following the loss of his uncle Siddique,  also marks the conclusion of a golden age in the Malayalam commercial film industry.