World Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Aashiq Abu

アシク・プンナッカパランビル・アブー

Aashiq Abu

Aliases: Asiq Punnakkaparambil Aboo

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1978-04-12 （Edappally (Kochi, Kerala, India)）
Nationality
India
Languages
Malayalam, English, Hindi
Residence History
Edappally (Kochi) → Kochi, Kerala

Career

Occupations
Film director, Film producer, Cinematographer, Actor, Distributor
Active Years
2009-
Affiliations
OPM (production & distribution), OPM Dream Mill Cinemas

Education

SRV High School (Kochi)
Country: India
Completed school education here
Maharaja's College, Ernakulam
Period: プレデグリー在籍
Country: India
Served in the students' union during pre-degree studies

Awards

Mohan Raghavan Award
2012
Work: 22 Female Kottayam
Category: Best Director
Organization: Mohan Raghavan Award Committee
Result: 受賞
64th National Film Awards
2016
Work: Maheshinte Prathikaaram
Category: Best Feature Film in Malayalam
Organization: National Film Awards (India)
Result: 受賞（Dileesh Pothanと共同）
Kerala State Film Awards
2016
Work: Maheshinte Prathikaaram
Category: Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value
Organization: Kerala State Film Awards Committee
Result: 受賞（Dileesh Pothanと共同）
Filmfare Award for Best Film – Malayalam
2017
Work: Maheshinte Prathikaaram
Category: Best Film
Organization: Filmfare Awards South
Result: 受賞
Padmarajan Award
2017
Work: Mayaanadhi
Category: Best Film
Organization: Padmarajan Trust
Result: 受賞（Syam Pushkaran、Dileesh Nairと共同）
Jagaran Film Festival
2019
Work: Virus
Category: Best Indian Feature Film
Organization: Jagaran Film Festival Committee
Result: 受賞
Critics' Choice Film Awards
2020
Work: Virus
Category: Best Director
Organization: Critics' Choice (India)
Result: 受賞
CPC Cine Awards
2016
Work: Maheshinte Prathikaaram
Category: Best Film
Organization: CPC Cine Awards Committee
Result: 受賞
Vanitha Film Awards
2017
Work: Maheshinte Prathikaaram
Category: Best Film
Organization: Vanitha (magazine)
Result: 受賞（Dileesh Pothanと共同）

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Daddy Cool

2009 Film (Malayalam)

A comedy-drama starring Mammootty; Aashiq Abu's feature directorial debut.

relationshipsfamily

Salt N' Pepper

2011 Romantic comedy

A film themed around food and romance; both a critical and commercial success, with remake rights sold to other languages.

food cultureromance

22 Female Kottayam

2012 Thriller / Drama

A story of a woman's revenge and empowerment; boosted his reputation as a director.

female empowermentjusticerevenge

Mayaanadhi

2017 Romantic drama

A delicate portrayal of a modern relationship between a man and a woman; widely praised by critics.

lovelonelinesschoices

Virus

2019 Medical drama / Thriller

An ensemble drama based on the true events of the 2018 Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala; depicts public health and community response.

public healthcommunitycrisis response

Rifle Club

2024 Drama

A film noted for its aesthetics; one of the films he directed and worked on as cinematographer.

human relationsaesthetic technique

Bibliography

  • Daddy Cool (2009)
  • Salt N' Pepper (2011)
  • 22 Female Kottayam (2012)
  • Da Thadiya (2012)
  • Idukki Gold (2013)
  • Gangster (2014)
  • Rani Padmini (2015)
  • Mayaanadhi (2017)
  • Virus (2019)
  • Neelavelicham (2023)
  • Rifle Club (2024)

Adaptations

  • Neelavelicham — film adaptation of a short story by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer

Style & Themes

Literary Style
realist storytellingnuanced character depictionvisual-focused direction
Recurring Motifs
intimate human relationshipsurban everyday lifecommunity under crisis

Legacy

Aashiq Abu is an influential director-producer in Malayalam cinema known for balancing commercial appeal with critical acclaim. He has supported collaborative productions and emerging directors, and recently expanded his work into cinematography.

Trivia

  • Married actress Rima Kallingal in 2013.
  • Participated in local relief efforts such as Anbodu Kochi.
  • A controversy arose over delayed remittance of proceeds from a 2019 charity concert he was involved with.