Director

Aashiq Abu

Aashiq Abu is a true multihyphenate of Malayalam cinema—director, producer, cinematographer, and actor all rolled into one. Since launching his career in 2009, he's become one of the architects of the new-wave movement that completely revitalized Malayalam filmmaking in the early 2010s. His breakout films *Salt N' Pepper* (2011) and *22 Female Kottayam* (2012) announced his arrival as a sharp, socially conscious storyteller, and he's only gotten bolder since. As a producer, he scored a major win with the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam for *Maheshinte Prathikaaram* (2016), proving his eye for quality filmmaking extends beyond his own directorial ventures. What sets Aashiq apart is his distinctive visual sensibility combined with deeply grounded, character-driven narratives that feel urgently relevant. He's built an enviable creative partnership with screenwriters Syam Pushkaran and Dileesh Nair, resulting in films like *Mayaanadhi* (2017) that showcase his ability to blend indie sensibilities with mainstream appeal. His production banners, OPM Cinemas and OPM Dream Mill Cinemas, have become platforms for fresh voices in Malayalam cinema. Whether tackling contemporary social issues in *Virus* (2019) or exploring new territories with recent work like *Rifle Club* (2024), Aashiq continues to push boundaries and remind us why Malayalam cinema remains one of India's most exciting film industries.