Filmmaker Shafi passes away

Kochi: Well-known Malayalam filmmaker Shafi passed away on Sunday at Aster Medicity. He was 56. Shafi, born as M H Rasheed, was known for directing comedy films. The director recently suffered a stroke and was admitted to the hospital. Later, he was on a ventilator following a brain surgery.

Shafi started his career in the mid-1990s by assisting director Rajasenan and the Rafi-Mecartin duo. He made his directorial debut in 2001 with the movie One Man Show. Over the years, he directed more than 10 films, many of which became huge hits. Some of his notable films include Kalyanaraman (2002), Pulival Kalyanam (2003), Thommanum Makkalum (2005), Mayavi (2007), Chattambinadu (2009), and Two Countries (2015).

His most recent film was Children’s Park in 2019. Shafi was the younger brother of Rafi, a popular filmmaker from the Rafi-Mecartin duo. Known for his humour and creativity, Shafi’s films were loved by audiences across Kerala.