Soubin Shahir

Indian film actor, director, and producer

In this Indian name, the name Shahir is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Soubin.

Soubin Shahir

Soubin in 2019

Born|  (1983-10-12) 12 October 1983 (age 40)

Kochi, Kerala, India[1]

Occupations|

* Actor
* writer
* director

Years active| 1992–present
Height| 168 cm (5 ft 6 in)
Spouse|

Jamia Zaheer

(m. 2017)​

Children| 1

Soubin Shahir (born 12 October 1983) is an Indian actor, director and producer who works in Malayalam cinema. He began his film career as an assistant director in 2003 and worked under several directors. Soubin made his acting debut in 2013 with a supporting role in Annayum Rasoolum. He made his directorial debut with the drama Parava (2017). In 2018, he won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for his leading role in Sudani from Nigeria, which was also a major commercial success. He portrayed one of the main characters in Manjummel Boys, which went onto become the highest grossing Malayalam film ever and one of the highest-grossing Indian films of 2024.

## Early life

[edit]

Soubin was born and raised in Fort Kochi,[1] Kerala, India. He has a brother and sister. His father Babu Shahir was an assistant director and production controller who had worked in films such as Manichithrathazhu, Godfather, In Harihar Nagar among others.[2]

## Career

[edit]

Soubin started his film career as an assistant director in the industry with Siddique's Chronic Bachelor (2003). He assisted directors like Fazil, Siddique, Rafi-Mecartin, P. Sukumar, Santhosh Sivan, Rajeev Ravi, and Amal Neerad.[3] He made his acting début in Fazil's Kaiyethum Doorath (2002) while working as an assistant director. He got a breakthrough role with Alphonse Putharen's Premam (2015) where he played the role of a PT teacher. This led to his popularity as an actor in the industry.[4][5] His popular roles include in films Charlie (2015), Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016), Kali (2016), Darvinte Parinamam (2016), Kammatipaadam (2016), Anuraga Karikkin Vellam (2016), Mayanadhi (2017), Comrade in America – CIA (2017), and Kumbalangi Nights. His first full lead role was in the film Sudani from Nigeria (2018) for which he won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor.[6][7]

In 2024, he played the part of Siju David aka "Kuttan" in Manjummel Boys. He also produced the movie. It went on to receive critical acclaim and set several box-office records, becoming the highest grossing Malayalam film, and the first film from the industry to earn more than ₹200 crore. It also emerged as one of the highest-grossing Indian films of 2024.[8][9]

He is also a partner in Parava Films, a production company that has produced hits like Manjummel Boys.[10]

## Personal life

[edit]

On 16 December 2017, he married his fiancée[11] Jamia Zaheer. Jamia is a marketing professional,[12] based in Kochi. The couple has a son born in May 2019.

## Filmography

[edit]

Key  †  | Denotes films that have not yet been released

|

### As actor

[edit]

Year | Title | Role | Notes

|
|
|

1992 | Vietnam Colony | Child artist | uncredited role
1992 | Pappayude Swantham Appoos | Child artist | uncredited role
1993 | Kabooliwala | Child artist | uncredited role
2002 | Kaiyethum Doorath | Bus Passenger | uncredited role
2005 | Pandipada | Peacock Man in Function | uncredited role
2010 | Bodyguard | College Student | uncredited role
2011 | Urumi | Tribal Gang Member | uncredited role
2012 | Da Thadiya | Himself | uncredited role
2013 | Annayum Rasoolum | Collin |
Kadal Kadannoru Mathukkutty |  |
5 Sundarikal | Poovalan | Anthology film in Kullante Bharya
2014 | Masala Republic | Althaf |
Iyobinte Pusthakam | Ivan's Henchman | Cameo
2015 | Chandrettan Evideya | Sumesh |
Premam | Phy. Edu. Lecturer Shivan Sir |
Loham | Street Rowdy |
Rani Padmini | Madan |
Charlie | Sunikuttan(Mr D'souza) |
2016 | Maheshinte Prathikaaram | Crispin |
Hello Namasthe | Abu |
Kali | Prakashan |
Darvinte Parinamam | Willy |
Mudhugauv | Kumari |
Kammatipaadam | Karate Biju | Cameo
Happy Wedding | Matrimony Consultant |
Anuraga Karikkin Vellam | Fakru/Fakrudheen |
Popcorn | Milton |
2017 | Comrade in America – CIA | Joemon |
Achayans | Qi |
Parava | Drug addict  | Debut as director
Solo | Pattu  |
Shekhar's friend at his birthday party  | Tamil film; guest appearance in "Thoovanam"
Mayaanadhi | Sameera's Ikka | Guest Appearance
2018 | Street Lights | Subin |
Carbon | Aanakkaran Rajesh |
Rosapoo | Sajeer |
Sudani from Nigeria | Majeed | Debut Lead Role
Kuttanadan Marpappa | Freddy |
Mohanlal | Mr. Who |
Mangalyam Thanthunanena | Himself | Guest Appearance
2019 | Kumbalangi Nights | Saji |
Mera Naam Shaji | Shaji  | Guest Appearance
Oru Yamandan Premakadha | Vicky  |
Virus | Unnikrishnan |
Ambili | Ambili  |
Vikruthi | Sameer  |
Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 | Subramanian / Chuppan |
Valiyaperunnal | Hanumanth Sheonayi |
2020  | Trance | Mathew Thomas (Mathaai) |
Halal Love Story | Azad  |
2021  | Irul | Alex  |
Meow | Dusthackeer  |
Churuli | Mayiladumparambil Joy  |
2022 | Bro Daddy | Happy Pinto |
Kallan D`Souza | D’Souza |
Bheeshma Parvam | Ajas Ali |
Third World Boys | Soubin |
CBI 5: The Brain | Paul Meijo / Sandeep / Manzoor |
Jack N' Jill | Kuttaps |
Ela Veezha Poonchira | Madhu |
Gold | Mittu |
2023 | Djinn | Dhanapalan |
Romancham | Jibin Madhavan | [13]
Vellari Pattanam | K.P Suresh | [14]
Ayalvaashi | Thaju | [15]
Live | Sriram | [16]
King of Kotha | Suitcase Leslie | Cameo
2024 | Manjummel Boys | Kuttan | Also producer[17]
Nadikar | Bala | [18]
Machante Maalakha † | TBA | [19]
2025 |  Coolie † | Dayal | Tamil Debut[20]

### As voice actor

[edit]

Year | Title | Role | Notes

|
|
|

2023  | Valatty | Haridas/Karidas(voice) | [21]

### As director

[edit]

List of films directed  Year  | Title  | Production company  | Notes

|
|
|

2017  | Parava | Anwar Rasheed Entertainments | Debut as a director

### As producer

[edit]

List of films produced  Year | Title | Production company | Notes

|
|
|

2024 | Manjummel Boys | Parava Films | Debut production[22]

## Awards

[edit]

* 2018: Kerala State Film Awards for Best Actor, for the movie, Sudani From Nigeria[7]
* 2018: 66th Filmfare Awards South for Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor – Malayalam for the movie, Sudani from Nigeria[23]

## Controversy

[edit]

The Enforcement Directorate is investigating money laundering allegations related to the Malayalam movie Manjummel Boys. A case has been registered, and notices have been issued to the film's producers and actors Soubin Shahir, Babu Shahir, and Shawn Antony.[24]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Soubin Shahir: Tracing the journey of a man destined to be in cinema". The Times of India. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
2. ^ "പറവ കണ്ടപ്പോള്‍ കരഞ്ഞുപോയി; ഞാനത് സൗബിനോട് ഇതുവരെ പറഞ്ഞിട്ടില്ല" [Watching Parava made me cry;I haven't told Soubin about it yet]. Mathrubhumi (in Malayalam). 23 October 2017. Archived from the original on 23 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
3. ^ MERIN MARIA JAMES (10 January 2016). "Soubin's Chillumkoodu step a hit".
4. ^ "Real-life chemistry with Soubin worked well". TimesofIndia. 2 July 2015. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
5. ^ "Soubin Shahir is on a roll". Nowrunning. 13 January 2016.
6. ^ "Soubin Shahir to play the lead in Sudani from Nigeria". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 17 July 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
7. ^ a b S.R. Praveen (27 February 2019). "Kerala State film awards: ‘Kanthan...’, 'Sudani from Nigeria' win honours" Archived 8 December 2021 at the Wayback Machine. The Hindu. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
8. ^ "It's official! 'Manjummel Boys' crosses the Rs 200 crore milestone in 26 days". The Times of India. 19 March 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 17 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
9. ^ "'Manjummel Boys' becomes the highest worldwide grosser from Malayalam cinema; the film crosses 175 crore!". The Times of India. 14 March 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 17 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
10. ^ "Police report finds Manjummel Boys producers guilty of financial fraud". The News Minute. 1 June 2024. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
11. ^ Prakash, Asha. "Soubin Shahir is married! – Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 17 July 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
12. ^ "Actor Soubin Shahir and wife blessed with a baby boy". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 17 August 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
13. ^ "Soubin Shahir, Arjun Ashokan-starrer Romancham gets a release date". Cinema Express. 20 January 2023. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
14. ^ Praveen, S. R. (24 March 2023). "'Vellaripattanam' movie review: Manju Warrier, Soubin Shahir in a stale political satire". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
15. ^ "Soubin Shahir's Ayalvaashi gets a release date". Cinema Express. 21 February 2023. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
16. ^ "First look of VK Prakash's Live out". The New Indian Express. 16 March 2023. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
17. ^ "Manjummel Boys gets a release date". Cinema Express. 11 February 2024. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
18. ^ Bureau, The Hindu (4 February 2024). "'Nadikar,' starring Tovino Thomas and Soubin Shahir, gets a release date". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 17 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024. `{{cite news}}`: `|last=` has generic name (help)
19. ^ Features, C. E. (7 May 2024). "Machante Maalakha gets a release date". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 7 May 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
20. ^ Features, C. E. (28 August 2024). "Soubin Shahir onboard Rajinikanth starrer Coolie". Cinema Express. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
21. ^ "'Valatty' review: This experimental film about dogs is marred by plot cliches". The Week. Archived from the original on 24 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
22. ^ Praveen, S. R. (22 February 2024). "Immaculately crafted survival thriller". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
23. ^ "Filmfare Awards South 2019: The complete list of winners". 22 December 2019. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
24. ^ "Manjummel Boys producers are arrested for money laundering". Times of India. Archived from the original on 17 July 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.

### Sources

[edit]

M, Athira (3 October 2020). "'Vikrithi' is inspired by a true incident: Emcy Joseph". Retrieved 21 April 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Soubin Shahir at IMDb
* Soubin Shahir on Facebook

*[m.]: married
*[†]: Film has not yet been released
*[TBA]: To be announced