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 on to become the highest grossing Malayalam film ever and one of the highest-grossing Indian films of 2024.

Soubin Shahir
Soubin in 2019
Born (1983-10-12) 12 October 1983 (age 41)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • writer
  • director
Years active1992–present
Height168 cm (5 ft 6 in)
Spouse
Jamia Zaheer
(m. 2017)
Children1

Early life

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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

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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

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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

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Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released

As actor

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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 Siju David "Kuttan" Also producer[17]
Nadikar Bala [18]
Machante Maalakha TBA [19]
2025 Coolie Dayal Tamil Debut[20]

As voice actor

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Year Title Role Notes
2023 Valatty Haridas/Karidas(voice) [21]

As director

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List of films directed
Year Title Production company Notes
2017 Parava Anwar Rasheed Entertainments Debut as a director

As producer

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List of films produced
Year Title Production company Notes
2024 Manjummel Boys Parava Films Debut production[22]

Awards

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Controversy

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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

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  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

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

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