Shafi
Biography
Rasheed M. H. (18 February 1968 – 26 January 2025), professionally known as Shafi, was an Indian filmmaker renowned for his work in Malayalam cinema, particularly in the comedy genre. He also directed a Tamil film. Shafi began his directorial journey with One Man Show in 2001. He was the younger brother of Rafi from the Rafi Mecartin duo and the nephew of director Siddique. Before making his directorial debut, he gained experience in the mid-1990s by assisting director Rajasenan and the Rafi Mecartin duo.
Career
Shafi's directorial debut, One Man Show (2001), marked the beginning of a successful career in filmmaking. Over the years, he directed 18 films, including popular hits like Kalyanaraman (2002), Pulival Kalyanam (2003), Thommanum Makkalum (2005), Mayavi (2007), Chattambinadu (2009), and Two Countries (2015). In 2018, he directed Madhuram 18, a mega-stage show performed across 15 venues in the U.S. and Canada. His last directorial venture was Children’s Park (2019).
Death
On 16 January 2025, Shafi suffered a severe stroke and was admitted to Aster Medcity in Ernakulam, Kerala. Despite undergoing neurosurgery, his condition remained critical, and he was placed on ventilator support. He passed away on 26 January 2025 at the age of 56. He was laid to rest at Kaloor Juma Masjid on the same day, with many notable figures attending his funeral.
