Fahad Faasil, Malayalam cinema’s actor par excellence is a star of the masses too
In case you chance upon a bunch of Keralites out on the street one of these days, try asking them who the current pride of Malayalam cinema is. One name would definitely rush too many lips sans any pause. Fahad Faasil. The name has turned out to be a charmer in the celluloid arena of the industry that has been renowned for its class as well as mass projects over the past many decades.
The variety of roles this young man, from Alappuzha in central Kerala, has done in such a short span of time is astounding. And, he has made a mark with every role he has done over the years. Having worked with top-of-the-line directors and scriptwriters, Fahad has been evolving all the time to present before his audience something new all the time, every time.
Interestingly enough, Fahad Faasil isn’t someone who gets overexcited about the characters that come to him. As he had said in a media interview some time ago, it is the narrative and the film as a whole that excite him. A final take on the idea and narrative would decide on the actors, and that includes him, he had said. And we now, he plays the role to maximum effect.
This is exactly why his roles in films like 22 Female Kottayam, Chaappa Kurishu, Maheshinte Prathikaram, Thondimuthalum Drikshakshiyum, CU Soon, and Malik have been applauded well. All these movies saw the actor closely holding the narrative to his heart and executing his role sans much flaws.
Darling of the OTT audience
At a time when the movie theatres were fortunate enough to have big and small films playing on their screens, Fahad got his recognition as a performer par excellence. And soon, when all of a sudden, the Covid-19 pandemic brought forth the OTT releases under the limelight, Fahad was there too, smiling his way into audience hearts.
The difference is that though the theatre releases had ensured a largely local audience, the OTT films has made Fahad a much-loved actor, pan India. And perhaps, overseas too. The success of his latest film Malik, directed by Mahesh Narayanan, and the discussions it triggered, stand testimony to the fact the Fahad is an actor who can excel without a doubt.
Fahad is now a sought after actor-star in the whole of the south Indian movie industry. He isn’t anymore the shy 19-year-old who struggled with his emoting skills and lines when he made his debut in his father’s film as a hero. The flawed debut saw him ditch his film dream and stay aloof for almost seven years. And then, after the long self-imposed gap, he was cast again in a role in the portmanteau project titled Kerala Café. The film role, a short one for that matter, was more than enough for him to announce that he had arrived.
From then on there has been no looking back. Film releases happened one after the other, and with every outing, he proved himself as the man who could really act.
From 22 Female Kottayam to Iyyobinte Pusthakam, Maheshinte Prathikaaram to Kumbalangi Nights, Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum to Trance, and the films like CU Soon and Malik that charmed the OTT audiences pan India, Fahad has turned out to be the darling of the masses for his acting skills.
Southern projects galore
The success of Mali prompted ace actor Kamal Haasan to cast him in his upcoming Vikram, which also star another awesome actor of the South Vijay Sethupathy.
Fahad will also be seen in the Telugu flick Pushpa in the garb of an antagonist. The first look has been unveiled a while ago, and it is already trending on social media.
Fahad Faasil, the actor, has come a long way. For a man who believes he can do nothing other than acting in films at the moment, Fahad is doing just great. The audience erupts when he has his eyes doing most of the emoting through a role. And, every time a new character is announced, fans applaud in excitement.