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Aashiq Abu
Aashiq Abu (born 12 April 1978) is an Indian film director, producer, cinematographer, and actor working in Malayalam cinema. He is associated with the new generation movement that reshaped Malayalam filmmaking in the early 2010s. He is best known for directing Salt N' Pepper (2011), 22 Female Kottayam (2012), Mayaanadhi (2017), Virus (2019), and Rifle Club (2024). Abu is recognised for his longstanding creative partnerships with screenwriters Syam Pushkaran and Dileesh Nair.
Abu produces and distributes under the banners OPM (Original Pixels in Motion) Cinemas and OPM Dream Mill Cinemas, launched in 2012. As a producer, he is a recipient of the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam for Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016).
Aashiq Abu was born in Edappally, Kochi, Kerala to C. M. Abu and Jameela Abu. He completed his schooling at SRV High School, Kochi, and later studied at Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, where he graduated with a BA degree. During his time at the college, he was elected to the Students' Union and served as a union member for four consecutive years, an experience he has cited as formative in shaping his interest in progressive and socially engaged storytelling.
He married actress Rima Kallingal on 1 November 2013, in a simple ceremony at the Kakkanad Registration Office, Kochi. Ahead of the ceremony, the couple donated ₹1 million towards cancer patient welfare at the General Hospital, Ernakulam, and ₹25,000 towards its dietary kitchen.
Aashiq Abu has been part of Anbodu Kochi, a Facebook-based community group that works with local administration to collect and distribute relief materials following natural disasters.
Before entering the film industry, Abu worked as an advertising filmmaker, directing campaigns for clients including Joyalukkas, Mathrubhumi, Panasonic, Lulu Group, Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group, Media One TV, and Club 7. In 2015, he directed UAE Exchange's advertising campaign starring Jayasurya and Fahadh Faasil.
Abu then worked as an assistant director to Malayalam filmmaker Kamal for approximately five years, including a cameo appearance as a photographer in Kamal's Rappakal (2006). He made his directorial debut with Daddy Cool (2009), starring Mammootty.
His second directorial effort, Salt N' Pepper (2011), written by Syam Pushkaran and Dileesh Nair, was a commercial success, completing runs of 100 days at many Kerala centres. Abu credited social media, particularly Facebook, with helping the film reach audiences in districts where it initially had no theatrical presence — becoming one of the earliest Malayalam films to use digital platforms as a primary promotional tool. The film won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Popular Film. Its remake rights in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi were acquired by actor-director Prakash Raj.
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Aashiq Abu
Aashiq Abu (born 12 April 1978) is an Indian film director, producer, cinematographer, and actor working in Malayalam cinema. He is associated with the new generation movement that reshaped Malayalam filmmaking in the early 2010s. He is best known for directing Salt N' Pepper (2011), 22 Female Kottayam (2012), Mayaanadhi (2017), Virus (2019), and Rifle Club (2024). Abu is recognised for his longstanding creative partnerships with screenwriters Syam Pushkaran and Dileesh Nair.
Abu produces and distributes under the banners OPM (Original Pixels in Motion) Cinemas and OPM Dream Mill Cinemas, launched in 2012. As a producer, he is a recipient of the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam for Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016).
Aashiq Abu was born in Edappally, Kochi, Kerala to C. M. Abu and Jameela Abu. He completed his schooling at SRV High School, Kochi, and later studied at Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, where he graduated with a BA degree. During his time at the college, he was elected to the Students' Union and served as a union member for four consecutive years, an experience he has cited as formative in shaping his interest in progressive and socially engaged storytelling.
He married actress Rima Kallingal on 1 November 2013, in a simple ceremony at the Kakkanad Registration Office, Kochi. Ahead of the ceremony, the couple donated ₹1 million towards cancer patient welfare at the General Hospital, Ernakulam, and ₹25,000 towards its dietary kitchen.
Aashiq Abu has been part of Anbodu Kochi, a Facebook-based community group that works with local administration to collect and distribute relief materials following natural disasters.
Before entering the film industry, Abu worked as an advertising filmmaker, directing campaigns for clients including Joyalukkas, Mathrubhumi, Panasonic, Lulu Group, Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group, Media One TV, and Club 7. In 2015, he directed UAE Exchange's advertising campaign starring Jayasurya and Fahadh Faasil.
Abu then worked as an assistant director to Malayalam filmmaker Kamal for approximately five years, including a cameo appearance as a photographer in Kamal's Rappakal (2006). He made his directorial debut with Daddy Cool (2009), starring Mammootty.
His second directorial effort, Salt N' Pepper (2011), written by Syam Pushkaran and Dileesh Nair, was a commercial success, completing runs of 100 days at many Kerala centres. Abu credited social media, particularly Facebook, with helping the film reach audiences in districts where it initially had no theatrical presence — becoming one of the earliest Malayalam films to use digital platforms as a primary promotional tool. The film won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Popular Film. Its remake rights in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi were acquired by actor-director Prakash Raj.