Soubin Shahir: Tracing the journey of a man destined to be in cinema

Being the son of a Production Controller, Soubin Shahir developed an interest in cinema eight from when he was in his degree college. With time, the young man proved that he is not only a good actor but also a multi-talented artist. Today, he is undauntedly a star who has made us laugh more than once through his subtle behavioral acting and peculiar dialogue modulation. Here’s a look at his journey so far.

Although it is pure passion and determination that leads one to great heights for some, it was different for Soubin. Like most youngsters in Kochi, cinema was Soubin’s dream right from his childhood days. However, the young lad was ready to take the road less traversed.

He entered into the film industry by assisting Siddique in the movie ‘Chronic Bachelor’. He then went on to assist many prominent directors from the industry including Fazil, Sathosh Sivan, Amal Neerad, Rajeev Ravi and Rafi-Mecartin.

A picture of him holding an artificial rain pump on the sets of Amal Neerad’s movie ‘Anwar’, is a proof enough to know the kind of hard work he has put in to be where he is today.

Soubin’s first appearance onscreen was through Rajeev Ravi's classic love tragedy ‘Annayum Rasoolum’ in which the actor played a small role. Soubin's friendship with Rajeev Ravi, Fahahd Faasil and ShineTom Chacko helped him land a role in ‘Annayum Rasoolum’ as the character demanded someone who knows the Kochi slang without accentuating and Soubin excelled even in the little screen time he got in the movie. After that, Soubin went on to act in few more movies in 2013. Though he got small roles in an array of movies he acted in initially in his career, all of them were noted for its unique style and comic element Soubin guaranteed.

Anyone who has watched ‘Parava’, would be in awe of Soubin for his intelligence in intertwining stories of friendship between three generations. The reception ‘Parava’ got once it was released itself shows how Soubin has used his experience and understanding after working as an assistant director with leading filmmakers in the industry. He has perfected every scene in the movie and has woven together relatable characters from the locality he himself was born and brought up in that is Fort Kochi. The fact that Soubin also wrote the story of ‘Parava’, shows his observation and Soubin's multi-faceted talent as a creative artist.

Soubin's career’s best performance as an actor could be seen in the 2018 movie ‘Sudani from Nigeria’, directed by Zakariya Mohammed. The actor was given a throughout role in this offbeat non-commercial movie that tells us about friendship and compassion beyond borders against the backdrop of a football frenzy Malappuram Community.

Soubin played the role of Majeed in the movie who is a manager of a local football club in Malappuram. Soubin portrays through his character, the inner turmoil of bachelor who is undone by personal issues and financial crisis. Soubin, in the movie, displaces himself from his easy-going self in many instances and conceives the character's emotions with utmost seriousness, thus giving a convincing performance.