# Soubin Shahir (സൗബിൻ ഷാഹിർ)
**Soubin Shahir** (സൗബിൻ ഷാഹിർ) is an Indian actor, director, and producer who works primarily in [Malayalam cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/malayalam-cinema). He entered the industry as an assistant director, moved into acting with small comic roles, made his directorial debut with *Parava* (2017), and won the [Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor](https://www.edgepedia.org/kerala-state-film-award-for-best-actor) for his first full lead role in *Sudani from Nigeria* (2018)[1](https://www.talkiesdb.com/person/soubin-shahir). As a producer with Parava Films, the company he founded with his father Babu Shahir, he backed *Manjummel Boys* (2024), which holds a 96 percent critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes[2](https://www.iffigoa.org/public/images/MediaPdf/55th-IFFI-Catalogue_Website_Single%20page_Updated.pdf) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/soubin_shahir).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1983, Kochi (Filmibeat)[4](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/soubin-shahir.html); IMDb lists 1986, Fort Kochi, Kerala[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6229968/bio/) |
| Career start | Assistant director from 2003, beginning with Siddique's *Chronic Bachelor*[1](https://www.talkiesdb.com/person/soubin-shahir) |
| Acting debut | Supporting role in *Annayum Rasoolum* (2013)[1](https://www.talkiesdb.com/person/soubin-shahir) |
| Directorial debut | *Parava* (2017); Vanitha Film Award for Best Debut Director, Filmfare Best Director nomination[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6229968/awards/) |
| Major award | Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor (2019) for *Sudani from Nigeria*, shared with Jayasurya[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6229968/awards/) |
| Signature roles | Saji in *Kumbalangi Nights* (2019), Kuttan in *Manjummel Boys* (2024)[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6229968/) |
| Production company | Parava Films, founded with his father Babu Shahir[2](https://www.iffigoa.org/public/images/MediaPdf/55th-IFFI-Catalogue_Website_Single%20page_Updated.pdf) |
## Background and family
Soubin is the son of Babu Shahir, who worked as a production controller on numerous Malayalam films[8](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/soubin-s-father-babu-shahir-talks-about-his-past-life-emotional-words-goes-viral-089031.html). In interviews, Babu Shahir has described how his own unfulfilled ambition to act passed to his son: Soubin's early interest was in dance, and his father recalled a childhood trip in which the boy left a swimming pool, changed clothes, and won first prize in an impromptu dance competition on a park stage[9](https://malayalam.indianexpress.com/entertainment/interview/babu-shahir-about-his-son-soubin-shahir-interview-part-3-719062/). The two databases that track his career disagree on his birth date: Filmibeat Malayalam gives 1983 in Kochi[4](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/soubin-shahir.html), while IMDb gives April 29, 1986 in Fort Kochi[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6229968/bio/).
He married Jamia Zaheer on December 16, 2017; the couple have one child[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6229968/bio/).
## Assistant director years
Soubin entered films as an assistant director in 2003 on Siddique's *Chronic Bachelor*, and went on to assist directors including Fazil, Santosh Sivan, Amal Neerad, Rajeev Ravi, and Rafi-Mecartin[10](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/soubin-shahir-tracing-the-journey-of-a-man-destined-to-be-in-cinema/photostory/66259673.cms). In his own account, he spent about sixteen years in that role[11](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2017/09/21/soubin-shahir-parava.html). His earliest screen appearances came much earlier, as a child artist in *Vietnam Colony* (1992), with database listings also crediting him in *Pappayude Swantham Appoos* (1992) and *Kabooliwala* (1994)[12](https://www.malayalasangeetham.info/displayProfile.php?artist=Soubin+Shahir&category=actors) • [13](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/soubin-shahir).
## Acting career
**Small roles and breakthrough.** His first substantial screen appearance was a small role in [Rajeev Ravi](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajeev-ravi)'s *Annayum Rasoolum* (2013), a part that called for natural Kochi slang[10](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/soubin-shahir-tracing-the-journey-of-a-man-destined-to-be-in-cinema/photostory/66259673.cms). A run of noted comic and character roles followed, and the turning point came with [Alphonse Puthren](https://www.edgepedia.org/alphonse-puthren)'s *Premam* (2015), in which his teacher character Pidi Sar became widely quoted[11](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2017/09/21/soubin-shahir-parava.html). His role as Crispin in [Dileesh Pothan](https://www.edgepedia.org/dileesh-pothan)'s *Maheshinte Prathikaaram* (2016) made him familiar to a wider audience[4](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/soubin-shahir.html).
**Lead roles and awards.** His first full lead role was Majeed, the manager of a local football club, in Zakariya Mohammed's *Sudani from Nigeria* (2018)[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6229968/bio/). The performance won him the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor, an award he shared with [Jayasurya](https://www.edgepedia.org/jayasurya) for *Njan Marykutty*, along with the Filmfare Award (Malayalam) for Best Actor, Critics[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6229968/awards/). In Madhu C. Narayanan's *Kumbalangi Nights* (2019) he played Saji, the eldest of four brothers in a fishing village; reviewers singled the performance out, with one calling it "undoubtedly, a knock-out performance"[14](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/22690/malayalam/kumbalagi-nights/11549/review/) and another describing it as "arguably his finest and most layered performance to date"[15](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/reviews/malayalam/2019/Feb/08/kumbalangi-nights-review-a-beautifully-realised-benchmark-setting-film-10010.html). Later roles include Jibi in *Romancham* (2023), which he also produced, and Kuttan in *Manjummel Boys* (2024)[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/soubin_shahir).
## Directing and producing
Soubin made his directorial debut with *Parava* (2017), a drama set in the Mattancherry and Fort Kochi neighborhoods where he grew up, built around the Kerala pastime of pigeon racing; the shoot lasted about 95 days, partly because the pigeons required a year of training[11](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2017/09/21/soubin-shahir-parava.html). He also wrote the film's story[10](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/soubin-shahir-tracing-the-journey-of-a-man-destined-to-be-in-cinema/photostory/66259673.cms). *Parava* earned him the Vanitha Film Award for Best Debut Director and a Filmfare Best Director nomination[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6229968/awards/). In 2021, he announced that he would direct *Othiram Kadakam*[16](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/soubin-shahir/filmography.html) • [22](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/stories/news/2021/Jul/28/dulquer-salmaan-to-star-in-soubin-shahirs-next-directorial-othiram-kadakam-25757.html).
With his father he founded Parava Films, which produced *Manjummel Boys* (2024), directed by [Chidambaram](https://www.edgepedia.org/chidambaram)[2](https://www.iffigoa.org/public/images/MediaPdf/55th-IFFI-Catalogue_Website_Single%20page_Updated.pdf). The film, a survival thriller based on a real incident in which a friend fell into the [Guna Caves](https://www.edgepedia.org/guna-caves), was certified for theatrical release on 20 February 2024 with a runtime of 135.52 minutes[17](https://cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/assets/pdf/List_of_feature_films_certified_2024.pdf) • [18](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/manjummel_boys). Rotten Tomatoes lists its critics' score at 96 percent[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/soubin_shahir), and reviewers praised the ensemble, with Soubin's Kuttan described as exuding "warmth and leadership"[19](https://iisjoa.org/sites/default/files/iisjoa/April%202024/20th%20Paperold.pdf).
## Recognition
Beyond the Kerala State and Filmfare awards, Soubin's record includes an Asianet Film Award Special Jury Award (2018, shared with [Joju George](https://www.edgepedia.org/joju-george)), the Vanitha Film Award for Best Supporting Actor (2020, for *Kumbalangi Nights* and *Virus*), and a 2026 SIIMA Tamil nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for *Coolie*; IMDb counts 5 wins and 7 nominations overall[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6229968/awards/). In 2023 he received the Uduvar Vijayam Memorial Award for Best Actor, for *Ela Veezha Poonchira* and *Jinn*[20](https://entri.app/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Monthly-Current-Affairs-JULY-2023.pdf).
## Recent and upcoming work
Soubin appeared in [Lokesh Kanagaraj](https://www.edgepedia.org/lokesh-kanagaraj)'s Tamil-language *Coolie* (2025), playing Dayal[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/soubin_shahir), and in 2025 releases including *[Pravinkoodu Shappu](https://www.edgepedia.org/pravinkoodu-shappu)*, *Pathirathri*, and *Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra*[12](https://www.malayalasangeetham.info/displayProfile.php?artist=Soubin+Shahir&category=actors). Upcoming projects listed for him include *Bachelor Party D'eux* (2026), produced by Anwar Rasheed, and *Night Shows* (2027)[12](https://www.malayalasangeetham.info/displayProfile.php?artist=Soubin+Shahir&category=actors). In August 2026 it was reported that he would star in director [Shahi Kabir](https://www.edgepedia.org/shahi-kabir)'s next film, a police subject without the usual crime or investigation tropes, reuniting the pair after *Ela Veezha Poonchira* (2022)[21](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/malayalam/news/2026/Aug/05/soubin-shahir-to-star-in-shahi-kabirs-next).
## References
1. [Soubin Shahir, TalkiesDB](https://www.talkiesdb.com/person/soubin-shahir)
2. [55th IFFI Catalogue, Parava Films profile](https://www.iffigoa.org/public/images/MediaPdf/55th-IFFI-Catalogue_Website_Single%20page_Updated.pdf)
3. [Soubin Shahir Movies List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/soubin_shahir)
4. [സൗബിന് ഷാഹിര് profile, Filmibeat Malayalam](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/soubin-shahir.html)
5. [Soubin Shahir Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6229968/bio/)
6. [Soubin Shahir Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6229968/awards/)
7. [Soubin Shahir, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6229968/)
8. [Soubin's Father Babu Shahir Talks About His Past Life, Malayalam Filmibeat](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/soubin-s-father-babu-shahir-talks-about-his-past-life-emotional-words-goes-viral-089031.html)
9. [സൗബിൻ ഷാഹിർ: അപ്പന്റെ സ്വപ്നങ്ങൾക്ക് ചിറകുകളേകിയ മകൻ, Indian Express Malayalam](https://malayalam.indianexpress.com/entertainment/interview/babu-shahir-about-his-son-soubin-shahir-interview-part-3-719062/)
10. [Soubin Shahir: Tracing the journey of a man destined to be in cinema, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/soubin-shahir-tracing-the-journey-of-a-man-destined-to-be-in-cinema/photostory/66259673.cms)
11. [സൗബിന്റെ കുമ്മട്ടിക്ക ജ്യൂസും മമ്മൂക്കയും, Manorama Online](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2017/09/21/soubin-shahir-parava.html)
12. [Soubin Shahir profile, MalayalaSangeetham.Info](https://www.malayalasangeetham.info/displayProfile.php?artist=Soubin+Shahir&category=actors)
13. [Soubin Shahir, VALÉORINE](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/soubin-shahir)
14. [Kumbalangi Nights Review, Nowrunning](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/22690/malayalam/kumbalagi-nights/11549/review/)
15. [Kumbalangi Nights Review, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/reviews/malayalam/2019/Feb/08/kumbalangi-nights-review-a-beautifully-realised-benchmark-setting-film-10010.html)
16. [Soubin Shahir filmography, Filmibeat Malayalam](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/soubin-shahir/filmography.html)
17. [List of feature films certified 2024, CBFC India](https://cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/assets/pdf/List_of_feature_films_certified_2024.pdf)
18. [Manjummel Boys, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/manjummel_boys)
19. [IIS Univ. J.A. Vol.13 (2) on Manjummel Boys](https://iisjoa.org/sites/default/files/iisjoa/April%202024/20th%20Paperold.pdf)
20. [Monthly Current Affairs July 2023, Entri](https://entri.app/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Monthly-Current-Affairs-JULY-2023.pdf)
21. [Soubin Shahir to star in Shahi Kabir's next, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/malayalam/news/2026/Aug/05/soubin-shahir-to-star-in-shahi-kabirs-next)
22. [Dulquer Salmaan to star in Soubin Shahir's next directorial Othiram Kadakam](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/amp/story/stories/news/2021/Jul/28/dulquer-salmaan-to-star-in-soubin-shahirs-next-directorial-othiram-kadakam-25757.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of South Asia › Indian screen actors, 2000s onward › Surnames Sh to S*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
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