Babu Shahir about son, actor and director Soub, who achieves all the dreams he once had
Are the dreams you had just yours? Sometimes the answer is ‘no’. Time will appoint someone to carry your dreams, your ardent desires across the river, to your destination. Babu Shahir, who entered the world of cinema 40 years ago with a thousand dreams, will have a continuation of those dreams like ‘Soubin’, and a poetic justice of the times.
From the age of five, Babu Shahir used to answer the question of whether he wanted to become a film actor. For that, letters were constantly sent to the directors, Udaya Studio, Chitranjali and Maryland. He lied at home and took a train to Madras. Wandered in front of AVM studio and Vijayagarden studio. Not only did no doors of opportunity open in front of him, but when he ran out of money, he had to turn back in despair.
Babu Shahir has to tell the story of how many years his shoes wore out after the movie. Eventually he ran away and entered the world of cinema, but lost his passion for acting somewhere along the way. Assistant director, production controller and producer roles were reserved for Babu Shahir. But, as Vineeth Srinivasan wrote, ‘Even if we forget some wishes, Patachon will not forget’ Babu Shahir later realized when his son Soubin started to shine as an actor and director.
Babu Shahir is opening his mind about Soubin, the actor and director.
‘I never thought Soub would become an actor. He was interested in dancing. I am now remembering an experience where he shocked me with his dance. I once went on a tour to Chennai with my family. There is a large park on the way from Kishkindha to Mahabalipuram. We got here. The children are playing and swimming in the swimming pool. In between, I heard an announcement that some dance competition was going to be organized in that park, children could participate and whoever they wanted, there would be a prize for the winners. Saub was only seven or eight years old at that time. As I looked, he ran out of the swimming pool, changed his clothes and went straight to the stage to perform. Then we saw Soubin who went on stage and received the prize after hearing the announcement that ‘First Prize Soubin Shahir’. I was shocked to learn all this from him. I was shooting in many places, and he did not come home occasionally. I did not know that he was interested in dance. Later, I found out that his main venue was local weddings.
Another incident happened in 2002, during a vacation he called and asked where the shooting was. It’s time to shift the location of ‘Kayethum Dooram’ from Alappuzha to Kodaikanal. When he said that he was going to Kodaikanal, he asked, ‘May I come too’. ‘Well, you do something, some junior artistes are coming here tomorrow. “Get in that car and fight,” I gave permission. All the arrangements were made then. He reached the location by the evening of the next day. There is no lack of familiarity or aloofness when you come to people you don’t know. From small children to the elderly, it can be easily combined. I am paying attention to this.
One day, Shanu (Fahd) is shooting an introduction scene where he gets off the bus. Shanu gets off the bus first, followed by Soubinatha in style with a hat! Fahad got off the bus and walked to one side and he walked to the opposite side…’I am sitting in amazement thinking, ‘Damn, did he get on and act in the meantime’. When he called and asked if you have started acting too, he smiled and said yes and left. Once again, Shanti is teaching the dance to Master Fahadh, who is watching the step and playing the same way from a distance. Seeing his self-forgetful dance, all eyes turned to him. Sir Fazil called me and showed me, ‘Oh! Look, look at Babu’s mon dance.’
In 2003, Siddique Lal’s ‘Chronic Bachelor’ was going to start shooting. Siddique called and said, “Looking at the list, there are too many assistant directors. There are about eleven people, at least three will have to be dismissed, we will call them in the next picture. I want everyone and it’s hard to say no to them. Have a talk and try to narrow it down to eight.” I talked to all of them and decided on eight people. I was in Kochi that day, when I came home and had dinner, Soubin came and said. “Wapa… the shoot starts. I will come to be an assistant.” I’m in trouble, I’ve just let three people go, and I can’t tell him I can’t do it right away.
The day before shooting, I finally mentioned Soub to Siddique. ‘He is standing after completing his Plus Two studies. They are telling me to become an assistant.’ Siddique said, tell me what to do. The very next day he reached the location with the box. He went up there. Joined Rafi Mekart’s ‘Pandipada’. Amal Neerad had come to Siddique’s location to do patchwork, and then Soubin was in a bad company with Amal. He also joined Amal Neerad, Ashiq Abu and Anwar Rasheed to that one belt. The actor once told Lal, while shooting for Amal Neerad’s ‘Anwar’ that ‘he shows what Babu showed when he was young, and every time I see him, I remember the old days’.
While working as an assistant, one day he came and told me that I am going to direct a film. ‘Did you get there?’ When asked with surprise, he said that Dulquer Salmaan is the hero in it. It was only when I saw the way he behaved on the sets of ‘Kayethumdurathi’ that day in Kodaikanal that I realized that there was a possibility of him making it to the film. And when he assisted everyone and ran after the film, I always thought that one day he would become a director, but I never dreamed that he would grow into an actor.
Fahad played Soub
First, ‘Parava’ was planned for Fahad. ‘Anna and Rasool’ is about to start when he goes to tell the story to Fahad. Fahad asked Rajeev Ravi, ‘What if Soub played that Anglo-Indian character?’ At first he avoided me saying no. But Shanu took hold of him saying that it is enough for you to do it. After the first two or three shots, Shanu called me and said, ‘Babuka…he has messed up’.
‘Why did you just catch him and make him an actor, isn’t he going to do a film?’ To my question, Fahad said, ‘That will happen Babuka, let him act too’. Then by the time ‘Charlie’ and ‘Premam’ came, he started getting noticed as an actor. Ranjith’s ‘Loham’ is set in Fort Kochi and features him in a small scene. I have heard Mohanlal say, ‘Don’t make him so small, give him a little more role’. Similarly, Mammooka called me once and said, ‘He is acting well, let him direct, but tell him not to stop acting.’
As a viewer, I like the character of Saji in ‘Kumbalangi Nightsy’ the most among Soub’s films. It is a character with a perfect growth. Saji is changing with the death of that Tamil friend. After that there is a lot of variation when he goes and talks to his wife, when he tells his brother that something is wrong with me, and when he talks to the doctor. You can see the range of the actor in him, and I feel that the emotions are well portrayed. Similarly, ‘Sudanese from Nigeria’ is my favorite Soubin film.
One of the characters I didn’t like was from ‘CBI 5′. That character was very bad. In fact, he acted on my recommendation. But I feel like there’s a lack of giving away to do that character. When he tells the class that this is what he needs, control often goes out of his hands. It has been used in many films.’
Babu Shahir says that he is a father who sees his children who grew up with him as friends. “During my school days, I was a strict father. But they know that deep inside they like them beyond the anger they show on the outside. Now they are loved and defeated. All are within reach. Everyone comes home every weekend. And here is the celebration. Sometimes it seems that I have never loved my mother and father so much. I can’t give that much love to anyone.”