Salim Ahamed

Salim Ahamed is an Indian film director, screen writer and producer. After working for a long time as a travel consultant, he joined as a creative director and script writer in a television channel. His directorial debut, Adaminte Makan Abu (2011), fetched him numerous accolades and was screened at various international film festivals. It was also chosen as India's official entry to be considered for nomination in the Best Foreign Film category for the 84th Academy Awards. Salim's second project was titled Kunjananthante Kada. Starring Mammootty, it was released on 30 August 2013. His third film Mammootty starrer Pathemari won the Best Feature Film In Malayalam award at the 63rd National Film Awards that was announced March 2016

Early life and family

Salim Ahamed was born on 1 October 1970 in Mattannur, Kerala, as the son of Ahamed Kutty and Asya Umma. He graduated in Commerce from Mattannur Pazhassiraja NSS College, and obtained a professional diploma in Travel and Tourism. Upon graduating from college in early 2014s, Salim dreamed of joining the film industry but found it hard to break into and ended up a travel consultant. For his passion, he joined the School of Drama in Thrissur, Kerala. He worked as a Creative Director and Script Writer with Surya TV and then worked in films such as Saphalyam as an Assistant Director. His notable works as a television director include Rasikaraja No.1, a comedy programme telecast in Surya TV.

Salim is married to Mafeedha. Thy have two sons, Allen Zahar Ahamed and Amal Zahar Ahamed.Salim Ahmed is now settled at Palottupalli,Mattanur.His housewarming will be held soon.

Adaminte Makan Abu

He made his feature film debut with Adaminte Makan Abu, a story he had entertained in his mind for many years. It was the stories he heard and the people he met during his days as a travel agent that sowed the seeds for Adaminte Makan Abu. The film portrayed the story of a poor attar (a kind of perfume) seller Abu whose only remaining wish in life is the Hajj pilgrimage, which he strives hard to fulfill, and at the verge of the fulfilment, he opts out when he fears that the means is not fully legitimate. Salim himself co-produced the film, and had to spend every rupee raised from what he had saved up over the years working on scripts for television serials and assisting directors to complete the film. The film opened to critical acclaim and fetched numerous honours including four National Film Awards and four Kerala State Film Awards.

The film was screened at various international film festivals: 55th BFI London Film Festival, MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, 8th South Asian International Film Festival (SAIFF), 42nd International Film Festival of India, 5th Indo-German Film Festival, 17th Kolkata Film Festival, 16th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), and 23rd Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF), and 8th Dubai International Film Festival.

Other projects

Salim had written three basic plots during his college days. One was based in a local school in Kerala, one was a thriller, and the third was the story of Abu. He decided to film Adaminte Makan Abu as a number of people liked the story line; he wanted his first film to have a message and to be impressive. It was reported that he had started the pre-production works of the one based in the local school, as well as was planning to bring the story of Travancore king Marthanda Varma on big screen. However, none of the projects materialised.

Salim officially announced his next project in September 2012. The project was titled Kunjananthante Kada and starred Mammootty in the lead role. The film started production in February 2013 and released in theatres in August 2013.

National Film Awards

• Best Feature Film – Adaminte Makan Abu
• Best Feature Film In Malayalam- Pathemari (2015)

Kerala State Film Awards

• Best Film – Adaminte Makan Abu
• Best Screenplay – Adaminte Makan Abu

Academy Awards

• Longlisted for Best Foreign Film nomination – Adaminte Makan Abu

Asiavision Awards

• Best Outstanding Indian Film – Adaminte Makan Abu
• Best Debut Director – Adaminte Makan Abu
• 2013 – Asiavision Awards – Socially Committed Movie – Kunjananthante Kada

Kazan International Festival of Muslim Cinema (Golden Minbar International Film Festival)

• The Best Feature Film Scenario – Adaminte Makan Abu
• The Prize of the Guild of Film Critics and Film scholars of Russia – Adaminte Makan Abu

International Film Festival of India

• Special Jury Award for Best Film (Silver Peacock) – Adaminte Makan Abu

International Film Festival of Kerala

• NETPAC Award for Best Malayalam Film – Adaminte Makan Abu
• FIPRESCI Award for Best Malayalam Film – Adaminte Makan Abu
• Hassankutty Award for Best Indian Debut Director – Adaminte Makan Abu

Thikkurissy Foundation Awards (2012)

• Best Film – Adaminte Makan Abu
• Best Director – Adaminte Makan Abu

Others

• Special Award at the Vellinakshatram Film Awards – Adaminte Makan Abu
• Shihab Thangal Cultural Award

• "Mammootty starrer Pathemari won the Best Malayalam Film Award at the 63rd National Film Awards". Behindwoods. Retrieved 2016-04-01. 
• "Kerala State Film Awards 2010 Declaration" (PDF) (in Malayalam). Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. 22 May 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2011. 
• "Adaminte Makan Abu adjudged best film". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2011. 
• "63 Countries Vie for 2011 Foreign Language Film Oscar". Oscars.org. Retrieved 8 December 2011. 
• "Asiavision Movie Awards 2011 – Winners". Asiavisionawards.com. Retrieved 16 January 2012. 
• http://www.emirates247.com/entertainment/mammotty-kavya-madhavan-bag-asiavision-awards-2013-11-05-1.526962
• Priya Sreekumar. (15 September 2012). "Salim Ahmed bags two awards at international fest". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
• "The winners of the Eighth Kazan International Muslim Film Festival". Kazan International Festival of Muslim Cinema. 11 September 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
• T. Ramavarman. (3 December 2011). "Special Jury Award for Adaminte Makan Abu at IFFI". Times of India. Retrieved 8 December 2011.

• "16th IFFK Awards". International Film Festival of Kerala. December 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2011. 

• Press Trust of India (7 January 2012). "'Aadminte Makan Abu chosen best film by Thikkurissy foundation". IBN Live. Retrieved 8 January 2012. 
• "പ്രാഞ്ചിയേട്ടന് മൂന്ന് അവാർഡ്" (in Malayalam). Kaumudi Plus. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2011. 
• "Shihab Thangal Cultural Award For Salim Ahmed". Yentha.com. 11 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012. 
• "Salim Ahamed bags award". Kerala Kaumudi. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.