Aashiq Abu
Born	Asiq Punnakkaparambil Aboo[1] (1978-04-12)12 April 1978 (age 46) Edappally,Kochi, Kerala, India
Occupation(s)	Film director and producer
Years active	2009–present
Spouse	Rima Kallingal ​ (m. 2013)​

Aashiq Abu (born 12 April 1978) is an Indian film director, producer, cinematographer,^[2] actor, and distributor, who works inMalayalam cinema.He is best known for his films such asDaddy Cool (2009),Salt N' Pepper (2011),22 Female Kottayam (2012),Idukki Gold (2013),Mayaanadhi (2017) andVirus (2019).^[3] Abu is often known for his collaboration with screenwritersSyam Pushkaran andDileesh Nair.

Abu produces and distributes under the banner OPM and OPM Dream Mill Cinemas. OPM producedDileesh Pothan's directional debutMaheshinte Prathikaaram (2016), which won theNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam.

Aashiq Abu was born inEdappally,Kochi, Kerala^[4] to C. M. Abu, and Jameela Abu. Aashiq Abu completed his school education at SRV High School,Kochi. As a pre-degree student atMaharajas College, he was elected to theStudents' Union and was a union member for four consecutive years.He married actressRima Kallingal on 1 November 2013, in a simple function held in Kakkanad Registration office, Kochi.^[5]

Aashiq Abu has been part ofAnbodu Kochi, a Facebook-based group which works with the local administration, collecting and distributing relief materials in the aftermath of natural disasters.^[6] In 2019 November, Kochi Music Foundation of which Aashiq Abu is a part of organised a musical event 'Karuna' inKochi promising that the proceedings from the event will be donated to the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF) to help flood victims. There was a delay in Chief Minister's office receiving the funds, sparking a controversy.^[7]

After working as anassistant director to Malayalam film directorKamal^[4] for about five years, Abu made his directorial debut withDaddy Cool in 2009 starringMammootty.Salt N' Pepper was his second directorial effort.Salt N' Pepper’sTamil,Telugu andHindi remake rights was bought by actor-directorPrakash Raj. In 2012, he directed22 Female Kottayam which was followed byDa Thadiya,Gangster andRani Padmini. Aashiq Abu has also done a short film,Lost in Bangalore for Mathrubhumi. His 2017 release wasMayaanadhi.^[8] On 7 June 2019, his latest movieVirus was released. The movie is based on the true events of theNipah virus outbreak in Kerala in 2018.

• Aashiq Abu atIMDb

• 1978 births
• Malayalam film directors
• Living people
• Maharaja's College, Ernakulam alumni
• Film directors from Kochi
• Film producers from Kochi
• Indian male film actors
• Male actors in Malayalam cinema
• 21st-century Indian male actors
• Male actors from Kochi
• Indian film distributors

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• Short description matches Wikidata
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