Ashraf Hamza
Ashraf Hamza is an Indian film director and screenwriter who primarily works in the Malayalam-language cinema industry.[1] Born in Ponnani, Malappuram district, Kerala, he debuted as a director with the 2019 romantic comedy Thamaasha, which featured Fahadh Faasil and Soubin Shahir.[1] His notable credits include screenwriting for the action film Thallumaala (2022), starring Tovino Thomas, and directing the romantic drama Sulaikha Manzil (2023), which received praise for its portrayal of interfaith relationships.[1] In April 2025, Hamza was arrested by excise authorities in Kochi along with director Khalid Rahman for possession of hybrid ganja, a high-potency cannabis variant, but was released on bail shortly thereafter.[2][3] This incident drew media attention amid ongoing scrutiny of drug use in the Malayalam film industry.[2]Early Life and Background
Upbringing and Family Influences
Ashraf Hamza was born in Ponnani, a town in the Malappuram district of Kerala, India, where he spent his formative years in a family deeply connected to local cinema.[4] His father owned the Alankar theatre, the first such establishment in Ponnani, which provided Hamza with unrestricted access to a wide array of films from childhood.[5] This environment, combined with his mother's role as a homemaker, immersed him in storytelling traditions and sparked an early fascination with narrative construction and visual mediums.[5] The theatre's influence extended beyond mere viewing, as Hamza credits it with cultivating his passion for filmmaking through repeated exposure to diverse cinematic techniques and audience reactions in a community setting.[4] After completing schooling at AV Higher Secondary School in Keezhillam, Ponnani, he briefly worked at a bank in the UAE for two years before returning to Kerala, driven by an urge to pursue creative endeavors informally.[6] This period marked the beginning of his self-taught entry into the craft, without formal training or assisting established directors.[7] Upon returning, Hamza experimented with short films and a documentary focused on Ponnani's local culture, honing his skills through hands-on production of advertisements and non-feature works that emphasized everyday narratives from his surroundings.[7] [4] These early projects reflected the causal interplay of his familial cinema heritage and regional influences, laying the groundwork for his intuitive approach to directing rooted in observational realism rather than academic instruction.[7]Professional Career
Initial Involvement in Cinema
Ashraf Hamza's entry into the Malayalam film industry commenced with his directorial work on the short film Bihar, an adaptation of U. P. Jayaraj's short story, marking his initial foray into filmmaking.[8] This project laid the groundwork for subsequent endeavors in non-feature formats. Following Bihar, Hamza directed several documentaries, short films, and advertisement films during the late 2010s, accumulating practical experience in production processes and storytelling techniques essential for the industry's collaborative environment.[4] In 2018, Hamza expanded his involvement through acting, debuting in the feature film Sudani from Nigeria, directed by Zakariya Mohammed, where he appeared in a minor role as a doctor.[9] This participation offered early exposure to the dynamics of feature-length production, including on-set collaboration with key creatives such as dialogue writer Muhsin Parari, whose contributions to the film's script provided Hamza with insights into narrative construction and dialogue refinement. These formative roles and projects facilitated connections within the Malayalam cinema circle, including interactions with directors like Lijo Jose Pellissery, whose production support later underscored the value of such networks in transitioning to larger-scale work.[10] Through hands-on engagement in scripting, directing shorts, and acting, Hamza honed skills in production logistics and creative decision-making prior to helming his first feature.[4]Directorial Debut and Major Projects
Ashraf Hamza's directorial debut was Thamaasha, a black comedy-drama he also wrote, released on June 5, 2019.[11] This feature marked his entry into directing full-length films after earlier contributions to the industry.[10] In 2021, Hamza directed Bheemante Vazhi, released on December 3, centering on rural pathways and familial obligations.[12] Hamza expanded his screenwriting role by co-writing the action-comedy Thallumaala with Muhsin Parari, released on August 12, 2022.[13] His subsequent directorial effort, Sulaikha Manzil, which he wrote and directed, premiered on April 21, 2023, blending romance with cultural traditions.[14]Filmography
Films Directed
Ashraf Hamza made his directorial debut with the Malayalam-language romantic comedy Thamaasha, released on June 5, 2019, for which he also penned the screenplay.[15][16] His second feature, the comedy-drama Bheemante Vazhi, followed on December 3, 2021, marking his first solo directorial effort without screenplay credit.[17][18] Hamza wrote and directed Sulaikha Manzil, a romantic comedy released on April 21, 2023.[19][20]| Year | Title | Role and Release Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Thamaasha | Director and screenwriter; released June 5, 2019.[15][16] |
| 2021 | Bheemante Vazhi | Director; released December 3, 2021.[17][18] |
| 2023 | Sulaikha Manzil | Director and screenwriter; released April 21, 2023.[19][20] |