Dileesh Nair – Malayalam screenwriter best known for his association with Aashiq Abu and Syam Pushkaran

Dileesh Nair is a well-known and successful Malayalam screenwriter best known for his association with filmmaker Aashiq Abu and screenwriter Syam Pushkaran. The trio collaborated together right from their debut film as screenwriters, Salt N’ Pepper (2012) which was a commercial hit. It was Aashiq Abu’s second release after the flop of Daddy Cool starring Mammootty. After that it became a celebration of good films throughout the decade when the trio joined hands together. Da Thadiya, Idukki Gold and Mayanadhi are their hit films together. Though Dileesh Nair marked his directorial debut with Prithviraj starrer Tamaar Padaar in 2014, the movie flopped.

Dileesh Nair was born in Thodupuzha in 1981. After studies he was into 2D animation field for clients in Australia and the Middle East, when he moved to screenwriting. The appetite for ‘good cinema’ prompted two aspiring youngsters – Syam Pushkaran and Dileesh Nair associated with films to write a script that celebrates food. That’s how Salt N’ Pepper happened. The movie marked the successful comeback of Aashiq Babu after the flop of his debut flick, Daddy Cool. After that the trio gave some good films of the decade. Till now he co-scripted 5 movies with Syam Pushkaran all directed by Aashiq babu, and one for himself, which marked his directorial debut.

Dileesh Nair – Some interesting and less-known facts

Syam Pushkaran (left) with Dileesh Nair (right)

1. Shyam was 26 year old and Dileesh was 30 when they together scripted their first Mollywood film. They were good friends long before they started film journey together.

2. His successful association with Aashiq Babu and Syam Pushkaran began with the unpredicted success of the debut film, Salt N’ Pepper, and later the trio collaborated for Da Thadiya, Idukki Gold and Mayanadhi. In fact they are to collaborate together for the first project in Bollywood starring Shah Rukh Khan who was deeply impressed by their work in Malayalam especially Virus, though the screenwriters were not a part of. After the flop of Zero in 2018 it’s the first project of SRK though official announcement is yet to be made.

3. Till now 22 Female Kottayam and Rani Padmini are only collaborations of Syam Pushkaran with Aashiq Babu, which Dileesh Nair has not become a part of. The segment – Sethulaksmi for the movie, 5 Sundarikal is also an exception. Yet Dileesh played a cameo role in 22 Female Kottayam.

4. He played his first cameo role in 22 Female Kottayam, followed by Da Thadiya and Idiots.

5. Tamaar Padaar is the first and only movie he scripted for any director other than Aashiq Babu. He scripted the movie for his own directorial debut.