Syam Pushkaran – National award winning screenwriter of Malayalam cinema of ‘Maheshinte Prathikaram’ fame

Syam Pushkaran is an acclaimed screenwriter of Malayalam cinema belonging to present generation, best known for his fresh scripts chosen from simple incidents which happen around. He won both National film award and State film award for best original screenplay for 2016 movie Maheshinte Prathikaram. He along with screen writer Dileesh Nair is known for his frequent collaboration with director Aashiq Babu right from the debut, Salt N’ Pepper. Noted actress Unnimaya Prasad of ‘Anjaam Pathiraa’ and ‘Joji‘ fame is his wife.

He made his debut with Salt N’ Pepper (2011) directed by Aashiq Babu, and scripted some of the finest scripts of the decade. 22 Female Kottayam (2012), Da Thadiya (2012), Idukki Gold (2013), Iyobinte Pusthakam (2014), Rani Padmini (2015), Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016), Mayaanadhi (2017),  Kumbalangi Nights (2019) and Joji (2021) are his screenplays which won several accolades at different award functions and film festivals. He also wrote the dialogues for Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum.

Syam Pushkaran hails from Thuravoor of Cherthala Taluk of Alappuzha District, and was born in 1984. After completing Fashion Designing from Mangalore University, as he was interested in films, he took Post Graduate Diploma in Digital Film Making from DC Film School at Thiruvananthapuram. He started film journey as an assistant director and turned an acclaimed screenwriter. Now he is one of the most sought screenwriters of Malayalam cinema, best known for  progressive and contemporary realistic writing. He plans for his directorial debut soon.

The appetite for ‘good cinema’ prompted two aspiring youngsters – Syam 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 it became a celebration of good films throughout the decade when the trio joined hands together. He also wrote the script of the segment – Sethulaksmi for the movie, 5 Sundarikal directed by Aashiq Babu. He wrote the dialogues of Maheshinte Prathikaram, produced by Aashiq Babu. The movie also marked the directorial debut of Dileesh Pothan.

Syam Pushkaran – Some interesting and less-known facts

Syam Pushkaran (left) with Dileesh Nair (right)

1. His successful association with Aashiq Babu and Dileesh Nair 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.

2. Till now 22 Female Kottayam and Rani Padmini are his collaborations 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. The duo scripted for 

3. Syam Pushkaran is also known for his frequent collaboration with Fahadh Fasil. Beginning with 22 Female Kottayam, he scripted a few more Fasil movies like Iyobinte Pusthakam, Maheshinte Prathikaaram and Kumbalangi Nights, the landmark movies of Fahadh’s career as a brilliant actor. He also wrote the dialogues for Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum, which won Fahadh his first ever National award. They have also announced their next project, Thankam, along with Dileesh Nair.

4. He begins writing only after he sees and approves the film locations, as he wants to visualize the story first. In fact detailing minute details such as presence of tree, playground etc help him to script accordingly, and include such items while writing. 

5. Shyam was 26 year old and Dileesh was 30 and two good friends when they together scripted their first Mollywood film.