Actors are offered several types of characters, but most actors have carved a niche for themselves by portraying a specific type that showcases their acting prowess. For some, it is the humourous type and for others, it is the villainous type. For Fahadh Faasil, this niche is that of characters who suffer from psychological disturbances. We’ve seen him portray such characters in quite a few films, so let’s dive into (in no particular order) some of these characters.
Joji
This Dileesh Pothan-Shyam Pushkaran-Fahadh Faasil movie was an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, with Fahadh’s character being based on Macbeth. Macbeth was a character who eliminated everyone who stood on his path to the throne. Fahadh Faasil, as Joji, imbibed the cold-hearted nature of this character perfectly. Fahadh was able to bring out the nuances of the character through actions and expressions, and not just through dialogues in scenes of emotional outbursts. One such instance is when Joji looks into the mirror and covers his face using a mask before his father’s funeral. Fahadh was able to effortlessly portray the contained glee within Joji and then show how Joji tried to mask it using a literal mask. It is this layering that makes Joji one of Fahadh’s best performances.
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Irul
As Irul was rather underwhelming, Fahadh Faasil’s performance went quite unnoticed. While the film has its drawbacks, Fahadh was one of the saving graces. The aura that Fahadh brought to the screen, and the way he displayed the unpredictability of the character’s emotions, made his performance both convincing and haunting. Especially in the climax, when he is revealed to be the actual killer, the evil smile and the dialogue delivery give you the chills. Yes, this performance might not be as haunting as some of the others on this list, but Fahadh’s intensity and expressive eyes made this one scary character.
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Athiran
Fahadh’s conviction in portraying the character plays a vital part in this movie pulling off the sleight of hand that it does. His expressive eyes and mannerisms captivate us and keep us absorbed in the unpredictable nature of his character who suffers from schizophrenic delusions. Like his performance in Irul, this might not be at par with the rest on this list but he does do a commendable job and therefore, deserves appreciation.
Kumbalangi Nights
Shammi isn’t the hero we need, but Shammi feels otherwise. Fahadh is brutally brilliant as Shammi and portrays the character’s psychological disorder and toxic masculinity with menacing accuracy. He gets into the character so well that the fear and uneasiness that the other characters feel around him are palpable. Think back to the kitchen scene or the scene where the kids come to collect the ball. The first time you watched the movie, you must’ve noticed that there was something off about Shammi. But Fahadh’s skill is in how he toned the performance just right, so you don’t anticipate the final reveal. And this is why, I believe, Shammi will be remembered as an iconic villain in Malayalam cinema.
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Trance
Pastor Joshua Carlton has to be Fahadh Faasil’s performance so far. The transformation from a motivational speaker to a religious pastor is showcased so well that we are transfixed to the screen; waiting to see how this intriguing character gets himself out of the hole he has plunged into. The character’s psychological imbalances are portrayed in the signature Fahadh way, from ‘just enough’ at the start of the movie to ‘are you not entertained?’ by the end. The usual Fahadh Faasil toolkit – expressive eyes, haunting screen presence, eerie mannerisms and skillful dialogue delivery – is on full display, making this a character that probably only Fahadh can pull off.
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And those are my picks for characters with psychological imbalances that Fahadh Faasil has portrayed. Did I miss any characters? Or who could’ve portrayed these characters as well (or better)? Share you thoughts in the comments section below.
