Abbas Akbar
Abbas Akbar is a Singaporean filmmaker, screenwriter and actor, predominantly working on Tamil films and television shows.[1]
Abbas Akbar | |
---|---|
Akbar in 2010 | |
Occupation | Filmmaker |
Years active | 2006 – present |
Early life and education
Akbar's mother is from Chidambaram district in Tamil Nadu and his father is from Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. He is the second out of three sons. His younger brother, Shabir, is a singer, songwriter and musician and the winner of the competition Vasantham Star 2005.[2]
Career
Akbar made the short film Certain Chapters. Certain Chapters was nominated 'Best Short Film' at the Asian Festival of First Films and was screened at several international film festivals such as Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival, 3rd New Jersey Independent South Asian Cinefest and the Stepping Stone Film Festival in Chennai.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
His music videos produced by High Breed Media for Shabir is the first independent Tamil content to be playing on MTV Asia (both broadcast & online) and other international channels such as Channel [V] AMP, Go! Channel Philippines, DirectTV US and Mobile TV – Vodafone UK / Ireland.[10]
He was also one of the two directors for the award-winning drama series Vettai (TV series) that took Singapore Tamil viewers by storm. Cop drama Vettai: Pledged to Hunt took home a slew of awards at Pradhana Vizha 2011, Mediacorp Vasantham's annual awards show honouring the best in the local television industry.[11]
In 2014, it was reported that Akbar is directing a film called Chennai2Singapore by Media Development Authority (Singapore) and Comicbook Films India.[12][13]
Honors and awards
The Singapore Police Force in celebration of the Home Team National Day Observance Ceremony on 6 August 2012 awarded Akbar with a Public Spiritedness Award from Minister in Prime Minister's Office and 2nd Minister for Home Affairs and Trade and Industry Mr. S. Iswaran. This award was presented for his assistance rendered to a patrol officer in stopping an offender who attempted to escape.[14]
Filmography
Year | Film | Director | Writer | Acting role | Language | Note(s) | Awards or Nominations |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | Certain Chapters | Yes | Yes | Jegan (Lead actor) | Tamil | Short documentary film | |
2017 | Chennai to Singapore | Yes | Yes | Tamil | Based on the book Me and Earl and the Dying Girl |
Television
Year | Title | Director | Writer | Acting role | Language | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011-2014 | Nijangal (நிஜங்கள்) |
Yes | No | No | Tamil | |
2010-2017 | Vettai :(வேட்டை)
2) Vettai 2.0 |
Yes | Yes | No | Tamil | Co-written with Anuradha Kanderaju |
References
- "Indian movies being made in Singapore - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- Leong Wai Kit (1 January 2010). "Gangster Turns Icon". NTUC Lifestyle Magazine.
- Benjamin Nowicki (1 January 2010). "The Cinefile Presents Director Abbas Akbar & Composer Shabir". The Cinefile. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
- Wannabe Studios (December 2009). "Certain Chapters". The Stepping Stone Film Festival. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
- Administrator (7 November 2009). "List of Selected Films". Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
- Singapore Malay Film Society (October 2009). "Certain Chapters". Purnama 2 – A Screening of Short Films. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
- Businessofcinema.com Team (24 November 2009). "Tamil film nominated Best Short Film at Asian Festival". Businessofcinema.com. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
- Mogana Pillay (3 September 2009). "Certain Chapters – World Class". Tamil News, MediaCorp Vasantham. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
- Asian American Film and Theater Project (October 2009). "2009 Films". New Jersey Independent South Asian Cinefest 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2010
- MTV Asia (1 June 2010). "Dejavu". MTV Asia.com. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
- "TODAYonline | Entertainment | Television | Vettai wins big at Vasantham awards show". 1 July 2011. Archived from the original on 1 July 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- "Details about the upcoming Tamil Movie Chennai to Singapore". www.behindwoods.com. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- "'Chennai Singapore' makers hope to popularise Singapore". The Indian Express. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2015.