Shajiyem is a well known film maker from the southern state of India, Kerala. The regional language of his state is Malayalam.
He was born and raised in a small village near Varkala called Kavalayoor, in the state of Kerala.

 Kerala – also known as “God’s own country” is a place of immense beauty and is known for its palm lined beaches, backwaters and network of canals. The villages
are old-fashioned, charming and quaint, and Kavalayoor is one among them. This village is naturally green, dotted by vast paddy fields and painted with many bright colors of Blue and Green. He had a deep interest in art which was inspired by nature’s beauty, the village landscapes and the simplicity of life. He tried to capture its beauty on paper the way he saw it, and became a budding artist at a young age  of seven.

His love of art and desire to enhance his creativity, propelled him to pursue his education at the College of Fine Arts located at Trivandrum the capital city of Kerala, India. He was under the tutelage of renowned sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman
and artists like C.L. Porinjukutty, G. Rajendran, Kattoor Narayana Pillai. He received his National Diploma in Painting in the year 1978.

During his college days, he found opportunities to work in the Advertisement industry, Documentary films and Film publications. As an art enthusiast and a patron of visual arts, the experience he derived during his formative years,
propelled him to join the film industry. 

In 1979, he worked as an independent Art Director for the movie “Uthradarathri”, a south Indian Malayalam movie directed by the famous actor and film maker Balachandra Menon. Mr. Menon is recognized by the “Limca Book of Records” as an actor, director who has written and scripted for 29 films, a record that surpasses Hollywood’s Woody Allen, who has 26 such films to his credit. 

Shajiyem worked on art direction for more than 15 feature films and has designed posters for around 20 movies. His artistic abilities helped him create very natural and realistic movie sets and unconventional movie poster designs.

Shajiyem scripted and directed his first movie titled “Parasparam” in 1984. After that, he directed two more movies – Ms.Lekha Tharoor Kaanunnathu” and “Bad Girl”.

He was also popular in Television media and directed eighteen Television Serials for various channels. Many of these were trend setters for subsequent series. Two of the serials were entirely filmed in the USA. He is a recipient of several State Awards and is also  recognized by other institutions.

During the period of 1975 to 1980 he created an art series called “Man and Nature” which focused on the intrinsic connection of human emotions and experiences that connect us to nature. One of these paintings received the prestigious award from the Kerala State Lalitha Kala Academy 

Shajiyem’s paintings and the vibrant colors he incorporates in his art, encapsulates the dimensions of human perspectives and the delicate balance with nature. The elements of fantasy and reality are melded in perfect harmony and balance, thanks to his extensive experience as an Artist and Film-maker!!

He is currently residing in Dallas, Texas, USA.