Amala Muralidharan
Free-spirited, bold, positive, flamboyant, energetic and sensitive are the adjectives that define Kidilam Firoz aka Firoz Azeez.
Whether on air as a RJ or onscreen with acting and directing skills, he has been applauded for his brilliance in performances. And the awards he has won are the testimony of his prowess on lending his voice to causes like fight against drugs, alcohol, smoking, rape, divorces, etc., and creating awareness through the media.
Firoz kick started his career in media, as an assistant producer, script writer and anchor in various programs of Asianet Network channel. Then, he moved to a new horizon, airing his views as a Radio Jockey. He now owns Aura Media, a media company in Dubai. For the Best Radio Personality Award winner, talking nonstop with full energy is no cumbersome job.
Though, Firoz has bagged many awards, his greatest achievement was when he made his way into the Limca Book of Records in 2008, by talking incessantly and breaching a record of 105 hours, for Big 92.7 FM. It was the lengthiest show in Malayalam, done by a single Radio Jockey for an anti-drug and alcohol campaign in Kerala. For this he underwent many practice sessions, yoga, meditation, etc., to keep himself fit for the marathon.
He says “Talkathon was 5 days and 4 nights long journey without solid food, had to live on liquids. It was successful only because of the support of my team”. He continues “Hundreds of people came to meet me in the studio and stayed there with me till the record breaking moment!”
As an answer to this, his hardwork got paid off when many people decided to say a ‘BIG NO’ to alcohol and drugs.
Firoz has been creating a storm over the internet with his short films, each one a take on social issues faced today. He has helmed a handful of short films of different tones – Thaniyavarthanam, Intention, Break, A walk to remember, Kallu and 69. He has won the Best Director Awards for ‘A Walk to Remember’, ‘Kallu’ and ‘69’.
The latest one being ‘69’; has won over a million viewership on Youtube. 69 showed 12 major reel and real life stories, of which child trafficking and the horrifying Delhi Nirbhaya incident are the highlights.
In a chat with Amala Muralidharan, Firoz aired his views on a wide spectrum of issues:
Amala Muralidharan (AM): Who has been your role model?
Firoz Azeez (FA): My father has been my role model. He gave me the wings to fly and explore the ultimate realities of life.
AM: Each work of yours has a message attached to it. What makes you think over such subjects?
FA: I do have a strong thought to do something for the society till my very last breath. I get easily disturbed by such problems. Delhi gang-rape incident shook the whole nation and I had many sleepless nights thinking about it. It could have been anyone in place of that girl! That is how I came up with a story like ‘69’ which says that ‘a man can never live a woman’s life’. Similarly, ‘Kallu’ was a humorous take on married life, imparting a message that if problems are shared equally between a husband and wife, only then a married life becomes successful. And ‘A Walk to Remember’ was about suicides. So my inner pandemonium was expressed thought these short films.
AM: 69 has now turned out to be a viral hit and has indeed thrown light on the importance of a woman in our life. What do you think are women given the respect which they deserve? Are they in a safe place?
FA: No, they are not. Not all women are treated with respect. I have been to many countries, but the confidence and attitude I have seen in women there is something which women lack here in India. Women here know very well that they are not safe. To overcome this scenario, we have to start from the very grass root level. Instead of changing the law or compulsory sex education etc, a woman must be respected and treated as a human from home. Only then would she be respected or valued in the society.
AM: Most memorable moments of your career.
FA: It’s my 13th year in this field and each moment has been memorable by doing my part of job and giving others happiness which they deserve.
AM: You have been an inspiration for many now. What is your message to them?
FA: Be brave and be one yourself. I don’t think I am an inspiration, just doing the little I can by using my medium of communication.
AM: What next!
FA: Venture into movies which are in the pre-production stage and I will continue my journey and raise voice against the harsh realities of life!
