Moving Goal Post (3): Akhil shah (NATA student -2017)

Creativity simply courses from his young heart, up his arms and through his finger tips on to paper as portrait after portrait emerge in exquisite detail and mastery, rarely seen in an 18-year-old. Akhil Shah developed his passion for drawing at a very young age inspired by his mother, Haseena, who also shares his desire for drawing. On the Malayalam channel ‘Mazhavil Manorama’, TV hostess Rimi Tomi once challenged him to do a portrait of her which was done instantly and she was remarkably impressed.

On another occasion, Nyla Usha of ‘Minute to win it’, again from the popular Malayalam channel ‘Mazhavil Manorama’ program dared Akhil to draw her and he proved comfortable with accomplishing the task. Akhil loves to draw and does it with all the passion he can muster.

When probed to reveal any other talent lying dormant, Akhil admitted he sought out opportunities to act whenever he found time. His impersonation of actress Surabhi Lakshmi on You Tube single handedly enacting the celebrated Ganga vs Nakulan scene from box office hit Malayalam movie ‘Manichitrathazham’, went viral on FB.

He dreams of a career in architecture and is currently undergoing coaching classes for the NATA qualifier test from Vismayam College of Art & Media, Calicut.

He did his schooling partly from ISS (Islamic Service Society) and completed from GMHSS (Govt. Model Higher Secondary). Akhil’s family including his father Kunhamu, mother Haseena and siblings Nidha Fathima and Allen Shah, much younger to him, hail from Perinthalmanna in Malapuram district.

It was evident Akhil was a nature lover as well. At the ISS school, he was a part of the Eco club and had actively contributed in laying a garden at the school along with his friends. In his spare time, he indulges in a bit of cooking –  a quality acquired from his mother who he is very close to. His special dish is the ‘fruit & nut’ cake.

Akhil fondly remembers his maternal uncle, Fasal Rahman who was his mentor and supporter from his younger days.