Alaypayuthey Season 1 2026 in Sharjah

Alaypayuthey Season 1 2026 in Sharjah is a first-anniversary stage show at Expo Centre Sharjah on Saturday 12 December, built around the Dileep Nadir Shah Show. Spelt Alaipayuthey in the organisers’ own description, it gathers actors, singers, dancers and mimicry artists from the Malayalam entertainment world for one long evening of music, dance and comedy. Doors open at 3pm and the show starts at 5pm.

The event is presented by Anusithara’s Kamaladhalam in association with Vantara Studios, with the dance segments under the artistic direction of Sreejith of Dance City.

The Dileep Nadir Shah Show

The headline pairing goes back to the roots of Malayalam comedy. Both Dileep and Nadirshah started out as stage mimicry artists, and together they created Dhe Maveli Kombathu, the comedy audio cassette series that was released every year at Onam.

Dileep

Dileep began as a mimic with troupes such as Harisree and Cochin Guinness and appeared on Asianet comedy programmes before moving into films, first as an assistant director to Kamal and then as an actor. He has since appeared in more than 150 films, including Punjabi House, Meesha Madhavan, which earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Malayalam), Kunjikkoonan, Chanthupottu, Two Countries and Ramaleela. He won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for Vellaripravinte Changathi and founded Graand Productions, whose first film was C.I.D. Moosa.

Nadirshah

Nadirshah, from Kochi, started performing at the age of ten and made his name as a mimicry artist, comedian and television host. He moved into directing with Amar Akbar Anthony in 2015, followed by Kattappanayile Rithwik Roshan, Mera Naam Shaji and Keshu Ee Veedinte Nadhan, and he also works as a music director, playback singer and lyricist. Television viewers know him as a judge on comedy shows such as Comedy Utsavam and Comedy Masters.

The full line-up

Around the headliners, the bill reads like a cross-section of Malayalam film and music:

• Anu Sithara, the actress and trained Bharatanatyam dancer known for Ramante Edanthottam, Captain and Subharathri, in which she starred opposite Dileep.
• Dayyana, Ranjini Jose, music director Sharath and Ronnie Rachel.
• Mimicry artist Mahesh Kunjumon, keeping the comedy thread running between sets.
• A special performance by Sampath.

Anu Sithara and Kamaladhalam

Anu Sithara, whose Kamaladhalam presents the evening, was born in Wayanad in 1995 and learned classical dance at Kerala Kalamandalam, the state’s renowned performing arts institution. She made her screen debut in 2013 and has worked with leading Malayalam stars, from Kunchacko Boban in Ramante Edanthottam to Tovino Thomas in Oru Kuprasidha Payyan. She is also known for her stage shows, so expect her dance background to shape the look of the night.

The singers

The musical side of the night features Nithya Mammen, Anwar Sadath, Athira Janakan, Justin Paul, Khadeeja Nadir Shah and Bijesh Chelari. The organisers also promise many more performers, so the final running order may include extra names.

What to expect from the show

This is a classic Gulf stage show in format: a long programme that moves between live songs, choreographed dance numbers, comedy sketches and mimicry, with the stars stepping in and out across the evening. The dance sequences, directed by Sreejith of Dance City, are designed as energetic, visual set pieces, while the comedy segments draw on the mimicry tradition that both headliners came from. With doors two hours before the 5pm start and a listed finish around 10pm, it fills most of a Saturday.

The venue: Expo Centre Sharjah

Expo Centre Sharjah, on Al Taawun Street, is the emirate’s main exhibition and convention centre. It traces its history to 1977, when it opened as the first exhibition venue in the UAE and the wider Gulf, and its current building was inaugurated in 2002. Owned by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, it has six indoor multi-purpose halls, and is best known as the home of the Sharjah International Book Fair. Its large halls suit a show of this scale.

Getting there

• By car: take Al Ittihad Road towards Al Taawun Street and follow it to the venue; GPS is advised for the final turns.
• By bus: route E307A stops at Al Qasba 1, a short walk from the centre.

Who it suits

The show is aimed at the UAE’s Malayali community and anyone who loves Malayalam cinema, music and comedy. Fans who grew up with Dhe Maveli Kombathu or Dileep’s comedies of the 2000s will find plenty of nostalgia, while the singers bring a more current sound. The age policy is 10 and over, which makes it suitable for families with older children. If you can no longer go, the ticket page allows you to exchange your ticket with another fan.

For more shows like this, see our guide to shows and theatre, browse things to do in Sharjah, or find more things to do in December.