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Wikipedia / Salim Kumar

Salim Kumar (10 October 1969 – 6 June 2026) was an Indian actor, director and writer who worked predominantly in Malayalam cinema. Widely regarded as one of the most prominent and influential actors in the history of Malayalam cinema, he appeared in over 300 films across a career spanning three decades. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor in 2010 for his performance in Adaminte Makan Abu.

His directorial film Karutha Joothan won the 2017 Kerala State Film Award for Best Story. He also won the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actor for Achanurangatha Veedu (2005) and a Kerala State Television Award for Best Actor (2013).

Early life and education

Salim Kumar was born as the youngest son of Gangadharan and Kausalya on 10 October 1969 in Chittattukara, North Paravur. His father, an atheist and a follower of the social reformer Sahodaran Ayyappan, named him Salim so that he would not be associated with any religion. The suffix "Kumar" was later added at the request of his school administration.

Kumar attended Government LPS, Chittattukara, and Government Boys High School, North Paravur, before pursuing his pre-degree at SNM College, Malyankara. Salim Kumar enrolled in a BA program at Maharajas College in Ernakulam because of his skill for imitation and a desire to work in the film industry and he won the Mahatma Gandhi University's Mimicry title thrice consecutively. He began his mimicry career at Cochin Kalabhavan before joining Cochin Sagar. He was also a performer on Asianet's comedy show Comicola. He also spent four years performing professional drama at Arathi Theatres in Kochi.

Film career

Before entering the Malayalam film industry, Kumar was chosen as host for a comedy programme called Comicola broadcast on Asianet. He made his debut in Malayalam cinema with the 1997 family drama Ishtamanu Nooru Vattam, directed by Siddique Shameer. After doing some minor roles in numerous movies, Sibi Malayil offered Salim Kumar a role in his movie Nee Varuvolam. However he was sent back from the location by the production controller by saying that his acting was not right. He was later replaced by Indrans to do the role. He was later noted for his performance in the movie Satyameva Jayathe, which was released in 2000. After getting impressed with his performance in Satyameva Jayathe, director Rafi Meccartin offered Salim a role in his movie Thenkasipattanam, which was a major breakthrough in his film career. It was one of the highest grossing movies of 2000. In the movie One Man Show, he played the memorable role of a patient escaped from mental hospital. Salim Kumar then found success while acting along with Dileep. In some movies, the duo is joined by Harishree Ashokan. In the 2001 slapstick comedy movie Ee Parakkum Thalika, he played the role of cook Koshi while in the 2002 cult comedy movie Meesa Madhavan, he did the role of Advocate Mukundan Unni. He is also remembered for his performances alongside Cochin Haneefa in Mazhathullikkilukkam and Kunjikkoonan. In the movie Kalyanaraman, Salim Kumar played the role of Pyaari, which is considered one of the finest comedy performances in his career. He played one of the lead roles in the 2002 slapstick comedy film Bamboo Boys alongside Kalabhavan Mani, Cochin Haneefa and Harishree Ashokan.

Kumar probably played some of the most memorable comedy roles in his career in 2003. He played the character of a psychic mental patient in the classic cult movie C.I.D. Moosa. His role as Omanakkuttan in Thilakkam, Usman in Kilichundan Mampazham alongside Mohanlal and S. I. Gabbar Keshavan in Pattalam which starred Mammootty were memorable ones. It was in the romantic-comedy movie Pulival Kalyanam that Salim Kumar played the most memorable character in his career. Most of the critics acclaim this character called Manavalan as the best comedy character played by Salim Kumar. The many expressions of Manavalan, including his helpless face, his coy smile and act as a rich man smoking pipe later developed a cult following in Kerala troll community and are widely used in memes.

Alongside Jayasurya, Salim Kumar's other famous role is Dance Master Vikram in the movie Chathikkatha Chandu (2004). One of the other popular characters played by Salim Kumar came out in the 2007 Mammootty movie Mayavi (2007). His character called Kannan Srank/Ashan has been widely used in Malayalam memes.

His potential to do the character roles was revealed in 2004, after receiving critical acclaim for his role in the Kamal movie Perumazhakkalam. Though slightly comedic, the role was realistic, allowing him to display different acting skills. His role as the father in Achanurangatha Veedu (2005), directed by Lal Jose, was a major break in his acting career, when he was able to shrug off the usual idiot-fool-illiterate comedic roles for which he seemed destined. The role won him the Kerala State Film Awards for Second Best Actor. He was then declared the winner of the National Award for Best Actor for his performance in Adaminte Makan Abu in 2010.

Some of his other popular roles were Raajakkannu in Thommanum Makkalum, Umakandan in Pandippada, Chidhambaram in Hallo, Naranimangalam Narayanan in Romeo, Inspector Shyamalan in Annan Thampi and Maakri Gopalan in Chattambinaadu.

Kumar appeared in a hip-hop number in Vineeth Srinivasan's album "Coffee @ MG Road - Palavattam" (2008). It was an instant hit and developed a cult following.

He later ventured into direction, directing documentaries and feature-length dramas that were well received by critics. Karutha Joothan (2017), which is written and directed by Salim Kumar won the award for the Best Story at the 47th Kerala State Film Awards. His next directorial effort was Daivame Kaithozham K. Kumar Akanam (2018), starring Jayaram in the lead role.

Personal life

Kumar lived in North Paravur, Ernakulam district, in a house called "Laughing Villa". He and his wife Sunitha have two sons, Chandu Salim Kumar and Aaromal. He was a member and staunch supporter of the Indian National Congress in Kerala. He has written a memoir called Ishwara Vazhakkillello. He conducted a mimicry troupe, Cochin Stallions, which introduced cine-serial actor Ramesh Pisharody and many other talents. His son Chandu is an actor who has appeared in films such as Manjummel Boys (2024).

Death

On 6 June 2026, Kumar was admitted to Amrita Hospital, Kochi due to physical difficulties in the morning, and was put on a ventilator after his health condition deteriorated. Later at night of same day, at 10:43 PM IST he was pronounced dead. His funeral was held with official honours at his residence. In accordance with his wishes, the funeral was conducted without religious rites. Salim Kumar had reportedly instructed that no post-funeral rituals, including the immersion of ashes, be performed. After being draped in the flag of the Indian National Congress, his body was taken to the pyre. His sons, Chandu and Aromal, lit the funeral pyre. The ceremony was attended by Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan and All India Congress Committee General Secretary K. C. Venugopal, among other political and cultural figures and his colleagues and friends from the Malayalam film industry.

Filmography

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

As director

As dubbing artist

Television

Awards and nominations

Other awards

Notes

References