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. 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 Year Title Role Notes 1991 Sandesham Cameo (Uncredited Role) 1996 Ishtamanu Nooru Vattam Radha Krishnan 1997 Ishtadanam Unnikuttan Moonu Kodiyum Munnooru Pavanum Mattanchery Mathen Ancharakalyanam Gireesan Mannadiar Penninu Chenkotta Checkan Kizhi Adukkala Rahasyam Angaadi Paattu Newspaper Boy Venkiti My Dear Kuttichathan Guitarist in Bar Reshot in 1997 Suvarna Simhaasanam Gopalan Poothumbium Poovalanmarum Guru Sishyan 1998 Manthri Kochamma Pankajakshan Chenapparambile Aanakkariyam Uthaman Kudumba Vaarthakal Kunjumon Gramapanchayath Bhaskaran Mattupetti Machan Manoharan Meenakshi Kalyanam Adv. Sivan Mullassery Malabaril Ninnoru Manimaran Stage Show Mayajalam Ezhupunna Mathai Mangalya Pallakku Phalgunan Chenapparambile Aanakkariyam Uthaman Sooryavanam Thamarathoppu 1999 Auto Brothers My Dear Karadi Constable Ujwallan Udayapuram Sulthan Salim Pattabhishekam Illikkulam Kattumanakkal Ashtangahridayam Bhramadathan Moosad Tokyo Nagarathile Viseshangal Kadappuram Paarayi

2000s Year Title Role Notes 2000 Kinnara Thumbikal Tea shop owner Mera Naam Joker Darling Darling Telephone Booth Owner Nadan Pennum Natupramaniyum Showroom Manager Vinayapoorvam Vidhyaadharan Astrologer Unnimaya Melevaryathe Malakhakkuttikal Bhaskaran Sathyameva Jayathe Mattancherry Mammathu Thenkasipattanam Muthuraman 2001 Naranathu Thampuran Shivan Ee Parakkum Thalika Koshy Ee Nadu Innale Vare Sundara Purushan Balan One Man Show Bhaskaran Nariman Kochu Narayanan's Manager Bharthavudyogam Pushpan Soothradharan Leela Krishnan 2002 Kakki Nakshatram Valkannadi Raghavan Meesa Madhavan Advocate Mukundanunni Thandavam Basheer Pranayamanithooval Sundaran Punyam Mazhathullikkilukkam Maayandi Kashillatheyum Jeevikkam Kunjikoonan Chandran Bamboo Boys Chamba Kalyanaraman Pyari Vasanthamalika Komalan Savithriyude Aranjanam Olympian Bhootham Appachan 2003 Pattanathil Sundaran Adv. Bhuvanachandran Vellithira Surendran Gramophone 'Tabla' Bhaskaran C.I.D. Moosa Mental Patient Thilakkam Omanakkuttan Kilichundan Mampazham Usman Pattalam S.I. Gabbar Keshavan Swantham Malavika Pulival Kalyanam Manavalan Hariharan Pillai Happy Aanu Sundaran The Fire Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum Ganeshan Malsaram Vaira Muthu 2004 Youth Festival Veerapandi Rasikan Paramu Chathikkatha Chandu Dance Master Vikram 2005 Pandippada Umakandan Thommanum Makkalum Raajakkannu Thaskaraveeran Sugathan Sarkar Dada Kumaran Maanikyan Kumaran Krithyam Badsha Izha Kalyana Kurimanam Rappakal Govindan Naran Idimutt Rajappan Junior Senior Sathyan Aandavan Mayinkutti Rajamanikyam Dasappan Udayananu Tharam Rafeek 2006 Chanthupottu Vareed Oruvan Balan Aanachandam Aana paappan Manikandan Narakasuran CBI Officer Govind Vrindavanam Lion Pottakuzhy Chellappan Thuruppu Gulan Khadar&Khadar Eakantham Velayudhan Pulijanmam Achanurangatha Veedu Samuel/Prabhakaran Pachakuthira Chandran Prajapathi Film Star Abhilash Chess Unnikkannan Vaasthavam Thrippan Namboothiri Karutha Pakshikal 2007 Changathipoocha Rajappan Inspector Garud Chakkachamparambil Lonappan Mayavi Kannan Srank Hareendran Oru Nishkalankan Rajendran Vazhayila Romeo Naranimangalam Narayanan Ayur Rekha P.C. Ismail Kangaroo 'Current' Kunjachan Anamika Mission 90 Days Aravindan The Speed Track Lali Abraham & Lincoln Constable Marcos Nagaram Lalkuzhi Nanappan Eakantham Velayudhan Goal (2007 Malayalam film) Kuriakose July 4 Sakthivel Hallo Chidambaram Arabikatha Kareem Chocolate Pappan Kadha Parayumbol Poet Das Vadakkemuri Flash 2008 Twenty:20 Induchoodan IPS De Ingottu Nokkiye Jubilee Shakespeare M.A. Malayalam Sugunan Muthukunnam Cycle Stephen Thavalam Sundaran Parthan Kanda Paralokam Karunan Gopalapuranam Ramanan Mulla 'Thotti' Sasi One Way Ticket Sakkath Beeran Annan Thampi Inspector Shyamalan Mayabazar Govindan Ashari Sultan Sundaran Crazy Gopalan Lakshmanan Lollypop Priest / Advocate Kuriakose 2009 Sanmanassullavan Appukuttan Samastha Keralam PO Subrahmaniam Aayirathil Oruvan Usman Loudspeaker KP Samayam Malayali Mohanakrishnan Duplicate Professional killer 1 Love In Singapore Shukkur khan 2 Harihar Nagar Ayyappan Ee Pattanathil Bhootham SI Madhavan Chandrappinni / Parakkum Madhavan Makante Achan Krishnan Kutty Decent Parties Rafeeq Swantham Lekhakan Chandramohan Kappal Muthalaali Omanakuttan Angel John Rajan Gulumal-The Escape Bhai Kerala Cafe Manikandan Chattambinadu Maakri Gopalan

2010s Year Title Role Notes 2010 Senior Mandrake Nizhal Cheriya Kallanum Valiya Policeum Gopalan Pokkiri Raja Novelist Manoharan Mangalodayam 3 Char Sau Bees Chandran Muthalali Anwar Ashraf Swantham Bharya Zindabad T K Vipin kumar My Big Father Unnikuttan Four Friends Kochouseph Malarvaadi Arts Club Kattapparam Sasi Thaskara Lahala Ayyappan Oridathoru Postman Chandrappan Kaaryasthan Kalidas Best Actor Vadival Pranchi Aakashayathra Marykkundoru Kunjaadu Lonappan 2011 Adaminte Makan Abu Abu Doubles Mayyazhi Arjunan Saakshi Mechanic Jackson Makeup Man Lawrence Christian Brothers Purushothaman Manikyakkallu Kunjuraman/Thampuraan Janapriyan Kannappan kannapi Teja Bhai & Family Divakaran Nair 2012 916 Players Padmasree Bharat Dr. Saroj Kumar Rafeek Masters Monichan Annum Innum Ennum Lopez Cobra Gopalan Ordinary Ashan - Bus mechanic Vaadhyar Prabhuvinte Makkal Ezham Suryan Mr. Marumakan Sankaranunni Mazhavillinattam Vare The Cook Ayalum Njanum Thammil Thomachan 101 Weddings Khader 2013 Abhiyum Njanum Jose Pigman Lisammayude Veedu Samuel/Prabhakaran Immanuel Suku OongaKunja/TrampOriya-Hindi bilingual film;released in film festivalsMaryanThomayyaTamil film Moonam Nal Nyararcha Kunjananthante Kada Nadodimannan Ravi KQ Bicycle Thieves Bose Prakash/Bossettan 2014 NedunchaalaiMattu SekarTamil film My Dear Mummy Bhaiyya Bhaiyya Korah Seconds Jeevan 2015 Compartment Fireman Narendan Achari Valiya Chirakulla Pakshikal School Head Master Elanjikkavu P.O Female Unnikrishnan Thamarakulam Raviyan Pathemari Narayanan's Father 2016 Thoppil Joppan Fr. Issac Vaalamparambil Moonam Naal Njyayarazhcha Karumpan Kattappanayile Hrithik Roshan Naxalite Chandran 2017 Ramaleela Sumesh Venjara Karutha Sooryan Hello Dubaikkaran Sherlock Toms Chouro Aashan Karutha Joothan Velipadinte Pusthakam Prof. Premraj Idikkattutharayi Clint Chippy 2018 Mangalyam Thanthunanena Chalakkudikkaran Changathi Mohanlal Sathan Jose Panchavarnathatha Adv. Jimmy Kuttanadan Marpappa Philipose Daivame Kaithozham K. Kumar Akanam Karimannur Gopi Shikkari Shambhu SI Jimmy Queen Adv. Mukundan Sakhavinte Priyasakhi 2019 Driving License Agasthi Varky Ulta Pattelar Dopanna Munthiri Monchan: Oru Thavala Paranja Kadha Thavala Edakkad Battalion 06 Santhosh Ganagandharvan Rajaji Ittymaani: Made in China Mapranam Varkey A For Apple Muhammed Shibu Dr.Thomachan Rangeela Mask Cheguevara alias Jaggu Varapuzha Thamara Oru Yamandan Premakadha Paanchi Madhura Raja Manoharan Manyolodayam An International Local Story MLA Joseph Manavalan Oru Adaar Love Manavalan Allu Ramendran SI Sinto Simon

2020s

As director

As dubbing artistOhm Shanthi Oshaana - Narrator Utopiayile Rajavu - Voice for Kakka (Voice For Crow)Alamara - Voice for Alamara (Voice For Wooden Wardrobe)Keshu Ee Veedinte Nadhan - narratorMukundan Unni Associates - Voice for Mukundan's grandfather

Television

Awards and nominations

Other awards 2005: Sathyan Award - Achanurangatha Veedu 2005: Bharathan Award - Achanurangatha Veedu 2010: Jaihind TV Film Award for Best Actor - Adaminte Makan Abu 2010: Amrita-FEFKA Film Award's Special Jury Award - Adaminte Makan Abu 2011: Prem Nazir Award 2012: Best Actor for Adaminte Makan Abu'' at Imagine India International Film Festival