Salim Kumar (10 October 1969 โ 6 June 2026) was an Indian actor, director and writer who worked predominantly in Malayalam cinema. He appeared in over 300 films across a career spanning three decades.
๐ฌ 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.
Kumar attended Government LPS, Chittattukara, and Government Boys High School, North Paravur, before pursuing his pre-degree at SNM College, Malyankara. He 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.
๐ Awards and Recognition
He won the National Film Award for Best Actor in 2010 for his performance in Adaminte Makan Abu. 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).
His directorial film Karutha Joothan won the 2017 Kerala State Film Award for Best Story. He won the Mahatma Gandhi University’s Mimicry title thrice consecutively.
๐ฅ Film Career Breakthrough
He made his debut in Malayalam cinema with the 1997 family drama Ishtamanu Nooru Vattam. 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.
In the movie One Man Show, he played the memorable role of a patient escaped from mental hospital. 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.
๐ Memorable Comedy Roles
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 were memorable ones.
In the romantic-comedy movie Pulival Kalyanam, Salim Kumar played the most memorable character in his career called Manavalan. The many expressions of Manavalan later developed a cult following in Kerala troll community and are widely used in memes.
๐ค Other Work and Personal Life
Kumar appeared in a hip-hop number in Vineeth Srinivasan’s album “Coffee @ MG Road – Palavattam” (2008). He later ventured into direction, directing documentaries and feature-length dramas that were well received by critics.
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 of the Indian National Congress in Kerala.
โฐ๏ธ Death and Funeral
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. After being draped in the flag of the Indian National Congress, his body was taken to the pyre.
| Category | Detail | Year | Notable Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | 10 October 1969 | 1969 | Chittattukara, North Paravur |
| National Award | Best Actor | 2010 | Adaminte Makan Abu |
| State Award | Second Best Actor | 2005 | Achanurangatha Veedu |
| Death | 6 June 2026 | 2026 | Amrita Hospital, Kochi |