Veteran Malayalam actor and National Award-winner Salim Kumar passed away aged 56 on Saturday, June 6.
Every Malayali is sure to have used atleast one Salim Kumar reference in the daily life – that’s the impact of an actor who became a core part of Malayalam pop culture through his memorable characters and dialogues.
A legendary actor who became a comic mainstay in Malayalam cinema through the 2000s, Salim Kumar went on to prove his versatility with powerful and emotional performances, including his role in 2010 film Adaminte Makan Abu for which he won ‘National Film Award for Best Actor.’
As we bid adieu to Salim Kumar, we also bid farewell to an unforgettable era of Malayalam cinema. In honour of the iconic actor, here are seven of his most memorable comic roles.
Muthuraman in Thenkasipattanam (2000)
Rafi-Mecartin‘s 2000 blockbuster Thenkasipattanam also starring Dileep, Suresh Gopi and Lal is considered a breakout role for Salim Kumar, who had steadily making a name as a comic actor through the ’90s.
As horse carriage driver Muthuraman, Salim’s quickfire chemistry with Dileep crafted iconic comedic moments that remains timeless.
Advocate Mukundan Unni in Meesa Madhavan (2002)
Salim Kumar played a brief but memorable role as Advocate Mukundan Unni in Lal Jose‘s Meesa Madhavan starring Dileep.
From his theatrical police station monologue to moments of physical comedy, his role in the movie is one that people still think back to despite a short appearance.
Pyari in Kalyanaraman (2002)
Continuing his successful run with Dileep, Salim Kumar’s Pyari in Shafi‘s Kalyanaraman made for quite a few quotable dialogues ( that as a Malayali I frequently use in daily life!).
With scene stealing performances amidst other comic juggernauts like Innocent, Salim Kumar’s Pyari makes for a laughter riot right from his introduction scene.
Omanakuttan in Thilakkam (2003)
Salim Kumar’s Omanakuttan in Thilakkam left audiences in splits with his memorable one-liners.
Holding his own in a film packed with heavyweights of comedy, Omanakuttan’s “I am the sorry Aliya. I am the sorry,” is OG meme material that continues to be used even today in pop culture references.
Manavalan in Pulival Kalyanam (2003)
One of Salim Kumar’s most popular comic roles came in Shafi’s Pulival Kalyanam starring Jayasurya and Kavya Madhavan.
The Gulf-returned character, Manavalan gave us iconic dialogues and hilarious moments, with Salim’s performance managing to outshine even the leading stars.
Dance Master Vikram in Chathikkatha Chanthu (2004)
In Rafi Mecartin’s Chathikkatha Chanthu, Salim’s Michael Jackson-inspired Dance Master Vikram owns the film with his performance.
From his “dance moves” to the infamous ‘malam bhootham‘ sequence in the climax, Salim Kumar had proven to be an intrinsic part of Malayalam cinema’s comedic fabric by this point.
Kannan Srank in Mayavi (2007)
As the tough yet well-meaning thug Kannan Srank in Mayavi starring Mammootty, Salim Kumar proved his ability to shine regardless of who he shared screen space with.
Balancing moments of utter physical comedy with meme-worthy dialogues, Kannan Srank may seem underrrated in a list of his most iconic characters but it remains a fan favourite.
Rest in peace Salim Kumar. Thanks for the laughter and all the memes!
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