Salim Kumar

Salim Kumar (born 10 October 1969) is an Indian film actor, director and writer in Malayalam cinema. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor in 2010 for his role in Adaminte Makan Abu (which also won the year's Kerala State Film Award). His directorial film Karutha Joothan won the 2017 Kerala State Film Award for Best Story. He has 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
Salim Kumar was born on 10 October 1969 in North Paravur, as the youngest son of Gangadharan and Kausalya. He once told an interviewer that his father was an atheist and a follower of the veteran social reformer Sahodaran Ayyappan, who was also from North Paravur, and so named his son Salim Kumar to avoid religious associations.

Kumar attended the Govt. Lower Primary School, Chittattukara North Paravur; went to high school at the Govt. Boys High School, North Paravur; and completed his pre-degree education at Sree Narayana Mangalam College Malyankara, Moothakunnam. He wanted to become a singer at a young age but later took up mimicry. He graduated with a BA from Maharajas College, Ernakulam where he won the university's Mimicry title thrice. He started his stage career at Cochin Kalabhavan. He was also a performer in Comicola, a comedy program on Asianet. For about four years, he was associated with professional drama in Arathi Theatres, Cochin.

Career
Kumar was chosen as host for a comedy programme on a private Malayalam television channel. In 1997, his breakthrough in cinema came with Ishtamanu Nooru Vattam, a family drama directed by Siddique Shameer.

In the 2003 romantic-comedy movie Pulival Kalyanam he played the character of Manavalan. Most of the critics acclaims this 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 into a cult and are widely used in memes.

He received critical acclaim for his role in the Kamal movie Perumazhakkalam (2004). 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 Award 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.

Kumar appeared in a hip-hop number in the album "Coffee @ MG Road - Palavattam" (2008); it was an instant hit and developed a cult following.

Kumar later ventured into direction, directing documentaries and feature-length dramas that were well received by critics. His latest directorial effort is Daivame Kaithozham K. Kumarakanam (2018).

Personal life
Kumar lives in North Paravur-Ernakulam District, in a house called "Laughing Villa". He and his wife Sunitha have two sons, Chandu and Aaromal. He is a member of Indian National Congress in Kerala. He has written a memoir called Ishwara Vazhakkillello. He conducts a mimicry troupe, Cochin Stallions, which introduced cine-serial actor Ramesh Pisharody and many other talents.

Filmography

 * Malayalam films (partial)
 * Dhamaka (2020) as Doctor
 * Driving License (2019) as Agasthi
 * Varky (2019)
 * Ulta (2019)
 * Munthiri Monchan: Oru Thavala Paranja Kadha (2019)
 * Edakkad Battalion 06 (2019)
 * Ganagandharvan (2019)
 * Ittymaani: Made in China (2019)
 * A For Apple (2019)
 * Shibu movie (2019) as Dr.Thomachan
 * Rangeela (2019 film)
 * Mask (2019) as Jaggu Varapuzha
 * Thamara (2019)
 * Oru Yamandan Premakadha (2019)...Paanchi
 * Madhura Raja (2019) as Manoharan Manyolodayam
 * An International Local Story (2019)
 * Oru Adaar Love (2019)
 * Allu Ramendran (2019) as SI Sinto Simon
 * Mangalyam Thanthunanena (2018)
 * Chalakkudikkaran Changathy (2018)
 * Mohanlal (2018) as Sathan Jose
 * Panchavarnathatha (2018) as Adv.Jimmy
 * Kuttanadan Marpappa (2018) as Philipose
 * Daivame Kaithozham K. Kumar Akanam (2018) as Karimannur Gopi
 * Shikkari Shambhu (2018) as SI Jimmy
 * Queen (2018) as Adv.Mukundan
 * Sakhavinte Priyasakhi (2018)
 * Ramaleela (2017) as Sumesh Venjara
 * Karutha Sooryan (2017)
 * Hello Dubaikkaran (2017)
 * Sherlock Toms (2017)
 * Karutha Joothan (2017)
 * Velipadinte Pusthakam (2017) as Prof. Premraj Idikkattutharayi
 * Clint (2017)
 * Chippy (2017)
 * Kattappanayile Hrithik Roshan (2016) as Naxalite Chandran
 * Moonam Naal Njyayarazhcha (2016) as Karumpan
 * Thoppil Joppan (2016) as Father Koduveli
 * Pathemari (2015)
 * Female Unnikrishnan (2015)
 * Elanjikkavu P.O (2015)
 * Birds With Large Wings (2015)
 * Fireman (2015) as Narendan Achari
 * Compartment (2015)
 * Seconds (2014)
 * Bhaiyya Bhaiyya (2014)
 * My dear Mummy (2014)
 * Bicycle Thieves (2013)
 * Kq(2013)
 * Nadodimannan (2013) as Ravi
 * Kunjananthante Kada (2013)
 * Moonam nal Nyararcha (2013)
 * Nadodimannan (2013)
 * Immanuel (2013) as Suku
 * Lisammayude Veedu (2013) as Samuel
 * Pigman (2013)
 * Abhiyum Njanum as Jose
 * 101 Weddings (2012) as Khader
 * Ayalum Njanum Thammil (2012) as Thomachan
 * Mazhavillinattamvare (2012)
 * Mr. Marumakan (2012)
 * Ezham Suryan (2012)
 * Vaadhyar(2012)
 * Ordinary
 * Cobra (2012) as Gopalan
 * Annum Innum Ennum (2012)
 * Masters (2012) as Monichan
 * Padmasree Bharat Dr. Saroj Kumar (2012) as Rafeek
 * Players (2012)
 * 916 (2012)
 * Teja Bhai & Family (2011) as Divakaran Nair
 * Janapriyan (2011) as Kannappan kannapi
 * Manikiakkallu (2011) as Kunjiraman 'THAMPURAN'
 * Christian Brothers (2011) as Purushothaman
 * Prabhuvinte Makkal (2011)
 * Makeup Man (2011) as Lawrence
 * Arjunan Saakshi (2011) as Mechanic Jackson
 * Doubles (2011) as Mayyazhi
 * Ameya (2011)
 * Adaminte Makan Abu(2011) as Abu
 * Marykkundoru Kunjaadu (2010) as Lonappan
 * Aakashayathra (2010)
 * Best Actor (2010) as Vadival Pranchi
 * Kaaryasthan (2010) as Kalidas
 * Oridathoru Postman (2010)
 * Thaskara Lahala (2010)
 * Malarvaadi Arts Club (2010)...Kattapparam Sasi
 * Four Friends (2010 film) as Kochouseph
 * My Big Father (2010) as Unnikuttan
 * Swantham Bharya Zindabad(2010) as T K Vipin kumar
 * Anwar (2010) as Ashraf
 * Adaminte Makan Abu (2010) as Abookka
 * 3 Char Sau Bees (2010) as Chandran Muthalali
 * Pokkiri Raja (2010) as Writer Manoharan
 * Cheriya Kallanum Valiya Policum (2010) as Gopalan
 * Nizhal (2010)
 * Senior Mandrake (2010)
 * Chattambinadu (2009) as Gopalan
 * Gulumal-The Escape (2009)
 * Angel John(2009) as Rajan
 * Kappal Muthalaali(2009) as Omanakuttan
 * Swantham Lekhakan(2009) as Chandramohan
 * Decent Parties (2009)
 * Makante Achan (2009) as Krishnan Kutty
 * Ee Pattanathil Bhootham(2009) as Sub Inspector Madhavan
 * 2 Harihar Nagar (2009) as Ayyappan
 * Love In Singapore (2009) as Shukkur khan
 * Duplicate (2009)
 * Malayali (2009)
 * Samayam (2009)
 * Loudspeaker (2009)
 * Aayirathil Oruvan (2009 film) as Usman
 * Samastha Keralam PO(2009) as Subrahmaniam
 * Sanmanassullavan Appukuttan (2009)
 * Lollypop (2008) as Priest / Advocate Kuriakose
 * Crazy Gopalan (2008) as Lakshmanan
 * Sultan (2008) as Sundaran
 * Mayabazar(2008) as Govindan Ashari
 * Annan Thambi (2008) Inspector Shyamalan
 * One Way Ticket (2008)
 * Mulla (2008) as 'Thotti' Sasi
 * Gopalapuranam (2008)
 * Parthan Kanda Paralokam (2008) as Karunan
 * Thavalam (2008)
 * Cycle (2008 film)
 * Shakespeare M.A. Malayalam (2008) as Sugunan Muthukunnam
 * Jubilee (2008 film)
 * De engotu Nokiey (2008)
 * Twenty:20 (2008) as Induchoodan IPS
 * Flash (2007)
 * Kadha Parayumbol (2007) as Poet Das Vadakkemuri
 * Chocolate (2007) as Pappan
 * Arabikatha (2007) as Kareem
 * Hallo (2007) as Chidambaram
 * July 4 as Sakthivel
 * Goal (2007 Malayalam film)
 * Ekantham (2007)
 * Nagaram (2007) as Nanappan
 * Abraham & Lincoln (2007)
 * The Speed Track (2007) as Lali
 * Mission 90 Days (2007)
 * Anamika (2007)
 * Kangaroo (2007 film) as Kunjachan
 * Aayur Rekha (2007)
 * Romeoo (2007) as Narayanan
 * Hareendran Oru Nishkalankan (2007) as Rajendran Vazhayila
 * Mayavi (2007) as Kannan Srank
 * Inspector Garud (2007) as Chakkachamparambil Lonappan
 * Changathipoocha (2007) as Rajappan
 * Karutha Pakshikal (2006)
 * Vaasthavam (2006) as Thrippan Namboothiri
 * Chess (2006) as Unnikkannan
 * Prajapathi (2006) as Film Star Abhilash
 * Pachakuthira (2006) as Chandran
 * Achanurangatha Veedu (2006) as Samuel/Prabhakaran
 * Pulijanmam (2006)
 * Eakantham(2006) as Velayudhan
 * Thuruppu Gulan (2006) as Khader
 * Lion (2006 film) (2006) as Pottakuzhy Chellappan
 * Vrindavanam (2006)
 * Narakasuran (2006)
 * Aanachandam (2006) as pappan
 * Changathipoocha (2006)
 * Oruvan (2006)
 * Parayam (2006)
 * Chanthupottu (2006) as Vareed
 * Rajamanikyam (2005) as Dasappan
 * Aandavan (2005)
 * Junior Senior (2005)
 * Naran (2005) as Idimutt Rajappan
 * Rappakal (2005) as Govindan
 * Kalyanakurimanam (2005)
 * Izha (2005)
 * Krithyam (2005)
 * Maanikyan (2005)
 * Sarkar Dada (2005)
 * Thommanum Makkalum (2005) as Raajakkannu
 * Chathikkatha Chandu (2004) as Dance Master Vikram
 * Rasikan(2004) as Paramu
 * Youth Festival (2004) as Veerapandi
 * Malsaram(2003) as Vaira Muthu
 * Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum (2003)
 * The Fire (2003)
 * Hariharan Pillai Happy Aanu (2003) as Sundaran
 * Pulival Kalyanam (2003) as Manavalan
 * Swantham Malavika (2003)
 * Pattalam (2003) as S.I. Gabbar Keshavan
 * Kilichundan Mampazham (2003) as Uzman
 * Thilakkam (2003) as Omanakkuttan
 * C.I.D. Moosa (2003) as Mental Patient
 * Gramophone (2003) as 'Tabla' Bhaskaran
 * Vellithira (2003) as Surendran
 * Pattanathil Sundaran (2003) as Bhuvanachandran
 * Savithriyude Aranjanam (2002) as Olympian Bhootham Appachan
 * Vasanthamalika (2002)
 * Kalyanaraman (2002) as Pyari
 * Bamboo Boys (2002) as Chamba
 * Kunjikoonan (2002) as Chandran
 * Kashillatheyum Jeevikkam (2002)
 * Mazhathullikkilukkam (2002) as Maayandi
 * Punyam (2002)
 * Pranayamanithooval (2002) as Sundaran
 * Thandavam (2002) as Basheer
 * Meesa Madhavan (2002) as Advocate Mukundanunni
 * Valkannadi (2002) as Raghavan
 * Kakki Nakshatram (2002)
 * Bharthavudyogam (2001)
 * Nariman (2001) as Kochunarayanan's manager
 * One Man Show (2001) as Bhaskaran
 * Sundara Purushan (2001)
 * Soothradharan (2001) as Leela Krishnan
 * Ee Parakkum Thalika (2001) as Koshy
 * Naranathu Thampuran (2001)
 * Ee Naadu Innale Vare (2001)
 * Melevaryathe Malakhakkuttikal (2000) as Bhaskaran
 * Thenkasipattanam (2000)
 * Unnimaya (2000)
 * Kinnara Thumbikal (2000)
 * Vinayapoorvam Vidhyaadharan (2000) as Astrologer
 * Nadanpennum Naattupramaaniyum (2000)
 * Kinarathumbikal
 * Tokyo Nagarathile Viseshangal (1999) as Kadappuram Paarayi
 * Sooryavanam (1998) as Thamarathoppu
 * Mattupetti Machan (1998) as Manoharan
 * Graama Panchaayathu (1998)
 * Chenapparambile Aanakkariyam (1998) as Uthaman
 * Manthri Kochamma (1998)
 * Adukkala Rahasyam Angaadi Paattu (1997)
 * Mannadiar Penninu Chenkotta Checkan (1997) as Kizhi
 * Ancharakalyanam (1997)
 * Moonu Kodiyum Munnooru Pavanum (1997) as Mattanchery Mathen
 * Ishtadanam (1997) as Unnikuttan
 * Ishtamanu Nooru Vattam (1996)


 * Other languages
 * Appavin Meesai (2014) -Tamil
 * Nedunchaalai (2014) -Tamil as Maattu Sekar
 * Maryan (2014) -Tamil as Thomayya
 * Oonga(2013) - Oriya
 * Mayabazaar (2011) -Bengali
 * As Director
 * 2015- Compartment (Malayalam)
 * 2017 -Karutha Joothan (Malayalam)
 * 2018 -Daivame Kaithozham K. Kumar Akanam (Malayalam)

As dubbing artist

 * Utopiayile Rajavu-Voice for kakka(Voice For Crow)
 * Alamara-Voice for Alamara (Voice For Wooden Wardrobe)

Accolades

 * National Film Awards
 * 2010: Best Actor - Adaminte Makan Abu


 * Kerala State Film Awards
 * 2005: Second Best Actor - Achanurangatha Veedu
 * 2010: Best Actor - Adaminte Makan Abu
 * 2013: Best Comedian - Ayalum Njanum Thammil
 * 2016: Best Story - Karutha Joothan


 * Kerala State Television Awards
 * 2013: Best Actor - Parethante Paribhavangal


 * Filmfare Awards South
 * 2011: Best Actor – Malayalam - Adaminte Makan Abu


 * South Indian International Movie Awards
 * 2012: Special Jury Award - Adaminte Makan Abu


 * Asianet Film Awards
 * 2008: Best Comedy Actor - Annan Thambi
 * 2011: Special Jury Award - Adaminte Makan Abu


 * 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
 * 2010: Kerala Film Critics Association 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