Malayalam actor Salim Kumar cremated with state honours

Chief Minister VD Satheesan pays his last respects to actor Salim Kumar at the North Paravur Municipal Hall in Ernakulam on Sunday, June 7, 2026. Photo credit: RK Nithin

Malayalam actor and filmmaker Salim Kumar, who started out as a mime artist and won the National Award for Best Actor in an inspiring career, was cremated with state honors in North Paravur, his hometown in Ernakulam district, on Sunday (June 7, 2026).

The funeral of the 57-year-old actor, who died of cardiac arrest while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kochi on Saturday (June 6, 2026), was held on the premises of Laughing Villa, his residence in Chittattukara, as the state bid an emotional farewell to the artiste who never failed to unleash a laugh riot on and off screen. The funeral pyre was lit by Salim Kumar’s sons, Chanthu and Aromal, by 3.45 pm. Religious rituals were avoided in keeping with the wishes expressed by Salim Kumar to his family.

Thousands of people, including his colleagues from the film industry, political leaders and fans from across the state, paid their last respects to the actor throughout the day as his mortal remains were laid to rest at the North Paravur City Hall from 9 am to 2 pm for the public and later at his home. District Collector G. Priyanka laid a wreath on the remains on behalf of the State Government.

A flexible plaque paying tribute to actor Salim Kumar placed at the Paravur Town Hall where his mortal remains were kept for public veneration. Despite the heavy rain, thousands of people gathered in Paravur to bid farewell to the beloved actor. | Photo credit: RK Nithin

He pays his last respects

Chief Minister VD Satheesan paid his last respects to Salim Kumar at City Hall and also attended the funeral. He remembered Salim Kumar as someone with whom he shared a “brotherly bond”. Apart from Salim Kumar’s long-time friends from the film industry, Indian Congress Committee General Secretary (Organization) KC Venugopal MP, Vice-Chairman Shanimol Osman, Culture Minister PC Vishnunadh, Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden, actor-turned-MLA Ramesh Pisharody and producer Anto Joseph attended the funeral.

Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi, Ministers of State Roji M John and VE Abdul Gafoor, MPs Benny Behanan, Kodikkunnil Suresh and Jebi Mather, CPI State Secretary Binoy Viswam, MLAs Anwar Sadath and Mohammed Shiyas, Former MLA KN Unnikrishnan, Actors Renji Nayaram, S Navya Nadirshah, Harisree Ashokan, Dileep, Sunny Wayne, Tiny Tom and Baburaj, Filmmakers Kamal, Chidambaram and Mahesh Narayanan and writer Benny P. Nayarambalam were among those who paid their last respects to Salim Kumar.

Actors Mohanlal and Mammootty, who were not in the state, took to social media to condole the death of their colleague. Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, former minister P. Rajeeve and Bharatiya Janata Party state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MLA, were also among those who condoled the death of the actor.

Published – 07 Jun 2026 16:58 IST