Since disgrace, Salim Kumar has made firm strides towards national recognition

Actor Salim Kumar. File. | Photo credit: RK Nithin

Salim Kumar – an actor who later ventured into writing and directing – has had a roller-coaster career. Few actors would have endured the ignominy of being unceremoniously dropped from a film for their alleged lack of acting ability early in their career, only to win both the National Film Award and the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor later in the same year, a little over a decade later.

Humiliation came in 1997, a year after his debut, when he was cast in a film by a major director. After a day’s shooting, Salim Kumar was sent back to the train by the production manager without being told that he had been replaced. He later recalled how many mocked him when he returned empty-handed after leaving for a shoot with much fanfare.

Redemption came 14 years later when he scored twins for Salim Ahmed’s critically acclaimed Adaminte Makan Abu in 2010. He proved his ability beyond humor and slapstick as early as five years ago when he won the Kerala State Award for Best Supporting Actor for his moving portrayal of Samuel, the father of a rape victim, inspired by A So Lal Joseangelli’s rape. case.

Purple patch

Since his debut in a small role in Ishtamaanu Nooru Vattam (1996), Salim Kumar has acted in over 250 films. Rafi-Mecartin’s blockbuster Thenkasipattanam (2000) proved to be his breakthrough and hit a purple patch in the following decade. Shafi’s Kalyanaraman (2002) was followed by the golden year of his career in 2003 with a string of hits including CID Moosa, Thilakkam, Pulivaal Kalyanam and Kilichundan Mambazham.

Though 2004 was lean with just three releases, he struck gold with Chathikkatha Chanthu, where his antics as dance master Vikram erupted in laughter. Rajakannu in Thommanum Makkalum (2005) and the iconic Kannan Sranku in Shafi’s Mayavi (2007) sealed his status as a reigning comedy star. Apart from the legendary Jagatha Sreekumar, few tickled the Malaysian audience as much as Salim Kumar during his golden phase. In this he was ably supported by writer-directors like Rafi-Mecartin and Shafi, who, by their own admission, often simply wrote Salim Kumar into the script of their scenes with almost blind faith in their humorous instincts. He also shared a casual on-screen rapport with actors Harisree Ashokan, the late Cochin Haneefah and Dileep, all of whom are equally adept at handling humor as evidenced by numerous films.

Out of humor

To his credit, even in the midst of this laughter, he began to deliver roles beyond humor. His character Aamu Elappa in Kamal’s Pezhumazhakkalam (2004) was mean rather than comic and was followed by Achanurangatha Veedu. In 2017, Salim Kumar turned to writing and directing Karutha Joothan, which won the State Award for Best Story. He donned the director’s hat again a year later for the Jayaram Daivame starrer Kaithozham K. Kumarakanam, which unfortunately flopped at the box office.

After that, his prolific career hit obstacles as his health deteriorated. From highs of 17 films in 2009, 13 in 2012, and 17 in 2019, the numbers have plummeted. In the seven years as of 2020, he has starred in just 22 films, with just one each in 2025 and 2026. His memoir Eeswara Vazhakkillallo released in 2023 only confirmed his mastery of humor.

Published – 07 Jun 2026 0:29 IST