Salim Kumar is a gifted versatile actor who entered Malayalam film field as a comedy actor and amazed all film viewers by obtaining the National Award for Best Actor for portraying a serious role marvelously well.His diversified abilities was first detected by Director Lal Jose who gave him the protagonist role of the Malayalam film‘Achanurangatha Veedu‘ in which he had to display much emotional expressions.Salim Kumar was successful in that first attempt to act as a serious character and the critics commented that by this role he graduated from a comedy artist to a mature artist.He again acted as serious characters in many other films such asPerumazhakkalam,Gramaphone Adaminte Makan Abu and so on.
Salim Kumar was born at Northen Paravur to parents Gangadharan and Kausalya on 10th October 1969.He is a B.A.graduate and was a student of Maharajahs College,Ernakulam.He was a mimicry artist while as a student itself and recipient of prizes at University level.After his studies he was engaged in mimicry stage shows and worked as a sales executive for a short period.He used to appear in comedy shows on T.V.during that period and was one of the artist along with Dileep,Nadirshah etc in the T.V. Comedy show ‘Comicola’ thereby becoming familiar to TV audience before entering films.
His debut movie was ‘Ishtamanu Nooru Vattam’.His unique style of comedy presentation was liked by the audience and he became a top comedy actor by presenting excellent comedy sequences in films such as ‘Naranathu Thampuran,My dear Karadi,Thenkasi Pattanam,Mattupetti Machan,Ee Parakkum Thalika,Meesa Madhavan’ and so on.
In 2006 Lal Jose handed over with confidence the Protagonist role of the film ‘Achanurangatha Veedu‘ to Salim Kumar by distinguishing his acting capabilities to portray any type of roles.The stress and emotions of a father who was in search of his disappeared youngest daughter was manifested brilliantly by him and received Kerala Government Award for second Best Actor.He also received ‘Sathyan Award,Bharathan Award etc for the role of ‘Achanurangatha Veedu’.Serious roles of films Gramaphone,Perumazhakkalam and the role in a segment of ‘Kerala Cafe’ were well appreciated by Critics and viewers alike.
His character formation in the title role as ‘Adaminte Makan Abu’ was spellbound.He literally transformed as ‘Abu’, a poor perfume seller and a devout person whose only ambition was to go for a Hajj pilgrimage.His efforts and struggle to fulfill this wish is portrayed excellently by Salim Kumar and he got National Award as Best Actor.Best Actor Award for this character was also given to him by Kerala Government, Asianet Awards,South Indian Int’l movie awards,Filmfare Award(South),Amritha Awards,Jai Hind TV,Prem Nazir Award and so on.
In 2005 he received Best Comedy Actor Award from Asianet Awards for the film‘Annan Thampi’ and in 2013 he got Best Comedy actor award from Kerala Government for the film ‘Ayalum Njanum Thammil‘ for the portrayal of the character Thomachan.
He married Sunitha and they have two sons- Chandu and Aromal.
Selected Filmography
Ishtamanu Nooru Vattam
Suvarna Simhasanam
Mannadiar Penninu Chengotta Chekkan
Meenakshi Kalyanam
Mattupetti Machan
Mangalya Pallakku
My dear karadi
Thenkassipattanam
Soothradharan
Ee Parakkum Thalika
Nariman
Thandavam
Meesa Madhavan
Kunjikoonan
Thilakkam
Gramaphone
Vellithira
CID Moosa
Pattalam
Pulival Kalyanam
Vismaya Thumbathu
Chathikkatha Chandu
Manikyan
Bus Conductor
Naran
Ottananayam
Udayananu Tharam
Iruvattam Manavatty
Rajamanilyam
Thuruppu Gulan
Prajapathi
Aana Chandam
Vasthavam
Karutha Pakshikal
Chotta Mumbai
Goal
Chocolate
Ee Pattanathil Bhootham
Lollypop
Crazy Gopalan
Maya bazar
Arabikadha
Loud Speaker
Ayirathil Oruvan
Chattambinadu
Cheriya Kallanum Valia Policum
Adaminte Makan Abu
Sarkar Colony
Pramani
Thaskara Lahala
Cobra
Mr.Marumakan
Mohabbat
Doubles
Ezham Sooryan
Fireman
Appavin Meesai
Birds with Large Wings
