Salim Kumar


Salim Kumar 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. 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 and a Kerala State Television Award for Best Actor.

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 Nooruvattam, a family drama directed by Sidhik Shameer.
He received critical acclaim for his role in the Kamal movie Perumazhakkalam. Though slightly comedic, the role was realistic, allowing him to display different acting skills. His role as the father in Achanurangatha Veedu, 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" ; 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.

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
223. Manthri Kochamma
224. Adukkala Rahasyam Angaadi Paattu
225. Mannadiar Penninu Chenkotta Checkan ....Kizhi
226. Ancharakalyanam
227. Moonu Kodiyum Munnooru Pavanum .....Mattanchery Mathen
228. Ishtadanam .....Unnikuttan
229. Ishtamanu Nooru Vattam
;Other languages
;As Director

Accolades

;National Film Awards
;Kerala State Film Awards
;Kerala State Television Awards
;Filmfare Awards South
;South Indian International Movie Awards
;Asianet Film Awards
;Other awards: