2 hours ago
1
Salim Kumar was a serial victor successful mimicry contests astatine the assemblage level agelong earlier helium enthralled movie audiences.
In fact, helium secured admittance to the Bachelor of Arts programme astatine Maharaja’s College by virtually promising the past principal, the precocious K.N. Bharathan, that helium would triumph prizes for the assemblage successful assemblage arts festivals. And helium lived up to that promise.
His excellence successful mimicry brought him fame and made him a sought-after artiste successful the famed Kalabhavan troupe and successful overseas shows, though astatine the disbursal of his academics. The assemblage yet barred him from appearing for his last exams owed to inadequate attendance, by which clip helium had already debuted successful films and was a nonrecreational mimicry artiste.
The college, however, repaid him for the laurels helium had brought by allowing him to proceed arsenic a pupil for 2 much years to garner capable attendance to beryllium for the exam. Thus, Salim Kumar has the favoritism of spending 5 years astatine the assemblage to implicit his graduation.
K.S. Prasad, an progressive subordinate of the Mimicry Artistes Association and an aboriginal exponent of the creation earlier Salim Kumar entered the scene, recalls being impressed by the actor’s mimicry of governmental leaders specified arsenic K.R. Gauri and K. Karunakaran. “He was astir apt the archetypal to imitate governmental leaders. I recommended him to Kalabhavan, which helium often recollected. It was astatine my lawsuit that Kalabhavan Jayan met him astatine his location and introduced him to Kalabhavan,” helium said.
Before joining Kalabhavan, Salim Kumar was portion of Sharika, an Aluva-based play troupe that aboriginal turned to mimicry. “Salim Kumar joined Kalabhavan successful 1993 and was a modern of the precocious Kalabhavan Mani. Those 2 years were astir apt the champion play of Kalabhavan, with a steadfast contention betwixt the 2 to outsmart each other, elevating the wide performance. He mostly imitated histrion Jagadeesh. More than imitation, his spot laic successful acting, supported by humorous gestures and his expressive wide eyes. He ne'er strayed from the publication and ensured the drama landed with the audience,” Mr. Jayan recollected.
Salim Kumar aboriginal near Kalabhavan for Cochin Sagar, a troupe started by the precocious mimicry artiste and histrion Aby. His popularity soared further done galore video and audio cassettes, notably the blockbuster Dhe Maveli Kombathu series. His power to fashionable tv drama shows specified arsenic Comicola and Cinemala added to his fame.
He yet started his ain troupe, wherever budding artists similar Ramesh Pisharody worked alongside him. Mr. Pisharody has often fondly recalled his memories of moving with Salim Kumar and sharing meals astatine his location successful North Paravur.
While mimicry paved the mode for Salim Kumar’s introduction into the movie industry, helium ensured helium was ne'er confined by that image. He expanded his horizons beyond comedy, arsenic testified by his nationalist and State awards for Best Actor.
