Malayalam actor Salim Kumar cremated with State honours

Malayalam actor-filmmaker Salim Kumar, who started as a mimicry artiste and went on to win the National Award for Best Actor in an inspiring career, wascremated at North Paravur, his hometown in Ernakulam district on Sunday (June 7, 2026) with State honours.

The funeral of the 57-year-old actor, who died due to cardiac arrest while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kochi on Saturday (June 6, 2026), was conducted on the premises of Laughing Villa, his residence at Chittattukara, as the State bid an emotional farewell to the performer who never failed to trigger a laughing riot both on and off the screen. The funeral pyre was lit by Salim Kumar’s sons, Chanthu and Aromal, by 3.45 p.m. Religious rituals were avoided, respecting the wish Salim Kumar had expressed 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 when his mortal remains were kept at North Paravur Municipal Town Hall from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for public viewing and later at his house. District Collector G. Priyanka placed the wreath on the mortal remains on behalf of the State government.