Malayalam actor Salim Kumar cremated 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.

A flex board paying tribute to actor Salim Kumar placed at Paravur Town Hall, where his mortal remains were kept for the public to pay homage. Despite the heavy rain, thousands gathered in Paravur to bid farewell to the beloved actor.
| Photo Credit:
R.K. Nithin

Pays last respects

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan paid last respects to Salim Kumar at the town hall and also attended the funeral. He remembered Salim Kumar as someone with whom he shared a “brotherly bond.” All India Congress Committee general secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal MP, Deputy Speaker Shanimol Osman, Minister for Culture P.C. Vishnunadh, Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden, actor-turned MLA Ramesh Pisharody and producer Anto Joseph were among those who attended the funeral, besides Salim Kumar’s long-term friends from the film industry.

Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi, State Ministers Roji M. John and V.E. Abdul Gafoor, MPs Benny Behanan, Kodikkunnil Suresh and Jebi Mather, CPI State secretary Binoy Viswam, MLAs Anwar Sadath and Mohammed Shiyas, former MLA K.N. Unnikrishnan, actors Jayaram, Navya Nair, Shweta Menon, Renji Panicker, Nadirshah, Harisree Ashokan, Dileep, Sunny Wayne, Tiny Tom and Baburaj, filmmakers Kamal, Chidambaram, and Mahesh Narayanan and writer Benny P. Nayarambalam were among those who paid last respects to Salim Kumar.

Actors Mohanlal and Mammootty, who were out of the State, took to social media to condole the death of their colleague. Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, former Minister P. Rajeeve and Bharatiya Janata Party State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MLA, were also among those who condoled the death of the actor.