Cochin Haneefa (22 April 1951 – 2 February 2010) was an Indian actor, film director, and screenwriter. He started his career in the 1970s mainly portraying

villain A villain (also known as a " black hat", "bad guy" or "baddy"; The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p.126 "baddy (also baddie) noun (pl. -ies) ''informal'' a villain or criminal in a book, film, etc.". the feminine form is villai ...

ous roles, before going on to become one of the most popular comedians of

Malayalam cinema Malayalam cinema, also referred to as Mollywood, is a segment of Cinema of India, Indian cinema dedicated to producing films in the Malayalam, Malayalam language, primarily spoken in Kerala and the Lakshadweep islands. It encompasses both th ...

. He acted in more than 300 films in Malayalam and

Tamil Tamil may refer to: People, culture and language * Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka ** Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...

. As a director he is best known for the films '' Aankiliyude Tharattu'' (1987) and '' Vatsalyam'' (1993).

Personal life and education

Haneefa was born in

Cochin Kochi ( , ), formerly known as Cochin ( ), is a major port city along the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea. It is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of Kerala. The city is also commonly referred to as Ernaku ...

(present-day Kochi) to Veluthedathu Tharavattil A. B. Muhammed and Hajira, as the second among their eight children. He studied at Kochi St. Augustine's School and St. Albert's College and graduated with a degree in commerce. He was married to Fasila and they had twin daughters, Safa and Marwa.

Career

He made his film debut in 1972 in '' Azhimukham'' directed by Vijayan and went on to act in over 300 films in

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...

. He also acted in over 80 Tamil films, including popular movies like '' Mahanadi'' with

Kamal Haasan Parthasarathy Srinivasan (born 7 November 1954), known professionally as Kamal Haasan, is an Indian actor, filmmaker and politician who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. Considered as one of the most accomplished actors of Indian Cinema, Haas ...

, '' Sivaji'' and '' Enthiran'' with Rajinikanth. Haneefa played memorable roles in many Malayalam films, including '' Mannar Mathai Speaking'', '' Devaasuram'', '' Kireedam'', Chenkol '', Punjabi House'' and '' Swapnakoodu'', ''Pulivaal Kalyanam'', '' Meesa Madhavan'', ''C.I.D Moosa'', '' Thilakkam'' etc. He also directed around 20 films, including '' Valtsalyam'' and ''Moonu Masangalkku Munbu''. The last Tamil films in which he appeared were '' Madrasapattinam'' and '' Enthiran''. His final Malayalam film was the 2010 film ''

Bodyguard A bodyguard (or close protection officer/operative) is a type of security guard, government law enforcement officer, or servicemember who protects an very important person, important person or group of people, such as high-ranking public offic ...

''. Even though he started off in villain roles, he slowly transitioned to the comedic characters. He had also played dramatic supporting character roles to a great effect. Haneefa's comedic roles smartly captured his physique in a self-deprecating nature and eventually, he became one of the most popular comedians in Malayalam cinema. In ''Kireedam'', he played the role of Hydrose, a hilarious rowdy. His first noted role as a comedian came in ''Mannar Mathai Speaking'', where he played the role of Eldho. '' Punjabi House'' was the movie which established him as a major comedian in Malayalam cinema. Considered one of the best

slapstick comedy Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy. Slapstick may involve both intentional violence and violence by mishap, often resulting from inept use of props such as ...

film in Malayalam cinema, Haneefa portrayed the character Gangadharan in the movie. ''Punjabi House'' was a major breakthrough in the careers of Harishree Asokan and

Dileep Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan, better known by his stage name Dileep, is an Indian actor, producer, comedian and entrepreneur who predominantly works in the Malayalam film industry. He has also acted in Tamil, Hindi, and Kannada films. He has ...

as well. The movie eventually developed into a cult. Haneefa along with these Asokan and Dileep eventually formed a successful trio in Malayalam cinema. They acted together in numerous movies such as '' Udayapuram Sulthan'', '' Ee Parakkum Thalika'', '' Meesa Madhavan'', '' Thilakkam'', '' C.I.D. Moosa'', ''Runway'' and '' Pandippada''. Haneefa played the role of ''S.I'' ''Veerappan Kurupp'' in the 2001 slapstick comedy movie ''Ee Parakkum Thalika''. He again played the role of a hilarious police officer, this time becoming Sudarshanan in the movie '' Snehithan'', which was released the same year. His role as Mathukkutty in the 2002 film '' Mazhathullikkilukkam'' was also noted. Haneefa's character Thrivikraman in the 2002 movie '' Meesa Madhavan'' was highly appreciated. It was the highest-grossing movie of that year and many of the characters in the movie like Pillechan and Pattalam Purushu became a cult. It was in the year 2003 that Haneefa played some of the best iconic comedy characters in his career. In '' Thilakkam'', he became the local rowdy called Bhaskaran and in '' Kilichundan Mampazham'', he portrayed the role of Kalanthan Haji. Haneefa's one of the career best role came in the slapstick comedy movie ''C.I.D Moosa'', where he played the role of Vikaraman. Similar to that of ''Punjabi House'', ''Ee Parakkum Thalika'' and ''Meesa Madhavan'', the performance of Dileep-Asokan-Haneefa trio along with

Jagathy Sreekumar Sreekumar Achary (born 5 January 1951), better known by his stage name Jagathy Sreekumar or simply Jagathy, is an Indian actor, director and playback singer, who has appeared in over 1500 Malayalam films in a career spanning almost four deca ...

in this movie were highly appreciated and it became the second highest-grossing movie in 2003. In '' Swapnakoodu'', he played the role of Philipose and as Panchayath President in ''Vellithira''. Haneefa's another memorable character came out in the movie ''

Pulival Kalyanam ''Pulival Kalyanam'' () is a 2003 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy film directed by Shafi and written by Udayakrishna-Siby K. Thomas. The film stars Jayasurya and Kavya Madhavan with Lal, Lalu Alex, Jagathy Sreekumar, Harisree As ...

'', where he played as Dharmendra, often mistaken in the movie with the Bollywood legendary superstar of the same name. This movie was well appreciated especially for the comedy scenes between Haneefa and Salim Kumar, who played as Manavalan in the movie. Manavalan eventually became a cult character in Malayalam cinema.

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards: * 2001 – Second Best Actor – '' Soothradharan''

Death

Haneefa died on 2 February 2010, aged 58, at Sri Ramachandra Hospital in

Chennai Chennai, also known as Madras (List of renamed places in India#Tamil Nadu, its official name until 1996), is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Tamil Nadu by population, largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost states and ...

, from multiple organ failure. He had been treated for

liver cancer Liver cancer, also known as hepatic cancer, primary hepatic cancer, or primary hepatic malignancy, is cancer that starts in the liver. Liver cancer can be primary in which the cancer starts in the liver, or it can be liver metastasis, or secondar ...

. He was buried at Ernakulam Central Juma Masjid with full state honours.

Filmography

As actor

Malayalam films

= 1970s

= 1980s

= 1990s

= 2000s

= 2010s

Tamil films

Hindi films

Telugu films

As director

Malayalam Films * '' Bheesmacharya'' (1994) * '' Vatsalyam'' (1993) * ''Veena Meettiya Vilangukal'' (1990) * '' Aankiliyude Tharattu'' (1987) * '' Oru Sindoora Pottinte Ormaykku'' (1987) * '' Moonnu Masangalkku Munpu'' (1986) * '' Oru Sandesam Koodi'' (1985) Tamil films * '' Paasa Paravaigal'' (1988) * '' Paadatha Thenikkal'' (1988) * '' Pagalil Pournami'' (1990) * '' Pillai Paasam'' (1991) * '' Vaasalile Oru Vennila'' (1991) * ''Naalai Engal Kalyanam'' (later released as ''Kadalora Kaadhal'')

As writer

* '' Aval Oru Devaalayam'' (1977) (Directed by A.B. Raj) * '' Adima Changala'' (1981) (Directed by A.B. Raj) * Ithihasam (1981) * ''Chicagoyil Cheenthiya Raktham'' * '' Aarambham'' (1982) (Directed by Joshi) * '' Dheera'' (1982) (Directed by Joshi) * '' Thaalam Thettiya Tharattu'' (1983) (Directed by A.B. Raj) * '' Sandharbham'' (1984) (Directed by Joshi) * '' Inakkilly'' (1984) (Directed by Joshi) * '' Piriyilla Naam'' (1984) (Directed by Joshi) * '' Parayanumvayya Parayathirikkanumvayya'' (1985) (Directed by

Priyadarshan Priyadarshan Soman Nair (born 30 January 1957) is an Indian film director and screenwriter. He has worked primarily in Malayalam cinema, Malayalam and Hindi cinema, Hindi cinema since 1982, directing over 90 films in multiple Indian languages, ...

) * '' Puthiya Karukkal'' (1989) (Directed by Thampi Kannanthanam) * '' Lal Americayil'' (1989) (Directed by Sathyan Anthikkad) * '' Kadathanadan Ambadi'' (1990) (Directed by

) * '' Bheesmacharya'' (1994) (Directed by himself) * ''Mission'' (2010)

References

External links

*
Cochin Haneefa at MSI

Notice of death of Cochin Haneefa aka Salim Ahmed Ghoush

Mathrubhumi Online website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Haneefa, Cochin 1951 births 2010 deaths Indian male film actors Indian male comedians Kerala State Film Award winners Male actors from Kochi Male actors in Tamil cinema Malayalam screenwriters Malayalam film directors Deaths from multiple organ failure Male actors in Malayalam cinema Film directors from Kochi Tamil film directors 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights Tamil screenwriters 20th-century Indian male actors 21st-century Indian male actors Screenwriters from Kochi Deaths from liver cancer in India