Renowned Malayalam actor and mimicry artist Kalabhavan Haneef passed away at 63 in Kochi. Hailing from Mattancherry near Kochi, Haneef gained fame for his comic roles in over 150 Malayalam films. He debuted in acting 1991 with ‘Cheppukilukkana Chanagathi’ and gained widespread recognition for his hilarious performance in the 2001 comedy ‘Ee Parakkum Thalika.’ Besides his film career, Haneef was a key member of Kalabhavan, a renowned performance troupe that popularized the art of mimicry in Kerala.
Haneef, who was undergoing treatment for a respiratory disease, breathed his last in a private hospital in Ernakulam. He also appeared in the 2018 film “Jude Anthany Joseph’s 2018: Everyone Is a Hero,” India’s official entry for the Oscars. His wife, Wahida, and their two children, Sithara Haneef and Shahrukh Haneef, survive the actor. The Malayalam film industry mourned his loss, with celebrities like Dileep, Antony Varghese, and Manju Warrier expressing their condolences on social media.
They have scheduled Haneef’s funeral to take place in Mattancherry on Friday. His exceptional acting career and influential contributions to the world of mimicry have made a lasting impact on the Malayalam entertainment industry.