Kalabhavan Haneef

Some Lesser Known Facts About Kalabhavan Haneef

• Kalabhavan Haneef was an Indian actor and noted impressionist who works in the Malayalam cinema. During his three-decade-long career, he starred in over 150 Malayalam films. He starred in the Malayalam ‘2018: Everyone is a Hero (2023), India’s official entry to Oscars ’24.

• Haneef grew up doing mimicry at school. He developed an interest in acting by watching Malayalam films. Prem Nazir and Sathyan were his favourite Malayalam actors.

• During Haneef’s childhood, his uncles, who were also cinema enthusiasts, used to buy various cinema-related magazines like Chitra Rama, Cinema, and Cinema Masika. Haneef’s passion for cinema was fueled by reading these magazines.

• Haneef began his career as a mimicry artist. At the beginning of his career, he was associated with the performing arts centre Kalabhavan in Kochi. It was his neighbour Zainuddin, an actor and mime artist, who introduced him to Kalabhavan. He gained recognition touring with the mimicry troupe for stage programs nationally and internationally. Soon, he became one of the leads in the troupe. Following the practice of Kalabhavan alumni, he affixed the organization’s name before his name.
  

  

  Dasetan’s guitarist, Satish, who is the brother-in-law of producer Preman, was the one who brought Haneef into the Malayalam film industry. In an interview, Haneef revealed that while Satish was in the Gulf, he suggested that Haneef should try acting in films. After returning from the Gulf, Satish called Haneef and informed him that his brother-in-law was producing a film. Satish then introduced Haneef to the film director Kala Adoor. After auditioning, Haneef successfully secured the role of a police constable in a scene alongside popular actors Mukesh, Jagadish, and KPAC Lalita Chechi. This marked the beginning of Haneef’s film career, and he considered himself fortunate to begin with such well-known stars.

• Following his debut, he appeared in numerous Malayalam films like Sandesham (1991), Godfather (1991), Malappuram Haji Mahanaya Joji (1994), Chotta Mumbai (2006), Vinodayathra (2007), Drishyam (2013), and Amar Akbar Anthony (2014).

  

• He came into the limelight when he appeared in the slapstick comedy-drama film Ee Parakkum Thalika (2001) in which he played the role of a groom.

  

• He also received immense appreciation for playing the unsuspecting groom in the action comedy film Thenkasipattanam (2000). In one memorable scene, Samyukta Menon’s character intentionally puts a hot steel glass on his hands, leading him to express his discomfort in a humorous manner, he cries in a funny rhythm following which the girl’s father asks if he is trained in classical music.

• Haneef starred in the romantic-comedy-drama film Kattappanayile Rithwik Roshan (2016) in which he played the role of Sasi/Soman. A scene from the film featuring Haneef alongside Siddique became a popular meme template in Kerala.

• Other notable works under his belt include the Malayalam films Pandippada (2005), Thuruppugulan (2006), and Ustad Hotel (2012).

  

• In 2023, he played the role of a dam operator in the film 2018: Everyone is a Hero, which was picked by The Film Federation of India to represent India at the 96th Academy Awards in the category of Best International Feature Film.

• He also starred in various Malayalam TV shows like Minnukettu, Nadhaswaram, Comedyum Mimicsum Pinne Njanum, Abi’s Corner, Manassiloru Mazhavillu, and Tilana Tilana.

• In 2021, he appeared in the Malayalam web series Instagraamam on NeeStream in which he played the role of a police officer.

  

•  He also worked in the Malayalam short films Corona Villa (2021) and Mundu (2022).

  

• Kalabhavan Haneef passed away on 9 November 2023. His mortal remains were displayed at Shadi Mahal hall at Kappalandi Mukku near Chullikkal, Kochi for the public to pay their last respects. His funeral was held at the Chembittapally Juma Masjid in Kochi, Kerala. ^[3]The Times of India