Cochin Haneefa
Haneefa in 2008
Born	(1951-04-22)22 April 1951 Cochin,State of Travancore–Cochin (present dayErnakulam,Kerala), India
Died	2 February 2010(2010-02-02) (aged 58) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Other names	VMC Haneefa
Occupations	Actor Film director Screenwriter
Years active	1972–2010
Spouse	Fasila
Children	2
Parents	Veluthedathu Muhammed Hajira

Cochin Haneefa (22 April 1951 – 2 February 2010) was an Indian actor, film director, and screenwriter. He started his career in the 1970s mainly portrayingvillainous roles, before going on to become one of the most popular comedians ofMalayalam cinema.^[1] He acted in more than 300 films in Malayalam andTamil.^[2]

As a director he is best known for the filmsAankiliyude Tharattu (1987) andVatsalyam (1993).^[2]

Haneefa was born inCochin (present-day Kochi) to Veluthedathu Tharavattil A. B. Muhammed and Hajira, as the second among their eight children.^[3] He studied at Kochi St. Augustine's School andSt. Albert's College and graduated with a degree in commerce.^[4] He was married to Fasila and they had twin daughters, Safa and Marwa.

He made his film debut in 1972 inAzhimukham directed by Vijayan and went on to act in over 300 films inMalayalam. He also acted in over 80Tamil films, including popular movies likeMahanadi withKamal Haasan,^[2]Sivaji andEnthiran withRajinikanth.

Haneefa played memorable roles in many Malayalam films, includingMannar Mathai Speaking,Devaasuram,Kireedam,Chenkol,Punjabi House andSwapnakoodu,Pulivaal Kalyanam,Meesa Madhavan,C.I.D Moosa,Thilakkam etc.^[5][6] He also directed around 20 films, includingValtsalyam andMoonu Masangalkku Munbu. The last Tamil films in which he appeared wereMadrasapattinam^[2] andEnthiran. His final Malayalam film was the 2010 filmBodyguard.

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.^[7] InKireedam, he played the role of Hydrose, a hilarious rowdy. His first noted role as a comedian came inMannar 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 bestslapstick comedy film in Malayalam cinema, Haneefa portrayed the character Gangadharan in the movie.^[8]Punjabi House was a major breakthrough in the careers ofHarishree Asokan andDileep as well. The movie eventually developed into a cult.^[9] Haneefa along with these Asokan and Dileep eventually formed a successful trio in Malayalam cinema.^[10] They acted together in numerous movies such asUdayapuram Sulthan,Ee Parakkum Thalika,Meesa Madhavan,Thilakkam,C.I.D. Moosa,Runway andPandippada. Haneefa played the role ofS.IVeerappan Kurupp in the 2001 slapstick comedy movieEe Parakkum Thalika. He again played the role of a hilarious police officer, this time becoming Sudarshanan in the movieSnehithan, which was released the same year. His role as Mathukkutty in the 2002 filmMazhathullikkilukkam was also noted. Haneefa's character Thrivikraman in the 2002 movieMeesa 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.^[11] It was in the year 2003 that Haneefa played some of the best iconic comedy characters in his career. InThilakkam, he became the local rowdy called Bhaskaran and inKilichundan Mampazham, he portrayed the role of Kalanthan Haji.^[12] Haneefa's one of the career best role came in the slapstick comedy movieC.I.D Moosa, where he played the role of Vikaraman. Similar to that ofPunjabi House,Ee Parakkum Thalika andMeesa Madhavan, the performance of Dileep-Asokan-Haneefa trio along withJagathy Sreekumar in this movie were highly appreciated and it became the second highest-grossing movie in 2003.^[13]

InSwapnakoodu, he played the role of Philipose and as Panchayath President inVellithira. Haneefa's another memorable character came out in the moviePulival Kalyanam, 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 andSalim Kumar, who played as Manavalan in the movie. Manavalan eventually became a cult character in Malayalam cinema.^[14]

Kerala State Film Awards:

• 2001 –Second Best Actor –Soothradharan

Haneefa died on 2 February 2010, aged 58, at Sri Ramachandra Hospital inChennai, from multiple organ failure.^[15] He had been treated forliver cancer.^[16] He was buried at Ernakulam Central Juma Masjid with full state honours.

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 asKadalora Kaadhal)

• 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 byJoshi)
• Dheera (1982) (Directed byJoshi)
• Thaalam Thettiya Tharattu (1983) (Directed by A.B. Raj)
• Sandharbham (1984) (Directed byJoshi)
• Inakkilly (1984) (Directed byJoshi)
• Piriyilla Naam (1984) (Directed byJoshi)
• Parayanumvayya Parayathirikkanumvayya (1985) (Directed byPriyadarshan)
• Puthiya Karukkal (1989) (Directed by Thampi Kannanthanam)
• Lal Americayil (1989) (Directed bySathyan Anthikkad)
• Kadathanadan Ambadi (1990) (Directed byPriyadarshan)
• Bheesmacharya (1994) (Directed by himself)
• Mission (2010)

• Tamil cinema
• Malayalam Cinema

• Cochin Haneefa atIMDb
• Cochin Haneefa at MSI
• "Cochin Haneefa Passed Away"
• Notice of death of Cochin Haneefa aka Salim Ahmed Ghoush
• Mathrubhumi Online website

• 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

• CS1 Malayalam-language sources (ml)
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• EngvarB from August 2014
• Use dmy dates from August 2014
• Articles with hCards