Shafi's unforgettable Malayalam characters that reign supreme

It goes without saying that Director Shafi’s affinity for humour has its roots in his family legacy. As the nephew of filmmaker Siddique and brother of writer-director Rafi, he easily took over the mantle of modern slapstick comedy. And in all of his 18 films, Shafi generously infused humour, crafting characters that were both relatable and absolute oddballs. His characters had a dizzying sense of irreverence that was even more dramatic and comedic than his predecessors. At the same time, he stuck to clean, mild humour, which stood the test of time. And his collaborations with Benny P. Nayarambalam, and Rafi Mecartin yielded comedic gold, resulting in unforgettable one-liners that could easily be heard in daily conversations.

Having someone like Pyari (Kalyanaraman) on your team, like Raman Kutty’s catering unit, is a double-edged sword. He’s either a recipe for disaster or a genius waiting to be harnessed. From the minute he enters the frame, he unleashes hilarious chaos. From dramatic misspells, outrageous antics (like exchanging a dead person’s underwear with his own), and spontaneous rhyming outbursts, there is never a dull moment when he is around. The Shafi-Salim Kumar collaboration always soared, as the actor had an uncanny ability to time his comedic comments perfectly. His facial expressions alone could single-handedly populate an entire WhatsApp sticker pack. That’s why you would still want Pyari on your team.  

Manavalan’s (Pulivaal Kalyanam) profile sounds rather somber initially—a money lender with daddy issues who is duped by his Arab landlord and is left destitute. But then Manavalan subverts this graveness and turns his predicament into an endless comedic escapade. That way, Manavalan defies the stereotype of ruthless money lenders, as his presence is comical. So he will nonchalantly do the most absurd stunts, boast about non-existent skills, and concoct hare-brained schemes. Only Manavalan can hire a driver from Mumbai to Kerala, without a penny, hoping his debtor would foot the bill. Or slap a random man mistaking him for his dad who abandoned him and his mother. Once again, Salim Kumar brings Manavalan to life with infectious energy and impeccable comic timing, making him the undeniable “life of the party”.  

Before a pivotal phone call, Kannan Sranku (Mayavi) was largely an invisible figure in his town. He spends most days drinking and is coerced into fulfilling the villains' vile demands. But then one fine day when the hero picks him as an alibi to fix the wrongs, Sranku turns into an unlikely overnight hero. And unlike his usual oddball characters, one feels an odd empathy towards him—especially in the scene when he narrates how he was forced to sell his soul. Again, since it is Salim Kumar playing Sranku, you are fed a wacky over-the-top act, adding all his staple mannerisms and impeccable comic timing. Just for the record, watch that stretch when he gets a call from Mayavi (Mammootty) and Sranku finds himself being ushered with respect and awe by the villagers. Top that with his hilarious reactions and you are witnessing an unforgettable comedic gem.

One reason Veerendra Mallaya (Chattambinadu), an otherwise archetypal hero, finds space in this list is how he is sketched. A Karnataka-based don swathed in whites, sporting glares, and speaking Malayalam with a Kannada twang, Mallaya can be called a precursor to Aavesham’s Ranga. Just that he is milder and wiser. Mallaya’s uniqueness derives a lot from the way Mammootty breathes life into the character, infusing him with flamboyance, fearlessness, and an air of mystery. Even in the face of adversity, Mallaya’s unique personality and dialogues end up cushioning his formidability to some extent. Two other cronies amplify Mallaya’s distinctiveness—one is a self-proclaimed rogue, Dashamoolam Damu who can’t say boo to a goose, and Maakri Gopalan, a witty, wisecracking narrator, and observer. Dashamoolam Damu, who claims to have butchered people is, in reality, a scared kitten who is also a bird brain. He has whipped up bizarre theories about his odd name but clearly, no one except Damu is willing to buy it. Though he unwittingly becomes the villain’s spy, he ends up being deceived by both parties. Maakri Gopalan is more of a fly in the wall, trying his luck with women, and offering silly theories.  But yes, these men add an unlikely layer of wit to Mallaya’s formidability, creating a captivating dynamic that elevates the story.