Actor Salim Kumar is a special favorite of Malayalees. The note is part of his life story written by Salim Kumar. Read the note then.
‘Cinema is my rice..I won’t leave without grinding it’..this dialogue is what I say to Dileep in the movie Pachakuthira.Once I was kicked out of Malayalam cinema saying that I don’t know how to act, I am strong that I can never grind the rice of cinema.I am taking you all back a little to hear my story. Even after entering the cinema for some time, I did not see acting as a permanent profession or the money I get from it as a permanent income. After Ishtaman_Nooruvattam, Mera_Nam_Joker, I am doing Mimicry in our troupe called Cochin Universal along with my friends Nandu Ghudhuwal, George Elur, Santhosh Kurumassery. At that time I don’t have a phone at home. My contact number belongs to a bereavement group in my hometown called Chittatukara.
One day I got a call there. It was Sithu Panakal, the production controller from the sets of CB Malayalam’s film Nee Varuvolam in Kottayam. He told me that I had a role in that film and Kalabhavan was Mani’s role.
I thought it was my luck that a beginner like me would get a good role in the film of a great director like CB Malayil. It didn’t take long. I returned to Kottayam the very next day. I didn’t even have time to say anything to anyone. I wrapped the shirt and pants I got in my hand and went straight to the set. It’s the role of a parallel college peon. CB Sir, he had not seen any of my stage performance or any of the comedy programs that I had presented on Asianet. The producer of that film, Kariachan (actor Prem Prakash), who liked watching all the programs that I had presented on Asianet, called me to replace Mani in the special interest of Chetan.
I had about 11 scenes in the movie Nee Varuvolam. Out of which 9 scenes were shot. Next was a scene between Jagathy Chetan and Thilakan Chetan. The scene was narrated to me. I learned the dialogue without seeing it. But no matter how hard I tried, the take was not okay. Director Cut says. Jagathy Chetan’s too. The shot was cut saying that I don’t have the timing of Thilakan Chetan. That night I stayed in the lodge. The next day Prabhakaran who is Sithu Panakal’s assistant came to my room and told me..’Tilakan Chetan left last night..Did he take the dress..Now we will inform you when Thilakan Chetan comes.. Then it’s enough to come’. I believed it. I didn’t know the movie within the movie at that time.
Prabhakaran took me to Kottayam railway station. I stood on the platform waiting for him to come with the ticket. One hour passed, then two. Prabhakaran was nowhere to be seen. I didn’t even have ten paise in my hand. I came for the shooting with borrowed money. I stood at the railway station for hours waiting for Prabhakaran to come with the train ticket. No one. It didn’t come. Finally, I asked a nice man on the platform for a loan of 20 rupees for the carriage fare.
He immediately patted my shoulder and said, ‘Eto, I know.. I watch all his TV programs. Don’t send me any money.. I am proud that I was able to help him.’ I took the ticket and boarded the train. In fact, I burst into tears when the train was moving forward. Even when I reached home, I did not tell anyone about this. I calmed myself down, thinking that it would be my fate. But after a few days, I came to know that I was removed from the film. It was PRO Vazhur Jose who told me that the role was for me. I was replaced by Indrans. Even my friend Dileep didn’t tell me that he changed me. That day I realized that love and relationship have no value in movies.
