10 OF THE FUNNIEST CAMEOS IN MALAYALAM FILMS

film Gandharvam

Cameo roles in films, variously known in India as “guest appearance”, “special appearance” or “friendly appearance” is a brief role by a known actor in a film in which he or she is not a part of the main cast. The lengths of such roles are varying in degrees of ‘short’, as well as the number of times they appear on screen. Some of them take you by surprise, while some others despite their short-lived screen presence make a lasting impression on the entire film, and yet others are remembered for their priceless comic timing in the briefest of appearances. We know how difficult it is to pull off good comedy. It must only be worse when the time to affect it is shorter. There are a few brilliant cameos in Malayalam films that are still cherished for their hilarious timings. Following is a list of such roles- some impactful, some evergreen, and some others outright hysterical- in Malayalam films, we will never forget.

10. Maniyanpilla Raju as Manikandan in Minnaram

Maniyanpilla Raju’s friend-in-need ‘Manikandan’ who comes to his schoolmate’s rescue as the ‘actual’ sham father of the child in question is hilariously cherished for his ignorance of the kid’s real name in Minnaram!

9. Kalpana as Kottarakara Komalam in Gandharvam

Not necessarily a significant film, but Kalpana’s lovesick theatre actor ‘Kottarakara Komalam’ is singularly memorable for her comic timing and the clingy candor she exudes to only bail on time in Gandharvam.

8. Philomena as Paru Ammayi in Thalayanamanthram

One might always want to stay away from this really distant and parasitic relative called 'Paru Ammayi' played by Philomena who, for the third person, is not only comical but also outright innovative with her bitchiness.

7. Kalabhavan Mani as Keezhpayur Cheriya Namboothiri in Aaram Thampuran

In Aaram Thampuran, Kalabhavan Mani in one of his most noteworthy roles barges in as the nutty ‘Keezhpayur Cheirya Namboothiri’ resolving a significant road block in the plot with his strikingly witty presence. 

6. KPAC Lalitha as Omana in Kanalkattu

KPAC Lalitha’s flamboyant cameo as ‘Omana’ stands out with her impenetrable naivety and forthright libido, and rises above the swindle of the men in Kanalkattu with a comical disclosure in the end.

5. Thilakan as Damodarji in Sanmanassullavarku Samadhanam

As the dreaded gangster from ‘Bombay’, Thilakan’s ‘Damodarji’ kicks up quite a dust cloud before his arrival, and does so after it too; only for the wrong reasons following an amusing build up revealing his actual diffident self.

4. Jagathy Sreekumar as the guy who gulped the horse in Ulladakkam

Jagathy Sreekumar’s cracked patient lasting for less than four minutes of the film maybe insignificant to the overall plot development, but the sheer eccentricity of this wacky sketch alone makes it the keynote we remember the movie with today.

3. Innocent as Yashwant Sahai in Sandesham

Innocent’s insolent politico ‘Yashwant Sahai’, with his bad Hindi and a worse attitude is a caricature of snobbish men of power and is a rollicking occurrence right in the middle of one of the best political satires in Malayalam.

2. Kuthiravattam Pappu as Sulaiman in Vellanakalude Nadu

As the man who bravely managed the fabled crisis on “Thamarasserry Churam”, Kuthiravattam Pappu’s callously idiotic ‘Sulaiman’ has long entered the almanac of Malayalam puns with its catchy “ippo sheriyakkithara” topping the list.

1. Mamukkoya as Gafoor in Nadodikattu

Apart from the comical aftertaste this character leaves on the entire film, Mamukkoya’s ‘Gafoor’ happens at the most decisive juncture in the plot, and changes the course of the narrative with a hilarious twist.