Remember Hydrose, the hilarious rowdy, in Kireedam?. Movie lovers can’t still help but break into laughter seeing the acting prowess of the late Cochin Haneefa, who portrayed the role to perfection.
Last week, on his third death anniversary, Kochi paid a tribute to their own Haneefa along with his friends and relatives.
Haneefa, who started his career as a mimicry artist, entered cinema as an actor in 1972 with the film Azhimukham. After playing ruthless villains in Malayalam and Tamil movies, he shifted to direction and made some money minters like Moonnu Masangalkku Munpu and Vatsalyam.
But, it was Kireedam, released in 1989, that helped him to switch to comedy. From 90’s to till his demise in 2010, Haneefa was an inevitable comedian in a majority of commercial hits in Malayalam cinema.
The list include Eldho in Mannar Mathayi Speaking, boat owner Gangadaran in Punjabi House, Pidali in Meesha Madhavan and the police inspector in Ee Parakkum Thalika. He also won the State Award for the supporting actor through Soothradharan.
“The acting skill of Cochin Haneefa is not limited to films. Before cinema happened, he was a regular face in campus dramas and mimicry. Haneefa was a man who treated life and relationships with due consideration and respect. He was known as Cherayi Haneefa during his college days,” remembered Charles Diaz MP, who studied with Haneefa at St Albert’s College.
The MP said he had never met such kind-hearted person like Haneefa. “During our college days, teachers used to be accompanied by their families to watch the campus plays. Haneefa was the one who coordinated arranged everything,” Diaz said.
Haneefa’s talent to manage things are evident in the movies he directed. “The movie Vatsalyam in which Mammootty and Lohithadas teamed up with Haneefa is still considered as the best family movie ever made in Malayalam,” he added.