Salim Kumar was a National Award winning Indian film actor and mimic predominantly acting in Malayalam cinema. He was one of the prominent comic actors of the current generation in Malayalam cinema, but has shown his versatility in the drama genre of films, such as Achanurangatha Veedu, Gramophone, Perumazhakkalam and Adaminte Makan Abu.

Salim Kumar's role as Abu in Adaminte Makan Abu won him both the National Award and Kerala State award for Best Actor for the year 2010. Earlier he had won a Kerala State Film Award for the Second Best Actor in 2005 for his role as Samuel in Achanurangatha Veedu.