Acotr Kalabhavan Haneef, 63, passes away

POPULAR mimicry artiste and actor Kalabhavan Haneef (63) passed away in Kochi on Thursday.

Haneef, who made his movie debut through 'Cheppukilukkanna Chanagathi' in 1991, went on to be part of more than 150 films in Malayalam. He was part of Jude Anthany Joseph's '2018 - Everyone Is a Hero' -- India's official entry to the Oscars. 

Haneef is a native of Mattancherry in Kochi. Some of his notable movies include 'Ee Parakkum Thalika' (2001), 'Pandippada' (2005), 'Thuruppugulan' (2006) and 'Ustad Hotel' (2012) among many others. 

He was a contemporary of the Malayalam film industry's icons like Jayaram, Harisree Ashokan, Lal and Siddique and the Kalabhavan, reports said.

His exchange with Siddique in a sequence in the 2016 flick 'Kattappanayile Rithwik Roshan' is a popular meme template in Kerala to date. 

Besides acting in films, Haneef has also performed several international mimicry stage shows and acted in television serials.

His funeral is scheduled to be held in Mattancherry on Friday.

Haneef is survived by his wife Wahida and children Sithara Haneef and Shahrukh Haneef.