Cochin Hanifa

Cochin Hanifa, born on 22 April 1951 in Kochi, back when it was still called Travancore-Cochin, was honestly a total legend in South Indian cinema. If you grew up watching Malayalam or Tamil movies, you probably couldn’t escape his face or that signature raspy voice—he just popped up everywhere, making even the smallest roles memorable. He wasn’t just an actor, the guy could write too, which, let’s be real, is pretty rare in the industry. His filmography is wild, ranging from slapstick comedy to gritty drama. Think about Enthiran (2010)—yeah, that massive Rajinikanth sci-fi flick? Hanifa had a role in that, proving he could hang with the big leagues right up until his final years. Before that, he was in Paasa Paravaigal (1988), and even further back, Moonnu Masangalkku Munpu (1986), showing off his versatility. He was the kind of actor who could make you laugh so hard your sides hurt, then turn around and hit you with a scene so intense it left you rattled. On the personal side, he was married to Fasila—not that he talked much about his family in public, kind of kept it low-key. His life was cut short way too soon; he passed away on 2 February 2010 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The film industry felt that loss big time. Even now, you’ll catch his old scenes floating around social media, and people still crack up at his jokes or quote his lines. His legacy? Unmistakable.