Salim Kumar’s Son Chandu Loses Cool At Paparazzi During His Father’s Funeral: ‘What Do You Want?’

The funeral of acclaimed Malayalam actor Salim Kumar was held with State honours at his residence in North Paravur, Ernakulam district, on Sunday. Family members, friends, political leaders, film personalities and admirers gathered to pay their final respects to the National Award-winning actor who passed away at the age of 56. Amid the emotional atmosphere, Salim Kumar’s eldest son, Chandu, appeared visibly distressed by the large number of photographers and media personnel crowding the venue. Videos circulating on social media show him losing cool at the paparazzi and asking them to step back and make room for family members during the final rites.

Salim Kumar’s Son Chandu Confronts Paparazzi

A video that has gone viral on social media shows Chandu confronting the paparazzi who had gathered

in large numbers at the funeral venue. Reports suggest he reacted after several photographers allegedly moved closer to the area where the last rites were being conducted, despite police instructions to maintain distance. As relatives attempted to calm him down, Chandu was heard yelling, “What do you want now?”

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After the video went viral, many social media users expressed support for Chandu, criticising the paparazzi for intruding on the family’s private moment of grief.

Supriya Menon Prithviraj Slams Paparazzi’s Behaviour At Salim Kumar’s Funeral

Joining those criticising the paparazzi was Supriya Menon Prithviraj, film producer and wife of Prithviraj Sukumaran. Reacting on Instagram Stories on Sunday, she expressed concern over what she described as the increasing intrusion into moments of public grief.

She wrote, “Yet again a family trying to say bye to their loved one, a moment that is fraught with heartbreaking grief & pain. But here again there is a collection of cameras and mikes jostling to get this final goodbye in close up, like vultures flying closer & closer to their prey.”

She further added, “The son shouting to get some space, asking them to move back, to cry in peace. What have we become? This voyeuristic urge to consume everything in real time, abandoning all sense of propriety & decorum. Let people grieve in peace, they have enough pain as it is. There ought to be some self restraint & course correction. This isn’t journalism, it’s voyeurism! Lurid & Vulgar.”

Several members of the Malayalam film industry, including Meera Jasmine and Sandeep Pradeep, attended the funeral to offer their condolences and pay tribute to the veteran actor.

Widely admired for his versatility, Salim Kumar earned national recognition for his performance in Adaminte Makan Abu, which won him the National Film Award for Best Actor in 2010. His death has left the Malayalam film industry and countless fans mourning the loss of a celebrated performer.