Malayalam film industry can't possibly trace out a film without the role of a comedian in it. Just like classical Indian Dramas comedians have taken up the role of the "vidushakan " in film. Starting from Adoor Bhasi, Bahadur,S.P.Pillai, Sreelatha, Adoor Bhavani, Adoor Pankajam, the list have been numerous and probably stretches out like anything. Comedians during the early malayalam industries were just a few to name.
But contemporary film industry is full of such comedians and malayalam film industry have proved to have a big appetite for inclusion of comedian characters in every film. Indrans, Innocent, Jagathi Sreekumar, Salim Kumar,Suraj Venjaramood,Premkumar Janardhanan,Tini Tom, Guiness Pakru, Harisree Ashokan, Jagadeesh, Kalabhavan Mani,Mala Aravindan Ayyapa Baiju, Sudheesh all span the gamut of comedians in Malayalam film. Recently reverse trends of comedians adopting serious roles and heroes performing the comedian roles have increased. Inspecting on the films of Sreenivasan, Vineeth Sreenivasan,Dileep,Prithviraj, Kunchako Boban, Indrajith, Jayasurya, Narein, Asif Ali, etc the young generation finds a comedian shade for the hero as well.
Female comedians like Kalpana,KPAC Lalitha, Phelomena, Sukumari, Bindu Panikkar,Meena,Subi, Devi Chandana etc adopt well as comedians too. When the question comes on who is best, comments may vary.Actors like Mammootty, Jayaram, Mohanlal etc have recently adopted a trend of comedy characters as well like in Thurup Gulan, Arabiyum Ottakavum Madhavan Nairum, Pranchiyettan and the Saint, Kilichundan mambazham, Rajamanikyam, etc
When we speak about the best there is a big competition . But it depends on films and characters. Hari sri Ashokan,Suraj Venjaramood and Salim Kumar have found in busy schedules of work giving in memorable comedian characters . But no one has so far excelled the credits of Innocent, Harisri Ashokan , Jagathi and Jagatheesh. The role of Jagadeesh in the Harihar Nagar series is just outstanding and have spurred so much laughter as to leave our stomachs aching.
