Muhammad Kutty (born Pannaparambil Muhammad Kutty on September 07, 1953) better known by his screen name Mammootty, is an award winning Indian film actor. He is the only actor other than Prem Nazir, who completed 300 films as hero in the Cinema world [1]. A lawyer by qualification, Mammootty has always wanted to be an actor and his first screen appearance was in Anubhavangal Paalichakal in 1971. But it was after eight years that he made his actual debut with Vilkanundu Swapnangal. Within five years of stint Mammootty acted in more than 150 films and donned various roles. He turned a mass hero with huge crowd-pulling charm after three years into the industry. Unique thing that makes Mammootty separate from his contemporaries is the fact that from the beginning itself, he has been able to treat both art and commercial movies with ease. It was his acting talents coupled with his willingness to go to any extent to rationally portray the roles that helped him to put his one leg in commercial movies and other in art movies and still always made success.
Best known as an actor, he received many major awards in his career, including three National Film Awards, six State awards and nine Filmfare Awards in the Best actor category. He is the only actor other than Kamal Haasan who received three National film awards for Best Actor. In 1998, the Government of India honored him with Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honor, for his outstanding contributions to Indian cinema. Mammootty achieved international fame as a result of his portrayal of Dr.Ambedkar[2]. in 1998, He had his biggest commercial success with the action-comedy Rajamanikyam in 2005[3].
Mammootty is also the Chairman of Malayalam Communications, which runs some popular Malayalam TV channels like Kairali TV, People TV and Channel We [4]. After a survey among its readers, the Vanitha magazine selected Mammootty as the actor with the most sex appeal. Mammootty has promoted humanitarian causes throughout Kerala, and he is the Goodwill Ambassador of Akshaya project[5]. His current projects include Pazhassi Raja, Roudram, Yugapurushan and The late night beggar.
Acting career
Early career, 1971-1980
It was his childhood dream to act in a movie, become a great star and earn the love and respect of the people of his land and his country. Probably that desire started with the first movie he saw. It was not an impulse but a burning spirit, which had made him a megastar. His belief is a good actor can bring about some changes in society, inducing the people to rethink their attitude, lifestyle or the whole of society itself and he believes that an actor lives the burning moments of life of a citizen on screen, and the audience may role model the character thus presented. Hence a little thoughtlessness can spoil not just the acting but also the life of the masses. So he takes great care with every role of his. In 1971, his early days at Maharajas College, that he made his first screen appearance in Anubhavangal Paalichakal, directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan and starred Sathyan and Prem Nazir. After two years, in 1973, he got another chance in Kalachakram, a Prem Nazir movie directed by K. Narayanan. But his professional movie career began in 1979, when he played his first leading role in Devalokam[6]. directed by vetaran M. T. Vasudevan Nair.
Breakthrough, 1980s
His entry into filmdom was rather late. As bad luck would have it, his first film as an actor Devalokam, was not released in theatres. Vilkanundu Swapnangal was his first released film and his first role was "Madhavan Kutty" in Vilkanundu Swapnangal penned by M. T. Vasudevan Nair and directed by M. Azad. His talent was noticed in films like Vilkanundu Swapnangal, Mela, Thrishna and Yavanika etc. It was none other than the colossal figure in Malayalam Literary and Cinema, Famous writer and auteur M. T. Vasudevan Nair and Veteran Film director K. G. George played an important roles in molding his career, having given him the opportunity with Vilkanundu Swapnangal and Mela. M. T. Vasudevan Nair discovered him and it was K. G. George who brought up Mammootty as an actor. He started his award hunting in 1981 with a Best Supporting Actor award for the performance in Ahimsa,. There started the Mammootty – I.V. Sasi combination. His first superhit film as a hero was Thrishna directed by I.V. Sasi, released in 1981. After the success of Thrishna, Mammootty and I.V. Sasi together created many hits. Now, Mammootty is well-known in films for his police officer personification, especially for his style and dialogue delivery[7]. His first police officer role was Sub Inspector Jacob Eeraly in Yavanika, released in 1982 which was directed by K. G. George, propelled his career to new heights.
New realms of stardom
He made his mark during the early period of his career itself by acting roles in films of very talented directors like K. G. George, Padmarajan, P. N. Menon, Bharathan, and I.V. Sasi. Promminet writers like M. T. Vasudevan Nair, T. Damodaran, were also created powerful roles for Mammootty. Later on recognizing his talent, he was utilized by internationally renowned directors like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, T. V. Chandran, and Pavithran. The period 1982- 1984 heralded the arrival of Mammootty, the superstar. Padmarajan’s Koodevide and Joshy’s Aa Raathri were super hits at that time. Mammootty was fortunate to have got the chances to portray the meaty roles of M. T. Vasudevan Nair’s characters[8]. M. T. Vasudevan Nair’s films like Aalkootathil Thaniye, Adiyozhukkukal catapulted him to new realms of stardom. His controlled acting, never crossing the limits, and his presentation of M. T.’s dialogues, which were always pregnant with meaning, gave Malayalam cinema a new concept of hero.
In a period of five years from 1982 to 1986 Mammootty has acted in more than 150 films as hero[9]. Very few actors in the world of cinema have done such a large number of heroic roles within a short period of time. He also holds the rare distinction of appearing as hero in an astonishing 35 movies released in a single year, 1986, which exceeded only by Prem Nazir who acted in 39 movies as hero released during 1979. His role as Karunan in Adiyozhukkukal directed by I.V. Sasi, penned by M. T. got him the Best Actor State Award and Filmfare Award . Mammootty won the State special jury award and best actor Filmfare award for Yathra directed by Balu Mahendra. The film proved to be one of the best in Mammootty's career. He shaved his hair for the film, only one example for his efforts to play his character perfectly. In 1985, his role as Ravi Varma in Nirakkoottu, directed by Joshy, penned by Dennis Joseph got much appreciations and also create box office history.
Career slump, 1986s
Mammootty’s career graph dotted with highs and lows. After creating Box office histories, He did a type of roles in the late 1986 and repetition dropped him in the industry. A series of Mammootty films were bombed at box office. During that time, he ignored some roles like “Vincent Gomas” in Rajavinte Makan. It was unfortunate and later, Mohanlal did the role and he became a star. Critics and others were judged “the actor in Mammootty is over”, and his career and stardom was in trouble.
[edit] Regaining stardom, 1987s
After learning from his earlier box office flops, Mammootty had made an enormous comeback with New Delhi and Thaniyavarthanam, both were released in 1987. New Delhi played great amount of importance in his life as an actor [10]. It was a turning point in Mammootty’s career and saw a spectacular rise after the release of New Delhi directed by Joshy, penned by Dennis Joseph. The film was based on the novel, "The Almighty" by Irving Wallace [11]. His portrayal of a victimized journalist, who systematically took revenge on politicians who flattered him, was noticed and well accepted by the masses. The actor almost lived the role of the film's central character, G Krishnamurthy. Mammootty's completion of the role was widely appreciated and it reinstated his stardom and propelled him to mega-stardom. Without even a single song, dance or romantic scene, New Delhi went on to create box-office history in Kerala and it remakes into many other Indian languages. Apart from the heroic roles he enacted in pure commercial films, Mammootty was fortunate to have got the chances to portray the classic roles like “Balan Mash” in Thaniyavarthanam. The Film was a straight forward story about a man and how the blind beliefs of the society changed him. The movie is by the successful pair of writer A. K. Lohithadas and director Sibi Malayil, which has later given many award winning movies. The movie focus on how deep the blind faith is in rural India and how our perception of something, makes it right or wrong rather that what really it is. Mammootty’s “Mad Balan Mash” was one of the best ever roles in his whole career.
Era of superhits, 1987-1996
It was in 1988, after regaining his stardom he made another land mark in the history of Malayalam cinema with his Oru CBI Diary Kurippu. It brought to fore a new concept of villainy, fresh presentation of politicians and above all a refreshing idea of hero. Like New Delhi, without even a single song or dance number, Oru CBI Diary Kurippu went on to create box-office history in Kerala as well as in Tamil Nadu. The film ran over 200 days in Madras Sapphire Theaters. For all these, a large portion of credit goes to Mammootty for his enactment of the role of an upright CBI officer and his immaculate ways of unfolding the secrets of a murder shrouded in mystery. His theatrical representation of a Tamil Brahmin CBI officer became a topic of household discussion in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Following the success of the first CBI film Oru CBI Diary Kurippu, three more murder mystery sequels were produced with the same cast of characters: Jagratha (1989), Sethurama Iyer CBI (2004) and Nerariyan C.B.I (2005), all directed by K Madhu, penned by S.N. Swamy with Mammootty as Sethurama Iyer, an intelligent but unassuming CBI officer. All CBI films were super hits at box-office. He was a regular in movies of Harikumar, Mohan, P.G. Viswambaran, Sajan and Jeassy etc. The movies by M.T. Vasudevan Nair and Padmarajan, arguably among the best of Malayalam writer-directors, widened Mammootty's acting horizon. It was also noticed that the M.T. Vasudevan Nair-I.V. Sasi combo and the T. Damodaran-I.V. Sasi combo had always worked wonders in Mammootty's films. Two of M.T. Vasudevan Nair’s films with autobiographical elements were acted by Mammootty. One was Aksharangal directed by I.V. Sasi and the other was Sukrutham directed by Harikumar.
Mammootty touched the pinnacle of his career in Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (roughly translated as 'A northern heroic folklore'); the film was directed by T.Hariharan and penned by literary genius M.T.Vasudevan Nair. His depiction of a Chekavan (warrior) of distinguished valor but vilified by circumstances won him the top honors of the country, National Film Award for Best Actor. His histrionics matched the literary genius of M.T. in each and every minute detail. It was his acting talent, coupled with his willingness to go to any extent to rationally portray the roles that enabled him to act in both off beat and commercial movies. Mammootty's performance in Mathilukal directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan was also considered for the award. His role as a hunter Varunni in Mrugaya, directed by I.V. Sasi, and another film Mahayanam, was also scanned for the State Award. Mammootty won the Filmfare award for Amaram directed by Bharathan. He played the role of an uneducated fisherman who dreams of making his only daughter a doctor.
Mammootty became almost a regular face in Adoor Gopalakrishnan's films. He starred in three of his movies, Anantharam ('Thenceforth'), Mathilukal ('Walls') and Vidheyan ('The Servile'). The easiness with which he illustrated on screen the protagonist in Mathilukal (based on 'Mathilukal', a novel by the Malayalam literary genius Vaikom Muhammad Basheer) was also instrumental in getting him his first National Film Award for Best Actor. Mammootty immortalized the roles in Adoor Gopalakrishnan's Vidheyan and TV Chandran's Ponthan Mada. He received the National Film Award for Best Actor and State Award for his fulfillment of the roles in both films. His performance in Valtsalyam directed by Cochin Haneefa was also judged for the State Award. The King, scripted by Renji Panikkar, was released in 1995 and was directed by Shaji Kailas. Mammootty played the central character as a District collector and it turned out to be the biggest hit of the year. His performance as 'Thevalliparambil Joseph Alex' was much appreciated was one of the most powerful characters in his career. Mammootty has won his third National Film Award for Best Actor for Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar directed by Jabbar Patel and also obtained international fame. His performance in Ambedkar [12]. was much appreciated by all across the world.
Current era, 2000-present
In 2001- 2002 period, Mammootty’s career again slumped in Malayalam cinema Industry. During the period, none of his films did well at box-office and he had taken a long break also. But again Mammootty had made an astonishing comeback with Chronic Bachelor and Sethurama Iyer CBI during 2004- 2005. Sethurama Iyer CBI, was the third film in a series of films starring Mammootty as 'Sethurama Iyer', a sharp and highly intelligent investigative officer of the CBI. The first two movies were Oru CBI Diary Kurippu (1988) and Jagratha (1989). Released in January 23, 2004, the movie became a strutting hit. It broke collection records and became the biggest hit of 2004. After the huge success of Sethurama Iyer CBI, it was Kaazhcha, a realistic portrayal of a Social issues with a razor sharp script and extraordinary performance of Mammootty makes this film a visual treat. A film filled with visuals of the rustic Kerala and its inhabitants. The simple lives and the social consciousness that an ordinary Keralite has, is brought out well in this film. Mammootty won the State Best Actor Award for his enormous performance as 'Operator Madhavan'. The film Kazhcha did well at box-office too. 2004, 2005 in all sense, it was Mammootty’s years and his career graph raised spectacularly after the release of Rajamanikyam directed by debutant Anwar Rasheed. Released during Ramadan 2005, the movie became a swashbuckling hit. It broke all collection records and became the biggest hit of 2005. Rajamanikyam was also touted as the biggest hit of all time ever produced in the Malayalam cinema industry[13].
He has been criticized for not performing well in comic roles. But he gave an apposite reply to these critics with his recent Blockbusters Rajamanikyam, Thommanum Makkalum, Thuruppugulan and Mayavi. All these films were created box office histories in Malayalam cinema Industry. His Karutha Pakshikal, Palunku and Kaiyoppu are well-made, touching films that are rather slow- paced, realistic and shorn of all glamour and glitter, essential factors in a commercial venture. His performances in these films got much appreciation by critics. For Mammootty, the year 2007 started with the big hit Mayavi. Then followed Big B, Mission 90 Days and Ore Kadal. These films did not performed great at the box office. But his part of the films were applauded and his role as Dr Nathan in Ore Kadal became another best in his career. His latest release, Nasrani, directed by Joshy, is a running at the box office. His forthcoming project in the pipeline, Pazhassi Raja, directed by T. Hariharan and penned by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, will be a classic in Indian Cinema[14].
Mammootty had crossed the boundaries of Malayalam cinema and acted in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and English films. in 1989, he made his Tamil debut in Maunam Sammatham, directed by K. Madhu and Hindi debut in Thriyathri. He has acted in Tamil films with front-line directors of the industry like K. Balachander and Mani Ratnam. His performance along with Tamil Superstar Rajinikanth in Thalapathi made him a favorite in Tamil. His other Tamil film Kandukondain Kandukondain directed by Rajiv Menon was also a superhit; co-stars of the film were Aishwarya Rai, Tabu and Ajith. His other Tamil super hit films are Marumalarchi, Arasiyal and Makkal Aatchi. Fazil directed Kilippechu Kekkavaa was another successful film that gained box office victory by competing with Rajnikanth and Kamal Hassan films in Tamil Nadu. Anandam directed by Linguswamy and Kaarmegham were also his super hits in Tamil. Mammootty's last Tamil film was Viswa Thulasi. The film was a box office disaster but his acting was noticed in the film.
He made his Bollywood debut in an arty film Thriyathri in 1989. However, his maiden Bollywood film as hero, Dhartiputra went unnoticed. Mammootty, nonetheless made his presence felt on the national level with the biographical film on Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Directed by Jabbar Patel. His national presence was once again felt after Jabbar Patel’s Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar. So realistic was his performance that it was reported thousands who watched the shooting of the film were in tears after the shooting. No wonder, he again bagged the coveted Rajat Kamal for best acting. Mammootty's Sau Jhooth Ek Sach won critical acclaim but the film didn't do well at the box office. Mammootty's Telugu film Swathikiran was a superhit but the remake in Malayalam titled Pranavam was a failure on home turf.
After a long interval, Mammootty is acting in a new Kollywood film Aruvadai (a bilingual movie), will be released both in Tamil as well as Malayalam. Its Malayalam version titled as Vandemataram. Tamil action hero Arjun Sarja is also doing an important role in the film and the film will have two heroines -- Mamta Mohandas and Sneha.
International fame
Life-like Ambedkar
Mammootty spent almost close to a year going through books and articles in Dr. Ambedkar his life, his mannerisms etc. The actor had to go through hours of make up and dental manipulations to get the right look. When the movie was finally released, it was widely acclaimed in several leading Film Festivals. People could not believe their eyes when they saw the glamor-king Mammootty in a completed make over. It was life-like Dr. Ambedkar. So convincing and brilliant was his Performance that he was awarded the National Film Award for Best Actor in 1998. Jabbar Patel directed the English language movie Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar about the life of Ambedkar, released in 2000, Sponsored by National Film Development Corporation of India and the Ministry of Social Justice, the film was released after a long and controversial gestation period.
Jabbar Patel comments on Ambedkar and Mammootty:
| “ | Anyone who has seen the film will agree that Dr Ambedkar could not have been possible without Mammootty. How did the filmmaker settle on him? I was making a film in English and I went all around the world, met and saw actors in Canada, United States and United Kingdom. Physically, many actors in America came close but I was not sure about how they would portray the whole sensibility and inner turmoil. I was also not happy about the gestures. I had shortlisted 2-3 people and knew that it would be troublesome as I would have to get them here and train them. So I was not really happy. Then I decided to do something about Mammootty, who was hiding in my mind for a very long time. | ” |
So started the entire exercise of doing computer graphics on Mammootty’s face, the results showed that physically he came very close. When the director approached him initially through a third person, the southern superstar laughed off the idea. But once Mammootty agreed to do the role he got into it wholeheartedly. He made several physical changes like shaving off his mustache and his hair to get the receding hairline. According to Dr Patel:
| “ | He gave a terrific performance. He not only had to look like Ambedkar, but had to smile and get angry like Ambedkar. One can act emotional, show anger and all that. But how do you show that you are intelligent?" And Mammootty achieved that so easily in the film. The actor listened to me very carefully, read the script very carefully, He also requested that we should not take too many rehearsals. So we were very particular to can the shot in one or two takes. Mammootty’s journey was from inwards. He was trying to construct a role from within with a cerebral support. You will notice that he doesn't have many big speeches in the film. But he's still so expressive in silence | ” |
Films shown in International festivals
His famous work Mathilukal ('The Walls') has been shown in almost 40 International Film festival beginning with Venice. The ace director Adoor Gopalakrishnan said:
| “ | Among my films, it is Mathilukal which has invited the maximum number of international honors. The sincere co-operation by Mammootty, the actor has played a major role in the success of the movie". | ” |
The film is an adaptation of the novel Mathilukal by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. The film's music is composed by Vijay Bhaskar. It was well received upon screening at the Venice International Film Festival, and won 4 awards at the National Film Awards in 1990.
Vidheyan, the cinematic adaptation of the novel "Bhaskara Pattelarum Ente Jeevithavum" by Malayalam writer Paul Zachariah explores the master-slave dialectic in a South Karnataka setting. Vidheyan won the State Film Awards for best film and best director for Adoor Gopalakrishnan. Mammootty won the National Film Award and State Film Awardfor this film in 1993. The film also won the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, along with the Interfilm Award - Honorable Mention at the Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film festival.
Remarks during IIFA 2006
His remarks during the 2006 IIFA Awards ceremony held at Dubai had gained a lot of media and public attention. He openly criticized the organizers of the IIFA Awards for completely ignoring South Indian films. Mammootty suggested that the Bollywood film industry stand up to competition from the South Indian film industry before calling itself International. Take into account that South Indians have won 14 out of 26 National Film Awards over that many years (Mammootty has himself won it thrice,Shahrukh Khan never!) and that a significant number of Bollywood films are remakes of successful South Indian films — Malayalam,Telugu and Tamil.He boldly made comments like:
| “ | Indian cinema is not just Bollywood, and Hindi is not the only language. Why should our films be called South Indian cinema instead of being under the banner of Indian films? | ” |
Rare distinctions
Mammootty also holds the rare distinction of appearing as hero in an astonishing 35 movies released in a single year, 1986, a feat exceeded only by Prem Nazir who acted in 39 movies as hero released during 1979. Mammootty is the only second star after Prem Nazir to complete 300 films as the hero in Cinema world. Mammootty reached this feat as he completed his latest film with Renjith titled Kaiyoppu. It is incredible that he acted in more than 150 films and donned various roles within five years of stint. He is the only actor other than Kamal Haasan who received three National Film Award for Best Actor. In Malayalam cinema history, the first star Fan club was started in the name of Mammootty in the late 1980s.
Social commitments
The social commitment of the person Mammootty is evident from the fact that he is involved in more than half a dozen charitable projects aimed at helping the needy people. His presence has made the field of Charity and Social work to grasp upon new heights. In fact, he has become a pillar for the weak to hold, a shoulder for poor and neglected to learn upon and last of all; but not the least, he has become the deity of the emerging religion "social work". He has never quenched for name or fame, but, his humble and simple deeds, done especially for the needy, has made him the icon of selflessness among the numerous other social workers of the world. It is a herculean task for a social worker to project himself from the charms of labels; but he came, he saw and conquered not only the heart of cine-watchers but also of those who are abandoned, who are desperate and who are ignominies[15].
Humanitarian works
Pain and Palliative Centre
The society has consciously ignored and neglected a group of individuals-those who are suffering from a fatal disease-Cancer. But just as on a rainy and cloudy day, the sight of sun gives us a relief, in the same manner, in the dejected lives of many of the cancer patient Mammootty has entered as a ray of hope. He is the Patron of the Pain and Palliative care Society [16], a charitable organization in Kerala formed with the aim of improving the quality of life among patients with advanced cancer. He has been the fuel and the engine of the pain and Palliative care centre, situated at Kozhikode, India [17]. More than a thousand numbers of people are getting the benefits which the institution is providing. Mammootty has now put forth a novel project to provide the pain and palliative care to those suffering from cancer, living all over Kerala. Sooner, he will put this decision into action.
Jeevan Jothi
One of the most astounding, emerging novel projects, in the social work; which the Keralites have ever witnessed. It’s unique in its origin and in its function. When people have to face the economic and financial problems, while seeking treatment for any Ophthalmic diseases, Heart (cardiac) orthopedic diseases, liver diseases, renal dysfunctions, Haemophilia diseases, ENT disorders; The actor, with helping hand which is always ready to supports them. The project is designed in such a manner that not only the keralities, but people from all over India can gain the benefits, it has planned to provide.
The caretaker of street children
Mammootty the ambassador of street children, the privileged position in India, which no one had yet acquired this. A team is now working under the leadership of Mammootty, aiming at the eradication of Child abuse, Child labor and to protect those street children who has no one to look after them. A majority of people in the society has interwoven their hands with Mammootty, in order to, fulfill this mission.
Kazhcha- free eye care and treatment
It is a venture to extend free eye care & treatment to the neglected and downtrodden people of the society. This event is the first of its kind in India, organized in the name of an actors’ fans association. Kazhcha 06-07[18], which is maintained by Mammootty Fans Welfare Association & Mammootty Times, in association with Little Flower Hospital & Research Centre & Eye Bank Association of Kerala, will surely be a helping hand to eradicate blindness in the underprivileged society. Under this project, around 10,000 people will be receiving free eye treatment and 1000 poor patients will have the opportunity to undergo cataract surgeries free of cost at Little Flower Hospital, Angamaly. The actual cost of each of these surgeries is around Rs.8000/-. In addition to this, all eligible patients, who are selected for surgery, will be given free accommodation, food, medicines and conveyance. This project also includes various programmes to prevent childhood blindness in the society. One of the major activities related to this is distribution of free spectacles to the children from socially and economically backward families. The special fund received from the office of the President of India will be utilized for this purpose. Free eye camps will also be conducted at various places in connection to this project[19].
Donating foods and goods
On the occasion of last Onam, he had donated food items to a thousand families in a Kerala village, Parathodu near Kanjirappally in Kottayam district, which is hit by Chikungunya. The village which was worst hit by the disease claimed the most lives in the state. He has planning this to initiate such measures from the other celebrities also, so that the sufferers will get a maximum benefit, during the seasons[20]. In a press conference Mammootty explained his motives for doing this:
| “ | I decided to do this because the village has lost the maximum number of people to chikunguniya in the state this year. And this is not a publicity event and I would not be going there to distribute it either. This is done to see that others also come to extend a helping hand to those who are suffering | ” |
Smart City: Discussions with Dubai Internet City
Mammootty and Dubai-based businessman M.A. Yusuf Ali met with the officials of the Dubai Internet City (DIC) and finally - the proposed Smart City project at Kochi is now within striking distance of the investment-starved state[21]. This project could potentially bring over 90,000 jobs in the Information Technology and allied sectors at Kerala. The much-talked about Rs.15 billion - IT project, which has been in a limbo since the new V.S. Achuthanandan government took over last May, has been revived with Dubai Internet City - officials saying it has agreed to the terms put up by the state. The move came immediately after Mammootty air-dashed to Dubai early this week to hold discussions with DIC officials[22]. Mammootty Explained in Indo-Asian News Service:
| “ | I think so!, I was in Dubai and held discussions with DIC officials. This was nothing official but I had a keen interest that investment should come to Kerala and I did what I could do | ” |
Akshaya: Information Technology dissemination
Akshaya, the prestigious Information Technology dissemination project of the Government of Kerala [23], has Mammootty as the star campaigner[24]. He formally took over as the Goodwill Ambassador of Akshaya project on February 26, 2006 at a video networked programme which was linked to all the district headquarters of the state[25]. Mammootty will take up the responsibility of spearheading a campaign by appearing in print and visual media advertisements and other publicity materials that will send the message of Akshaya to the grassroots. He Explained:
| “ | I am really happy to be associated with this unique project that promises to ring in wholesome change to the perceptions about Kerala as it seeks to make its presence felt in the digital era[26]. | ” |
Mammootty has now appearing in a new role on television [27]. He has seen giving tips on ways to master the computer keyboard or browse the internet [28].
| “ | If we manage to reach the benefits of information technology to the entire population, we would be able to raise ourselves to the levels of a developed society. I understand that the Akshaya project has been launched with this objective. I am sure this unique project will go to make the State a fully empowered knowledge society[29]. | ” |
Akshaya, Kerala’s mass computer literacy campaign which has bagged several awards, has roped in the multilingual star to popularize the programme[30].
Television career
He is the current Chairman of Malayalam Communications[31], which runs some popular Malayalam TV channels like Kairali TV, People TV and Channel We. etc. Kairali TV by its very style and content en-capsules the quintessence of the culture, ethos and artistic aspirations of Malayalees. And not surprisingly, Kairali TV has today emerged as an information-rich and viewer favorite channel that would entertain, engross and educate the Malayalee population all over the world. Kairali's vision is to create programmes that meet international standards of creativity and production excellence. And Kairali’s mission is to rule the airwaves as the channel with the cutting edge of News breaking, programming and technical perfection.
Mammootty formed a television production company, Megabytes, which has produced some television serials, the first being Jwalayay in the late 1996s, which was also his first project as a producer.[32]. Jwalayay created history in Malayalam television.[33] He had started a distribution company named Mammootty Technotainment. It has distributed his Tamil film Karmegham in Kerala. It gets the first share from the distribution rights.
Other activities
In what is believed to be the first time in the banking history in south India, Mammootty was appointed as the Global Brand ambassador of the Kerala-based South Indian Bank on October 16, 2006 [34][35]. The Bank chairman said this was taking into consideration the huge following Mammootty enjoys among the NRIs and his image as a clean, pan-Indian actor[36][37].
Publications
Mammootty has turned writer with his first book Kazhchapadu (roughly translated as Perspective) a compilation of short essays he has written in various publications over the years[38]. M. T. Vasudevan Nair the doyen of Malayalam writers and a personal friend of Mammootty issued the first copy of the book published by the famous Current Books, Trichur to C. V. Sreeraman. Speaking at the occasion, M. T. Vasudevan Nair said:
| “ | Only those with a wealth of experience in their life can become great artists. Looking back, Mammootty had a lot of memories which he has crafted into essays which makes interesting reading. | ” |
M. T. Vasudevan Nair was all praise for Mammootty’s style of writing. Mammootty in his speech explained:
| “ | I have always wanted to be a writer, and had been writing even when I was a student. I hadn't published anything though, After trying to be a singer and a wrier then only I became an actor. | ” |
Fortunate escapes from accidents
Mammootty was injured in a car accident in Nirmala city near Kattappana, Idukki. He was on his way to shooting at Idukki. Mammootty was working in director Blessy's film Palunku. The accident happened on the morning of November 17, 2006.His car got into a minor accident when it collided with a private bus. Mammootty was slightly injured in his hand. He was administered first aid at a nearby private hospital. Soon afterwards, he left for the shooting spot. Since his car was damaged badly, he was taken to the shooting spot in another car. Mammootty informed his fans that there is nothing to worry. Mammootty, who soon returned to the film's sets, said:
| “ | I cannot afford to take a break. A delay would mean a loss not just to this producer but also other producers[39]. | ” |
In 2007 February 19, Mammootty met with an accident on the sets of Amal Neerad's Big B that could have even cost his life. Mammootty had a lucky escape during shooting of an action scene of Big B when a flying metal piece from an exploding car missed him by inches. The shoot was stopped immediately. Mammootty explained:
| “ | I was shooting for a scene where a car was blown up by a petrol bomb. A portion of the exploding car flew inches away from my face. God is great. After the incident we saw it replayed on the video and only then we knew the gravity of the situation. It was a narrow escape[40]. | ” |
The shooting commenced after a break.
Criticism
Critics always go hand in hand with a celebrity, so as for Mammootty. He has been criticized for not performing well in comic rolls and dance sequences. But his latest movies Rajamanikyam, Thommanum Makkalum, Thuruppugulan and Mayavi gave a fitting reply to these critics. And in case of dancing, he gave a right reply to critics with Thuruppugulan. Mammootty, though a hugely popular megastar, is an exception in Indian films where dancing skills have to be a necessary part of an actor's repertoire. But the emotion and the depth that he lends to his characters makes him a well revered actor and makes up for his shortcomings. Mammootty is widely considered in southern film circles as masculinity symbolized. His profound looks, baritone voice and thick moustache underline his qualities of manliness.
Political rumors
There was a rumor prevailing that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) would field him for one of the three Rajya Sabha seats from Kerala during June 26, 2004 elections[41][42]. Later on the news subsided as Mammootty denied any such possibility[43]. Mammootty is known to be close to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [44]. He is the chairman of Malayalam Communications in which the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has a high stake[45]. And he clarified that he had no intention of joining any political party. Film stars in Kerala have maintained a distance from politics, unlike their counterparts in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
Controversies
Mammootty, who has a huge fans following in Tamil Nadu as well, was addressing thousands of youth who had gathered for the inaugural session of the eighth national conference of the Democratic Youth Federation of India, In May 2007, at Chennai [46][47]. Mammootty in his speech said:
| “ | I memorize all my scripts for films, but what I am saying today is from my heart | ” |
He stressed that the Gujarat carnage in 2002 'would not have happened' if the youth wings had been stronger in that state. Mammootty also saw a greater role for political parties in strife-torn Jammu and Kashmir. This statement did not go down well with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The prominent stars like Mammootty take part in conventions like DYFI, it will strengthen the ruling Marxist party and spell doom for the Congress to come to power[48]. So, the Kerala wing of Indian Youth Congress framed a case on Mammootty that he had illegally appropriated government lands[49]. This has led to police protection being extended to the actor and also his house at Ernakulam. But his comments about globalization went unnoticed.
Mammootty has denied allegations by the Indian National Congress party in Kerala that he had constructed buildings on encroached lands in the hill station of Munnar and Kochi [50]. In a statement issued from Chennai, where he is shooting for his film Pazhassi Raja, Mammootty said: "I do not possess any unlawfully acquired land in Kerala or any other state. [51]. He added that if any lapse had occurred in any land dealings without his knowledge, he was "prepared to return the land without any condition”. "I spoke at the DYFI conference only as an ordinary citizen of India. I did not level any charge in my speech against any particular leader or movement," he explained:
| “ | "Don't read too much politics into it. I am inaugurating that event because the DYFI asked me to. If the Congress asks me to inaugurate their meeting, I may do that too," | ” |
He was offered to act as Coca-Cola's Brand ambassador in Kerala during March 2004 [52]. But, pressure from various quarters, it seems, has prompted the Megastar to give up the ambitious offer[53]. Several environmental groups were calling for the soft drink's boycott. Ending a weeklong debate in the media over the propriety of his promoting the Coca-Cola brands in the State, he issued a statement denying that he had taken up the role of a Brand ambassador [54][55].
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