Mammootty

Mammootty born Muhammed Kutty on September 17, 1953 to Fatima And Ismail in Chempu near Vaikom, Kottayam district, Kerala is a popular Indian film actor.He has acted in more than three hundred films, most of them in Malayalam. He also acted in Tamil, Telugu,Hindi and English Dr.Ambedkar although a English language film, was produced by an Indian production house language Films. He has been successful in both mainstream and parallel cinema Although a distinction is disputable, main stream cinema is commonly used to refer to the films those are produced commercially and enjoyed by the masses."Parallel", "art" or "Intellectual" films those which are not only made for entertainment but for the allround competence.. He has won the Indian National award for best actor three times, a feat shared by Kamal Haasan.

Family and early background

He has two younger brothers Ibrahim and Zakariah and three sisters, Ameena, Sauda and Shafina. He went to the Maharaja's College, Ernakulam for his degree.He studied law at Government Law College, Ernakulam and was a practising lawyer in Manjeri, Kerala. During his days at Maharajah's that he amde a cameo appearance in the film Anubhavangal Paalichakal (1971). He is married to Sulfaath and has a daughter, Surmi and a son, Dulquar Salman.

Career

His first Film as an actor, Devalokam (World of Gods),was not released in theatres.It was Famous writer and auteur M. T. Vasudevan Nair and Director K. G. George who played the part in the growth of the actor in Mammooty . He talent was noticed films like Yavanika(Curtain), and Valarthumrigangal(Domesticated Animals), and Vilkanunde Swapnangal (Dreams for sale) which were all films of of K G George.The film New Delhi directed by Joshi was a turning point in his career.The film was based on the story, "Almighty" by Irving Wallace.His character of a victimized journalist, who systematically took revenge on politicians who beguiled him, was noticed. By then he had become a popular actor and respected as fine actor.

Apart from the heroic roles he enacted in pure commercial films, Mammootty was fortunate to have got the chances to portray the roles of M.T.Vasudevan Nair's characters.M. T. Vasudevan Nair 's films like Aalkootathil Thaniye (Alone in the crowd) catapulted him to a new realm of stardom.

Then came his Oru CBI Diary kurippu(A CBI diary entry), which some observers of malayalam films say was a landmark. It brought to fore a new concept of villainy, fresh presentation of politicians and above all a refreshing idea of hero. Without even a single song or dance number, Oru CBI Diary kurippe went on to create box-office history in Kerala. 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 (Mammootty being a muslim) officer became a topic of household discussion in Kerala. The film carved itself a niche in the heart of Keralites, so that three more films (Jaagratha (1989),Sethurama Iyer CBI (2004)and Nerariyan C.B.I (2005){All directed by K Madhu } starring Mammootty as Sethurama Iyer, the CBI officer, were received very well.This in itself is a record of sorts in the Malayalam film industry, with four movies with the same lead character (a la James Bond).

Mammootty touched higher pinnacles of his career in Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (roughly translated as 'A northern folklore'), again a M. T. Vasudevan Nair creation. His depiction of a ChekavanUsually a person of a warrior clan who would fight for a king or other nobles of the land of distinguished valour but vilified by circumstances won him the top honours of the country, National Award for best acting. His histrionics matched the literary genius of M T. It was his acting talent, coupled with his willingness to go to any extent to rationally portray the roles, that helped enabled him to act in both offbeat and commercial movies and other in art movies, and yet not fall flat. Mammootty became almost a regular face in Adoor Gopalakrishnan's films. He starred in three of his movies, Anantharam('Thenceforth'), Mathilukkal('Walls') and Vidheyan ('The Subservient one'). The easiness with which he illustrated on screen the protagonist in Mathilukkal(based on Mathilukal,a novel by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer) was also instrumental in winning his first National award for best acting. His performance in a commercially off-beat movie, Ponthan Mada, and Adoor Gopalakrishnan's 'Vidheyan' won him the award for the second time. His performance in "Ambedkar", a hindi movie by Jabbar Patel, won him the National award for a third time. He is also a recipient of Padma Shri , one of the topmost civilian awards in India .

In between, he had crossed the boundaries of Malayalam cinema and acted in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi films. Though he proved a success in Tamil after Mani Ratnam 's Dalapati and continues to shine in Tamil films. However, his maiden Hindi film, Dhartiputra went unnoticed. But made his presence felt on national level with biographical film on Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Directed by Jabbar Patel.

Although there has been criticism for his inability to act in comic roles, his latest movies Raajamanikkam, Thommanum makkalum, Thuruppugulan.Mammooty, although a popular star, is an exception in Indian films where dancing skills have to be a neccessary part of an actor's repetoire.But the emotion and the depth that he lends to his characters make him a well revered actor and makes up for his shortcomings.

Mammootty along with Mohanlal are the most popular stars in the Malayalam Films.

Awards and honours

Mammootty was awarded the Padma Shri in 1998,for his contributions to the Indian Cinema

National Awards

*1989 Mathilukal, Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (Actor)
*1993 Vidheyan,Pothanmada (Actor)
*1999 Dr. Ambedkar (Actor)

State Awards

*1981 Ahimsa (Supporting Actor)
*1984 Adiyozhukkukal (Actor)
*1985 Yathra, Nirakkoottu (Special Award)
*1989 Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha, Mathilukal (Actor)
*1994 Vidheyan,Pothanmada (Actor)
*2004 Kazhcha (Actor)

Filmfare Awards

*1984 Adiyozhukkukal
*1985 Yathra, Nirakkoottu
*1990 Mathilukal
*1991 Amaram
*1997 Boothakannadi
*2004 Kazhcha (Actor)

Film Critics

*1982 Yavanika (Supporting Actor)
*1984 Aksharangal, Kanamarayathu
*1985 Yathra, Nirakkoottu
*1987 Thaniyavarthanam, New Delhi
*1990 Mathilukal, Mrigaya, Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha
*1992 Sooryamanasam, Aayirappara,Pappayudey Swantham Appose
*1994 Sukritham
*1997 Boothakannadi (Special Award)
*2004 Chalachitra Ratnam

Other Awards

*V. Shantaram Award (Movie : Dr. Ambedkar)
*Asia Pacific Merlian Award
*Cinema Express (Various Movies, years)
*Ramu Karyat Award
*Screen Award
*Asianet Film Awards

Selected filmography

* Anubhavangal Palichakal (1971) - first screen appearance, uncredited.
* Vilkkanundu Swapnangal (1980)
* Mela (1980)
* New Delhi (1987) - loosely based on Almighty by Irving Wallace
* Oru CBI Diary Kurippu (1988)
* Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989)
* Mathilukal (1990)
* Inspector Balram (1991)
* Amaram(1991)
* Soorya Manasam (1992)
* Pappayude Swantham Appoos (1992)
* Dhruvam (1993)
* Vatsalyam (1993)
* Vidheyan (1994)
* Ponthan Mada (1994)
* Sukrutham (1994)
* The King (film) (1995)
* Hitler (1996)
* Bhoothakannadi (1997)
* Harikrishnans (1998)
* Rakshasa Rajavu (1999)
* Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (2000)
* Kaazhcha (2004)
* Raapakal (2005)
* Nerariyan CBI (2005) (First time 4th sequel in Malayalam film history)
* Rajamanikyam (2005)
* Thuruppu Gulan (2006)
* Balram Vs Taradas (2006)
* Prajapathi (2006)

Mammootty: Encyclopedia BETA

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