The year was 1981. Infosys was born, Nargis had died, and Mammootty broke into my world via a full-page ad in the Malayala Manorama newspaper for the film Sphodanam (Explosion). I was about to enter college and it was hard not to notice the handsome young man who looked unlike any other Mallu actor. The title spoke to me because I had just blasted my way through the shackles of a boring boarding school life into the exciting world of college. I met him exactly 20 years later, in 2001. Mammootty was the chairman of the nascent Kairali TV, where I learnt the ropes of television production. Suddenly, the matinee idol was my boss. For all you know, he could have walked out of the poster of Sphodanam, which was by then 20 years old. He looked younger than me then, as he does now. And he is still my boss.
Ask him, and he will tell you the secret to his ageless looks is sacrifice with a capital S. In the world of glamour, Mammukka바카라”as we call him in Kerala with affection and pride바카라”leads an 바카라œordinary바카라 life. While travelling together, whenever we have a sumptuous dinner, I know where to find him next morning바카라”in the hotel gym. The man refuses to let his wealth affect his middle-class values. A fine trait imbibed by his son, emerging superstar Dulquer Salman.
Mammootty is often considered impulsive as he doesn바카라™t bother with formalities. Few realise these impulses stem from a rooted understanding of life. It is a miracle how this man survived and became an icon in a world where being two-faced is the norm. Filmmaker Renjith바카라”whose 2009 film Kerala Café signalled the arrival of the newest 바카라˜wave바카라™ in Malayalam cinema바카라”recalls how he met its sole superstar. 바카라œDirector Kamal introduced me to Mammootty in 1988. He gave me an ice-cold handshake. I could make out he was measuring me. That바카라™s his style. He warms up slowly, but once he does, his friendship never grows cold,바카라 he says.
That Mammootty was the lone superstar who dared to feature in the experimental film anthology Kerala Cafe is not just testimony of his friendship, but also of his commitment to those who think differently. He has worked with a lot of new filmmakers, many of whom are now famous across India thanks to OTT platforms. He identifies new talent from film sets바카라”cameramen who hope to direct, assistant directors looking for their big break. Unbeknownst to them, Mammukka puts them under 바카라˜observation바카라™, and once convinced of their ability, volunteers his dates.
If Mammootty has straddled every 바카라˜new wave바카라™ of Malayalam cinema, it바카라™s because he hates yes-men. He peppers directors with questions while discussing scripts to check their level of commitment and counts on people to speak their mind or challenge him. It바카라™s integral to his liberal, progressive worldview. He is himself never afraid to articulate his politics. I believe it is his outspoken political views that stand between him and a Padma Bhushan (he got a Padma Shri in 1998). A caveat: he has never allowed his politics come in the way of friendships or causes he espouses.
The consummate method actor adores Stanislavsky. In Mammootty바카라™s own words, he breaks the iron cage of his self to reshape it according to the demands of a new role. A voracious reader, he 바카라œbarges into worlds바카라 uninvited, to seek out new challenges. Once, at a public function, director Sathyan Anthikkad told me he was writing a new script with Mammootty in mind. I told him he should announce it there itself. He took the bait and the crowd erupted into a huge applause. Afterwards, he quipped: 바카라œMy headache begins now. I바카라™m still in the initial stages of the project, but Mammootty will already start preparing for the role.바카라
Few know that Malayalam cinema바카라™s biggest superstar is a serial investor in tech startups. Mammootty바카라™s obsession with tech started when he began tinkering with ham radio. In the 1990s, long before the mobile phone revolution, he used to communicate with his wife using a ham radio in his car, as he shuttled from one set to another. If a new gadget catches his fancy, he will travel to far corners to acquire it. He will also recommend gadgets freely. Once, hearing me whine about a recurring throat infection, Mammukka asked, 바카라œDo you go for morning walks?바카라 When I said yes, he replied, 바카라œGet a set of ear pods. Blocking your ears should help your throat.바카라 For good measure, he added: 바카라œListen to Akashvani, it suits your age.바카라
(2021 marks Mammootty바카라™s 50 years in cinema)