Muhammad Kutty Panaparambil Ismail (IPA: [muh?m??d? ku??i p?n?p??r?mbil ism?jl]; born 7 September 1951), known mononymously by the hypocorism Mammootty (IPA: [m?m?u???i]), is an Indian actor and film producer who works predominantly in Malayalam films. He has also appeared in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and English-language productions. In a career spanning five decades, he has acted in over 400 films. He is the recipient of several accolades, including three National Film Awards, seven Kerala State Film Awards and thirteen Filmfare Awards South. For his contribution to film, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri in 1998.
Mammootty made his debut in acting through Malayalam film Anubhavangal Paalichakal in 1971. His first leading role was in I. V. Sasi's unreleased film Devalokam (1979). Mammootty's breakthrough came in 1981 when he received the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actor for his performance in Ahimsa. Major commercial successes during this time included the 1983 films Sandhyakku Virinja Poovu and Aa Raathri. Following a series of box office failures, the 1987 crime thriller New Delhi improved his commerical prospects. The films that followed through the next decade established Mammootty as one of the leading stars of Malayalam cinema.
The 2000s were a period of critical and commercial success for Mammootty. His performance in the Hindi and English-language bilingual biopic Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (2000) won him the National Film Award for Best Actor, and he won Kerala State Film Awards for Kaazcha (2004) and Paleri Manikyam (2009). He garnered further critical praise for the satire Pranchiyettan & the Saint (2010), drama Varsham (2014), period drama Pathemari and black comedy Unda (2019), and received Filmfare Awards for Best Actor for the first three. His highest-grossing releases include the period action Mamangam and masala Madhura Raja in 2019, and the action thriller Bheeshma Parvam in 2022.
Mammootty is the chairman of Malayalam Communications, which runs the Malayalam television channels Kairali TV, Kairali News and Kairali We. He is the owner of multiple production ventures, including the distribution-production banner Playhouse and the Mammootty Kampany.
Mammootty with Fr. Palakkappilly at Sacred Heart College, Thevara where he did his pre-degree.
Mammootty was born on 7 September 1951 in Chandiroor.[1][2][3] He was raised in the village of Chempu near Vaikom in Kottayam district in the present-day state of Kerala, India in a middle-class Muslim family. His father, Ismail, had wholesale garment and rice business, and was involved in rice cultivation. His mother, Fatima, was a housewife. He was their eldest son. He has two younger brothers, Ibrahimkutty and Zakariah, and three younger sisters, Ameena, Sauda and Shafina.[4][5]
He went to Government High School, Kulasekharamangalam, Kottayam for his primary education.[6] In the 1960s his father moved the family to Ernakulam, where he attended Government School Ernakulam. He did his pre-university course (pre-degree) at Sacred Heart College, Thevara.[7][8] He attended Maharaja's College, Ernakulam for his degree. He graduated with an LL.B. from Government Law College, Ernakulam.[9] He practiced law for two years in Manjeri.[10]
He married Sulfath in 1979,[11] and has a daughter, Surumi (born 1982), and a son Dulquer Salmaan (born 1986).[12] He resides at Kochi, Ernakulam with family. His younger brother Ibrahimkutty is an actor in Malayalam films and Malayalam TV serials. Ibrahimkutty's son Maqbool Salmaan is also an actor.[13]
See also: Mammootty filmography
Mammootty's debut was in 1971, as a junior artist in the film Anubhavangal Paalichakal, directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan.[14] His second film was Kaalachakram, a 1973 Malayalam film directed by K. Narayanan, where he said his first dialogue.[15] He acted in the theatre drama Sabarmathi in 1975.[16][17][18] In 1979, he played his first lead role in Devalokam, directed by M. T. Vasudevan Nair. However, this film was never completed.[4] His first credited role was in the 1980 film Vilkkanundu Swapnangal, directed by Azad and written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair.[19]
Mammootty's first starring role in a released film was the 1980 film Mela, written and directed by K. G. George.[20]
Mammootty shown with Ramachandra Babu, who served as cinematographer in his debut film, and actor Saiju Kurup.
In this phase Mammootty was slowly building his career. In 1981 he starred in Sphodanam (directed by P. G. Viswambharan), in which his name appeared in the credits as "Sajin" and in some following films.[21][22] During the shooting of Sphodanam he got injured in his leg.[23] Munnettam (directed by Sreekumaran Thampi) was his next release.[24] In the same year he worked in Thrishna[25] directed by I.V. Sasi along with Ratheesh. This movie give Mammootty his first major break as a solo hero.[26] In 1981, he got his first state award in the Best Supporting Actor category for his performance in Ahimsa.[27][28] His performances included Aalkkoottathil Thaniye and Adiyozhukkukal in the same year.[25]
He started 1982 as police officer in the investigative thriller Yavanika (1982), directed by K. G. George, which was both a commercial and critical success.[29][30][31][32] Yavanika is considered as one of the finest investigative thriller ever made in Malayalam cinema.[33] Other major releases in 1982 were Padayottam and Ee Nadu, which was a commercial success and became the highest-grossing south Indian film at that time.[34] Padayottam was the first 70 mm film Indian film to be completely processed in India.[35] It was also the first Malayalam film with a budget over ?1 crore (US$130,000).[36] Ee Nadu was remade in Telugu, [37] in Hindi as Yeh Desh and in tamil as Idhu Enga Naadu.[38] In 1983 he joined with the Director P. G. Viswambharan for the movie Sandhyakku Virinja Poovu where he played the role of an advocate named "Jayamohan".[39]
In a period of five years, from 1982 to 1987, Mammootty acted in the lead role in more than 150 films.[19] In the years 1983, 1984, 1985 he acted in 34 films each.[40] This phase was not good for his career. His career was going down due to continuos flops. But have some films too. In 1983 he collaborated with Director Joshiy for the first time on the movie Aa Raathri, which was both commercial and critical success.[41][42] In 1984 he starred in Athirathram, directed by I. V. Sasi, which elevated Mammootty to superstardom. He played the character Tharadas, who is a smuggler.[43] The film was commercial success.[44] His performance in the movie Adiyozhukkukal in 1984, he won Best Actor award in both Kerala State Film Awards and Filmfare Awards. In the next year also he grabbed Best Actor in Filmfare Awards for the movie Yathra and won Special Jury Award for his performances in both Yathra and Nirakkoottu.[45][46] Nirakkoottu has won Best Malayalam Movie award in Filmfare Awards.[47] In 1986 alone, he acted in about 35 films, including a brief appearance in Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu.[48] In 1986 he team up with I. V. Sasi for the movie Aavanazhi, which is written by T. Damodaran. Mammootty appears in the lead role as Balram, a police officer. Both Inspector Balram and Balram vs. Tharadas are sequels of this movie. The movie was a huge hit in box office. The movie has ran over 200 days. The movie was remade in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. [49][50]
Following a series of flops, Mammootty found commercial success with the crime thriller New Delhi (1987), directed by Joshiy and written by Dennis Joseph.[51] He played G. Krishnamoorthy, a victimised journalist who systematically arranges the killing of politicians who had implicated him under false charges.[52] New Delhi was a commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing Malayalam film released at that point.[53][54] After its release, Rajinikanth, wanting to remake the film in Tamil, offered to buy the rights from Joseph, but the rights for Kannada, Telugu and Hindi-language remakes were already sold by that time.[55] The same year, he played Balagopalan, a school teacher who is deemed mad by society owing to a superstitious belief, in the drama Thaniyavarthanam, directed by Sibi Malayil and written by A. K. Lohithadas.[56] It won the Filmfare Award for Best Film – Malayalam at the Filmfare Awards South.[57] Mammootty's performance received acclaim from film critics.[58]
In the first of his several releases in 1988, Mammootty appeared in the comedy Manu Uncle, directed by Dennis Joseph. The film saw cameo appearances from Mohanlal and Suresh Gopi.[59][60] It received the National Film Award for Best Children's Film at the 36th National Film Awards.[61][62] Another release, Oru CBI Diary Kurippu, which would become the first instalment in the CBI series, saw Mammootty play Sethurama Iyer, an investigative officer.[63] The commercially successful film set box office records in Kerala as well as Tamil Nadu.[64][65][66] The film's theatrical run of one year in Tamil Nadu continues to remain an all-time record.[67] That year, he also appeared in the Sibi Malayil-directed action film August 1.[68] The film was based on the novel The Day of the Jackal, by Frederick Forsyth.[69] The rights to the film were sold in Tamil Nadu at what was a record price for the time.[70] The year also saw Mammootty collaborate with I. V. Sasi for in three projects: the romance Abkari, drama Mukthi and war film 1921.[71] In the latter, Mammootty played Khader, a World War I veteran who joins the Malabar rebellion. The film, which cost over ?1.2 crore to produce, earned ?2 crore during its theatrical run.[70] In 1988, Mammootty collaborated with Joshiy for two films, Sangham and Thanthram.[72]
The following year, Mammootty starred with Rahman (actor) and Shobana in the G. S. Vijayan thriller film Charithram.[73] The story is adapted from the English movie Chase a Crooked Shadow. The story is about the relationship between two brothers.[74] In the same year, he acted in a film which is considered as one of the best crime thriller in Malayalam cinema, Adikkurippu, written by S. N. Swamy and directed by K. Madhu.[75] In 1989, Mammootty starred in the lead as Chandu Chekavar, in the epic historical drama film Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, directed by Hariharan and written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair.[76] The movie has won four National Film Awards, including Best Actor(Mammootty), Best Screenplay(M.T Vasudevan Nair), Best Production Design and Best Costume Design(P. Krishnamoorthy. The movie has selected as Best Malayalam Movie in Filmfare Awards, also the movie has won seven Kerala State Film Awards.[77][78] The movie received both commercial and critical acclaim and ran for over 300 days. It is considered as one of the greatest films of all time.[79] In a online poll conducted in 2013 by IBN Live, as a part of Indian Cinema completing 100 years, Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha listed as the third greatest Indian Film of all time.[80] In the same year, Mammootty starred with Sukumaran in the Mystery -thriller film Utharam, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair. The story was based on the short story No Motive by Daphne du Maurier. Utharam is considered as one of the best investigate thrillers in Malayalam cinema.[81][82] Second movie in CBI (film series), Jagratha released in the same year. It is considered as one of the best investigate thrillers in Malayalam.[81] In the same year Mammootty joined with Joshiy, in the movie Mahayanam, which was a critical and commercial success.[83] In 1989, Mammootty appeared as hunter in Mrigayaa, Directed by I. V. Sasi and written by A. K. Lohithadas. The movie was a major success and I.V Sasi won the Kerala State Award for Best Director.[84] In 1989, Mammootty won the Best Actor Award in Kerala State Film Awards for the movies Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, Mrigayaa and Mahayanam.[46]
In 1990, he starred in Kottayam Kunjachan, an action-comedy film directed by T. S. Suresh Babu and written by Dennis Joseph.[85] The movie has become one of the highest grossing film in the year.[86] Mammootty played the role Kunjachan which is a character from the novel Veli written by Muttathu Varkey.[87] Mammootty make his to Non Malayalam movie in 1990 through Triyathri(In Hindi) and Mounam Sammadham(In Tamil).[88][89][90][91] Mammootty won Best Actor Award in National Film Award in 1990 for the movie Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha and Mathilukal.[92] The film focuses on the prison life of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer and the love between him and Narayani, a female inmate of the prison, who remains unseen throughout the film. The movie was critically acclaimed and considered as the best classics of Malayalam Cinema.[93] The movie has won four National Film Awards.[92] When Indian Cinemas Completes 100 Years, Forbes included the performance of Mammootty in the list "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema".[94] Mammootty appeared as Alexander in the 1990 in a Gangster film Samrajyam, Directed by Jomon and music composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[95] The movie has commercially a major success at Kerala and Andhra Pradesh box-office.[65] The movie has run for more than 200 days in Kerala and 400 days in Andhra Pradesh.[96] In 1990, Mammootty was part of No.20 Madras Mail directed by Joshiy. Mammootty done a cameo role as himself and Mohanlal was in the lead role.[97]
His first Hindi film as a leading actor was Dhartiputra in 1993.[98] Mammootty played the central character, a district collector, in the 1995 film The King, scripted by Renji Panikkar and directed by Shaji Kailas.[99]
In 1996 Mammootty acted in the film Hitler (1996 film) directed by Siddique (director), which became a all time blockbuster and highest grossing Malayalam movie of the year.[100] The movie ran for more than 300 days and it was the most viewed Malaylam movie in the history till that time.[101]
In 1997, he won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for the movie Bhoothakannadi, directed by Lohithadas.[102]
Mammootty won his third national award for Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar, an English language movie about the life of B. R. Ambedkar, directed by Jabbar Patel in 1999.[103][104] The production was managed by the government-owned National Film Development Corporation of India.[105]
By the end of the 1990s, he acted in films such as Priyadarshan's Megham and Fazil's Harikrishnans, in which he co-starred with Mohanlal. Due to the immense popularity of both the actors, Fazil was forced to shoot two endings for the film– a first for Indian film.[106]
Mammootty in 2009
Mammootty started off the new millennium with Lohithadas's Arayannagalude Veedu in 2000. A critical and commercial success, it earned him the Filmfare Best Malayalam Actor Award.[107] He portrayed Arackal Madhavanunni in Shaji Kailas's action thriller Valliettan, which was one of the highest-grossing films of the year.[108]
In 2001, he acted in two films including Dubai, one of the most expensive films ever made in Malayalam at that time.[109] In 2002, he acted in three films. Chronic Bachelor in 2003 was a romantic comedy-drama film about the life of Sathyaprathapan (known as SP). The film was written and directed by Siddique and produced by Malayalam director Fazil. The film was released as a Vishu release in 2003 and ran for more than 115 days.[110]
In 2004, the third instalment in the CBI series Sethurama Iyer CBI, marked Mammootty's comeback. Also in 2004, he won the state award for his portrayal of Madhavan in Blessy's Kazhcha.[102] Ranjith's Black and V. M. Vinu's Vesham were also successful ventures.[111]
Mammootty had six releases in 2005, including Anwar Rasheed's directorial debut Rajamanikyam. He portrayed Bellary Raja, a Thiruvananthapuram-based cattle dealer in the film, which was the highest-grossing film of the year and highest grossing Malayalam film until 2008.[112]
In 2006, Mammootty won the Filmfare Best Actor Award for the movie Karutha Pakshikal, directed by Kamal.[102] He also acted in I. V. Sasi's Balram vs. Tharadas, in which he reprised his roles as Inspector Balram from the 1991 Inspector Balram and Tharadas from the 1984 Athirathram. It was I. V. Sasi's 144th film, and a record 35th with Mammootty.[113] In 2006, Mammootty continued his success with the film Thuruppu Gulan.[114] Mammootty's action comedy Mayavi was released in 2007.[115] He portrayed Dr. Nathan in Shyamaprasad in Ore Kadal (2007),[116] and appeared in the same year in Big B.[117] He also appeared in Hindi film Sau Jhooth Ek Sach (2004).[118]
In 2008, Mammootty appeared in Annan Thampi. He played a police officer for the 25th time in the film Roudram. He also starred in Kerala's Twenty: 20 in 2008, a benefit film with a cast of dozens.[119]
In October 2009, he acted in Pazhassi Raja, directed by Hariharan and written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair; it had a good opening weekend collection at the box office.[120] He also acted in the short film Puramkazhchakal (directed by Lal Jose) from Malayalam's first portmanteau film Kerala Cafe.[121] In 2009, he won his fifth state award for Best Actor for his performance in Ranjith's Paleri Manikyam.[122] It was reported that he was shortlisted for the 2009 National Award for Best Actor, but lost the award to Amitabh Bachchan. The jury's decision was criticised by Shaji N. Karun, director of Kutty Srank and Ranjith, director of Paleri Manikyam.[123]
Mammootty During Asiavision Awards 2013
In the year 2010, Mammootty acted in the films Drona 2010, directed by Shaji Kailas,[124] Yugapurushan, directed by R. Sukumaran,[125] Pramaani, directed by B. Unnikrishnan,[126] Pokkiri Raja, the directorial debut of Vysakh Abraham,[127] Kutty Srank, directed by Shaji N. Karun,[128] Pranchiyettan & the Saint, directed by Ranjith,[25] Best of Luck, directed by M. A. Nishad[129] and Best Actor, Martin Prakkat's debut film.[130]
His films 15 August, directed by Shaji Kailas,[131] Doubles, directed by Sohan Seenulal,[132] The Train, directed by Jayaraj, Bombay March 12, directed by Babu Janardhanan and Venicile Vyaapari, directed by Shafi appeared in 2011.[133]
In 2012, his films included: The King & the Commissioner, directed by Shaji Kailas,[134] the Kannada-Malayalam bilingual film Shikari directed by Abhaya Simha,[135] Cobra, directed by Lal, Thappana, directed by Johny Antony, Jawan of Vellimala, directed by Anoop Kannan, (Mammootty produced the film), Face to Face, directed by V. M. Vinu and Bavuttiyude Namathil, directed by G. S. Vijayan.[136]
His first films released in 2013 were Kammath & Kammath, directed by Thomson and Immanuel, directed by Lal Jose.[137] Later, he went on to appear in Kadal Kadannoru Mathukkutty, directed by Ranjith, which was released for Ramzan season, Kunjananthante Kada, directed by Salim Ahamed and Daivathinte Swantham Cleetus, directed by G. Marthandan.[138] His next release was Silence, directed by V. K. Prakash.[139]
He acted in Balyakalasakhi, directed by