Today is the 71st birthday of Malayalam's GOAT, who has been on a winning journey with his passion for cinema and acting for the last fifty-one years. Mammootty is the great fortune that Malayalees can proudly claim in front of the world cinema. This unique talent is proving every moment that age is just a number without the scars of age on the mind and body. Every birthday, Kerala asks whether Mammootty is getting older or glamorous.
Mammootty's journey started when he unknowingly touched the feet of Sathyan Mash, who was sleeping in a sack on the sets of the movie "Anubhavangal Paalichakal." How many different characters, disguises, and awards did that young man get? He acted for 51 years in the 71st year. Mammootty continues to be an evergreen actor. Mammootty has captured at least one moment that touched the heart of every film lover during this time.
Mammootty has said many times that he is an actor with many limitations and an insatiable passion. It is his acting skills that make this a reality. Every time, Mammootty transformed himself into an actor's body with only the core remaining.
In August 1971, Sathyan appeared in the lead role and released "Anubhavangal Paalichakal." Even though he is a junior artist, Mammootty showed his face with experience in flaws. Sathyan won the state government's Best Actor Award for this film. Mammootty, who was a junior artist then, bagged this award several times after that.
Though he first appeared in 1971, Mammootty's name appeared for the first time in the title of the 1980 film "Vilkanund Swapnangal." Mammootty played the role of "Madhavankutty" in the film directed by Azad and scripted by MT Vasudevan Nair. Then came Mammootty's time in the cinema.
When asked if he expected to become a big star in the cinema, Mammootty said in an interview, "I never thought that I would become a star. Yes, I expected to be a supporter of the most heinous villain. The rest is luck and effort. Then, there were no suitable platforms to get us filmmakers noticed. Not today".
Nothing excites him except movies. “I didn't go looking for anything else. I still have that child inside of me who marvels at the magic of cinema on the silver screen. We keep the magic and mystery of cinema alive.” Mammootty also said that the wonder of the film for the audience is also within us who make the film. It is this passion for cinema that elevated him to the status of a superstar in the Malayalam language.
Colleagues and Malayalees are now celebrating the birthday of the greatest actor Malayalam has ever seen, who has introduced to Malayalam cinema fifty years ago. May this great actor celebrate many more birthdays—that is Malayalee's wish and prayer. Let's wait for the actor in Mammootty, who is yet to surprise us all.
