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| Mammuti |
Muhammed Kutty,
better known by his screen name Mammootty, is a very popular Indian film
actor. He has acted in more than three hundred films, most of them in
Malayalam cinema. Mammootty is the recipient of three National film
awards for Best Actor, six State awards and six Filmfare awards in the
"best actor" category. He was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government
of India in 1998. Mammootty is also the current Chairman of Malayalam
Communications, which runs some of the popular Malayalam TV channels.
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Mammootty was born
on September 7, 1953 at Vaikom in Kottayam district of Kerala, India. He
has two younger brothers, Ibrahim and Zakariah; and three sisters,
Ameena, Sauda and Shafina. He received his education from Maharaja's
College, Ernakulam and then studied law at Ernakulam Government Law
College. It was during his days at Maharajah's that he got his first
role in Anubhavangal Paalichakal (1971). He also practised as a lawyer
for some time in Manjeri, Kerala. He married Sulfath in 1981 and has a
daughter and a son.
Acting
career
His first film as an actor, Devalokam, was not
released in theatres. Famous writer and auteur M. T. Vasudevan Nair and
Film director K. G. George played an important part in blooming his
career.His first film as the hero was played in the movie "Thrishna"
directed by the veteran director I.V.Sasi,who had also directed his come
back film "Aavanaazhi".His "New Delhi" also played great amount of
importance in his life as an actor. His talent was noticed in films like
Vilkanundu Swapnangal directed by M T Vasudevan Nair and films like
Mela and Yavanika, by K.G George.
One thing that sets Mammootty
apart from his contemporaries is the fact that from the beginning
itself, he has been able to treat both art-house cinema and commercial
potboilers with ease. He made his mark during the early period of his
career itself by enacting roles in films of stalwarts like M. T.
Vasudevan Nair, K.G. George, Padmarajan, P.N. Menon, and Bharathan.
Later on his talent was utilised by internationally renowned directors
like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, T. V. Chandran, and Pavithran. He was a
regular in movies of Harikumar, Mohan, et al. 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-I.V.Sasi combo had always worked wonders in Mammooty's
films.
Two of M.T. Vasudevan's films with autobiographical
elements were acted by Mammootty - Aksharangal (I.V. Sasi) and Sukrutham
(Harikumar).
The film New Delhi directed by Joshy was a turning
point in his career. The film was based on the novel, "The Almighty" by
Irving Wallace. His portrayal of a victimized journalist, who
systematically took revenge on politicians who beguiled him, was noticed
and well accepted well by the masses. By then he had achieved
superstardom.
His
Oru CBI Diary Kurippu was also a major landmark in the history of
Malayalam Cinema. It brought to fore a new concept of an investigative
thriller, fresh presentation of politicians and above all a refreshing
idea of the hero.The film went on to create box-office history in
Kerala.
Following the success of the first CBI film three more
murder mysteries 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, with Mammootty as Sethurama Iyer, an
intelligent but unassuming CBI officer.
Mammootty touched the
pinnacle of his career in Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (roughly translated as
'A northern heroic folklore'), again an M. T. Vasudevan Nair creation.
His depiction of a Chekavan 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. 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 offbeat and commercial movies.
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 Mathilukkal(based on
Mathilukal, a novel by the Malayalam literary genius Vaikom Muhammad
Basheer) was also instrumental in getting him his first National Award
for Best Actor. His performance in two commercially off-beat movies,
Ponthan Mada by TV Chandran, and Adoor Gopalakrishnan's Vidheyan won him
the award for the second time. His performance in "Ambedkar", an
English movie by Jabbar Patel, won him the National award for a third
time. He is also a recipient of Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian
awards in India.
Mammootty had briefly crossed the boundaries of
Malayalam cinema and acted in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi films. Though he
proved only a moderate success in Tamil after Mani Ratnam's Thalapathi,
his fan following is on par with other Tamil film stars. His notable
successes in Tamil include Anandam by Linguswamy and Kandukondain
Kandukondain by Rajiv Menon. However, his maiden Hindi film, 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.
Though he has been criticised as unable
to portray comic roles, his latest movies Rajamanikyam,Balram Vs
Tharadas, Thommanum Makkalum,Thuruppugulan and Maayavi gave a fitting
reply to critics. Mammootty, though a hugely popular star, 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.
State Awards
* 1981
Ahimsa (Supporting Actor)
* 1984 Adiyozhukkukal (Actor)
* 1985
Yathra, Nirakkoottu (Special Award)
* 1989 Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha,
Mahayaanam, Mrigaya (Actor)
* 1993 Valsalyam, Vidheyan,Ponthanmada
(Actor)
* 2004 Kazhcha (Actor)
Filmfare Awards
* 1984 Adiyozhukkukal
* 1985
Yathra, Nirakkoottu
* 1990 Mathilukal
* 1991 Amaram
* 1997
Boothakannadi
* 2001 Arayannangalude Veedu
* 2004 Kazhcha (Actor)
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