On August 6, 1971, the film ‘Anubhuman Panchakal’, directed by KS Sethumadhavan, was released. The film stars Sathyan and Sheela in lead roles and features a new face. His name was Muhammadkutty. He has no name in the picture, no dialogue, and no name on the title card. 7th October 2022, Rozhak is released. People rush into the theater. The name appears on the screen. ‘Mammootty’. Half a century has passed since the great actor settled in the hearts of the Malayalees.
2022- Mammootty 2.0
Mammootty has three films with the top one among the highest-grossing films by the end of 2022. Even at the age of 72, he insists that no matter how many people come and go, he will not give up that throne. It is said that 2022 is not Mammootty’s best year. 2022 was also his. Mammootty’s words that his thirst for acting is unquenchable are repeated. There are many who point out that Prithviraj’s words that the best time in Mammootty’s career is yet to come are correct.
Mammootty, who gave his fans a chance to celebrate with Bhishma Parvam, found his acting potential in a negative shade character in Puzhu. At the same time, Sethuramayyare, the iconic character of 30 years ago, was recreated through ‘CBI The Brainy’. If all this was given importance to acting and stardom, later we saw Mammootty as a producer. Mammootty has proved that he will do experimental films under his own production company with ‘Roshakhi’ and ‘Nanpakal Nerthi’. Both the films were shocking with their novelty. Filled the box office and minds.
Mammootty is always upgrading his inner actor. To think that the lockdown due to Covid probably awakened his inner actor more than any other actor. His passion for characters without the weight of stardom can be seen in his selections this year. Just look at these five films Bhishmaparvam, CBI, Pushu, Roshak, Nanpakal Nereth Mayakkam, and you can see that he is in a hurry to become a hero in films that emphasize the making, the story and the way the story is told.
Bhishma Parvam
2022 was the year when covid ended its ordeal and was ready to leave the field. Theaters were running with only half capacity. Mammootty’s Bhishma Parvam is releasing there on March 3. Theaters are once again filled with movie goers. It was the confidence that the audience got what they wanted that gave Bhishma a big boost. The stylish director of Malayalam presented Bhishma Parvam in front of those who were expecting him to reprise his Bilal. Although they were surprised at first, they accepted the film with open arms. Mammootty was full as Michael. Bhishma Parvam became the highest grossing Malayalam film of 2022.
CBI 5
In 1988, when CBI officer Sethuramayer arrived with a case, the Malayali movie audience did not have much hope. K said that he would come again later to investigate four cases. Neither Madhu nor SN Swamy would have even thought of it. But ‘CBI Diary’ broke records and wrote history. After proving the last case, Iyer came back after boarding the train in 2005. But with time SN Swamy and K. I don’t know if it was because Madhu also did not change, ‘CBI 5’ was rejected. However, the film passed by making the producer safe. Mammootty beat Pakarnadi era again as Sethuramaiah.
the worm
‘Puzhu’, directed by Rathina, was the name given to Mammootty’s rush to become the hero of films with artistic value and social commitment, while satisfying fans as a hero in mass entertainment films. Mammootty’s first OTT release, the film which came out in May received good reviews. Mammootty’s performance in the film, where caste became the main theme, was also noticed. Even the hero’s facial expressions were praised. Mammootty’s best performance in 2022 is Kuttan in ‘Puzhu’.
Roshak
2022 was the year when Mammootty shone as Luke, shocking even the young stars of Malayalam. When Nizam Basheer approached Mammootty for his second film, the filmmaker in Mammootty jumped to make it with the novelty of the story. It’s a wonder he didn’t jump at it, waiting for something new and challenging. Roshack, which told the story through Luke’s mental trades, turned out to be another box office hit in 2022. Mammootty’s performance in the film, which received a great response from the audience, also received applause.
Drowsiness in the morning
27th IFFK venue. People rush to watch a movie. Moving on to arguments and hand-wringing. Booking is completed in minutes. People wait for hours in long queues, even in the hot sun. The name of that movie was ‘Nanpakal Nereth Mayakkum’. Mammootty starred in it and Lijo Jose Pellissery directed it. Many times we have seen Mammootty making his way into movies as characters. But Mahatan’s transformation from one person to the next within the film was eye-opening ‘Nankaal saw through a trance. The transformation from James to beauty wasn’t just about clothes or makeup. There the acting charm of the great actor Mammootty was evident. In Nanpakal, he does not repeat any style repeated from Mammootty in body language. The film left IFFK in awe. Now the audience is waiting for the release.
Youths, please…. step back!
Despite having young actors to compete, son on one side…, then how come Mammootty films fill the box office and minds? There are many reasons why this question cannot be answered.
The first is Mammootty’s insatiable appetite for acting. He is guided by the confidence that if he polishes it further, it will shine better than this. This is also the reason why he repeatedly says that his hunger is not for money but for acting. It is the new ways he is taking for this that helped him to be a part of the best movies in 2022 like every year. Every film is made to be successful. Sometimes what sounds good when we hear the story is not what we intended when it comes out. But we have to give it our best. Because this is my passion along with my work.., isn’t everyone willing to do passion..”, in Mammootty’s words, you can understand how much effort he gives to the character.
Another is that he longs to join the action and cuts of newbie directors to become the lead in new stories. There is no other star who has taken so many directors by the hand, why in a new director’s film, her ‘first film has all her dreams till then. I am capitalizing on that’, said Mammootty jokingly. 2022 is the year to look for good scripts and decide to produce many of them yourself.
Another is staying in the industry by keeping up with the changes in cinema and reinventing itself. Mammootty’s filmmaker and connoisseur takes the time to learn exactly what happens to the film and the enjoyment level of the audience. Upcoming movies are an example of this. Actor Mammootty has a clear idea of what he can do and its limits. So, Mammootty in 2022 also said that he did not hesitate to tell stories that he could not do.
Old Mammootty in the new year
In his five-decade-long acting journey, roles and characters that Mammootty has not played are rare. But what makes Mammootty stand out from the rest is that he gets to see a new face in every film. The star has a lot of promising projects in the new year which have been completed and are about to start. Among these, ‘Nanpakal Neerath Mayakkam’, which is waiting to hit the theaters after the IFFK premiere, is on the first place. The film is produced by Mammootty himself. It was also the first film of the new production house ‘Mammootty Company’. But it was released by Roshak. Directed by Lijo, MT’s autobiography ‘Kadugannawa Oru Yatraum’, an anthology movie, is coming out.
After Yatra, Mammootty-starrer ‘Agenta’ is another film slated for release in 2023. Mammootty will play the role of Mahadev in the Akhil Akkineni-starrer Telugu film. In the teaser, Mahadev is said to be infamous and the most ruthless patriot. Mammootty-B. Another film is ‘Christophara’ which is being prepared by Unnikrishnan-Udaykrishna. Jio Baby’s ‘Kathala’, which is widely known for its Great Indian Kitchen film, is another Mammootty film that fans are waiting for with great anticipation. This is also the film where South Indian star Jyothika is making her comeback in Malayalam.
The 20-year-old boy, who stood beside actor Bahadur in a scene that lasted only minutes, never dreamed that he would rise to the ranks of India’s numbered unique talents. Every film is his first film. There is an insatiable passion in his words that the movie is not for me, I want the movie.