Mammootty (b. 1953)

Malayalam star of the 80s. Born Mohammed Kutty in Chembu. Former lawyer practising in Manjiri. Discovered by the writer-director M.T. Vasudevan Nair, who cast him as the lead in the unfinished Devalokam. Formal début in Vilkannudu Swapnangal and Mela. Was associated in the early 80s mainly with lowbudget art-house films, e.g. Akkare, Koodevide?, Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback. Together with a new generation of directors like I.V. Sasi (America America; Alkoottathil Thaniye; Angadikkapurathu; Ayarthi Thollayirathi Irupathonnu), Jesey (Akalathe Ambili), P.G. Vishwambaran (Sagaram Shantham) et al., he signalled a new era in Malayalam cinema after Sathyan and Prem Nazir’s work of the 70s. The 80s in Kerala are marked by the ‘Gulf money’ remitted by expatriate workers, spawning a ‘newly rich’ consumerist sector and fostering a lumpenised urban mass culture. Mammootty’s films, like those of the other main star in Kerala, Mohanlal, were often financed by ‘Gulf money’ and played to the new audience of Gulf migrants. His best-known films repeatedly feature the hero as victim in violent vendetta stories (often with explicit caste overtones), evoking political and economic corruption and condemning the good hero either to cultural exile or to a violent death while defending his and his kinfolk’s honour. Dislocations within Kerala’s culture give new, local meanings to vigilante figures modelled on e.g. Bronson or Eastwood. Unlike Bachchan’s vigilante roles of the early 70s, Mammooty’s films stress religion and caste and often have a tragic ending. Classic roles include the forest conservator in Yathra, the misunderstood Kalaripayattu martial-arts exponent in Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, the Moplah freedom fighter in Ayarthi Thollayirathi Irupathonnu and his cop roles in Oru CBI Diary Kuruppu and Avanazhi. His reputation spread beyond Kerala with Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Anantaram and Mathilukal (playing the Malayalam writer Vaikom Mohammed Basheer in the latter film). Although he has done several Tamil films (inc. Mani Rathnam’s Dalapathi), has been established as a Tamil star only with the success of Makkal Aatchi. Published his autobiography: Chamayangalillathe.

FILMOGRAPHY: 1980: Vilkannudu Swapnangal; Mela; 1981: Trishna; Ahimsa; Munnettam; Oothikachiya Ponnu; 1982: Eenadu; Thadagam; Pooviriyum Pulari; Yavanika; Balloon; A Divasam; Amritha Geetham; Champalakadu; Enthino Pookunna Pookal; Idiyum Minnalum; Innalenkil Nale; John Jaffer Janardhan; Keni; Komaram; Padayottam; Ponnu Poovum; Post Mortem; Saravarsham; Sindoora Sandhyakku Mounam; Thadagam; Veedu; Vidhichathum Kothichathum; 1983: Adaminte Variyellu; A Rathri; Akkare; America America; Asthram; Chakravalam Chuvannapol; Chengathem; Coolie (Mal); Eettillam; Ente Katha; Guru Dakshina; Himavahini; Iniyenkilum; Kattaruvi; Kodungattu; Koodevide?; Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback; Manasi Oru Mahasamudram; Maniyara; Nadhi Muthal Nadhi Vare; Nanayam; Onnu Chirikku; Oru Madaupravinte Katha; Oru Mugham Pala Mugham; Oru Swakariam; Pinninvalu; Pratigna; Rachana; Rukma; Sagaram Shantham; Sandhyakku Virinja Poovu; Sesham Kazhchayil; Theeram Thedunna Thira; Visa; 1984: Alkoottathil Thaniye; Ayiram Abhilashangal; Adiyozhukkukal; Aksharangal; Alakadalinakkare; Anthi Chuvappu; Ariyatha Veethigal; Arorumariyathe; Athirathram; Attuvanchi Ulanjappol; Chakkarauma; Edavellakku Sesham; Enganeundasane; Ente Upasana; Etha Ennumuthal; Ethirpukkal; Ithiri Poove Chuvannapoove; Kaanamarayathu; Kodathi; Koottinilangili; Lakshmana Rekha; Mangalam Nerunne; Manithali; Onnanu Nammal; Onnum Mindatha Bharya; Oru Kochu Katha Arum Parayatha Katha; Pavam Poornima; Sandhyakenthinu Sindhuram; Sannarbham; Thirakkil Alpa Samayam; Veendum Chalikunna Chakram; Vettah; Vikatakavi; 1985: A Neram Alpa Dooram; Akalathe Ambili; Angadikkapurathu; Anubandham; Arappatta Kettiya Gramathil; Avidathepole Ivideyum; Ayanam; Ee Lokam Ivide Kure Manushyar; Eeran Sandhya; Ee Shabdam Ennathe Shabdam; Ee Thanalil Ithirineram; Ente Kannakuyil; Ida Nilangal; Iniyum Katha Thudarum; Kanathaya Pennkutty; Kandu Kandarinju; Karimbin Poovinakkare; Katha Ithuvare; Kathodu Kathoram; Kochuthemmadi; Makan Ente Makan; Manya Mahajanangale; Muhurtam At 11.30; Neram Pularumbol; Nirakkootte; Oduvil Kittiya Vartha; Onningu Vannengil; Oru Nokku Kannan; Oru Sandesha Koodi; Parayanumvayya Parayathirikkanumvayya; Puli Varunne Puli; Puzhayozhukum Vazhi; Thammil Thammil; Thinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam; Upaharam; Vilichu Vilikettu; Yathra; 1986: Avanazhi; Oru Katha Oru Nunakkatha; Ithile Iniyum Varum; Pranamam; Shyama; Alorungi Arangorungi; Vartha; Kariyila Kattu Pole; Malarum Kiliyum; Padayani; Poovinnu Puthiya Poonthennal; Gandhinagar 2nd Street; Prathyekam Sradhikkuka; Shaminchu Ennoruvakku; Poomugappadiyil Ninneyum Kathu; Rakkuyilin Rajassadasil; Alorungi Arangorungi; 1987: Kathakku Pinnil; Nombarathi Poovu; Adimagal Udumagal; Athinumappuram; New Delhi; Thaniyavartanam; Manivathoorile Ayiram Sivarathrikal; Ankiliyude Tharattu; Anantaram; Nalkawala; 1988: Vicharana; Dinarathrangal; Oru CBI Diary Kuruppu; Manu Uncle; Abkari; Sangham; Mattoral; August 1; Ayarthi Thollayirathi Irupathonnu; Thanthram; Mukti; Shankhanadam; 1989: Charithram; Mudra; Adikkurippu; Uttaram; Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha; Jagratha; Artham; Carnival; Nair Saab; Mahayanam; Mathilukal; Mrigaya; Purappad; Mrigaya; Adharvam; 1990: Triyatri; Mounam Sammadham; Adhipathi; No. 20 Madras Mail; 1991: Azhagan; Swati Kiranam; Dalapathi; Amaran; Nayam Vethamakkunnu; Inspector Balram; Adhayalam; Kanal Katru; Anaswaram; Neelagiri; Swati Kiranam; 1992: Gauravar; Johnny Walker; Suryamanasam; Papayude Sontham Appoose; Kizhakkan Pathrose; Dhruvam; Ayirappara; 1993: Valsalyam; Jackpot; Sarovaram; Kilipetchu Ketkava; Dhartiputra; Padhayam; Golandhara Vartha; Vidheyan; Ponthan Mada; 1994: Vishnu; Sainyam; Sagaram Sakshi; Sukrutham; 1995:Makkal Aatchi; Ormakalundayirikkanam.

Actor