Mammootty
Encyclopedia
Mammootty is an Indian
Indian people
Indian people or Indisians constitute the Asian nation and pan-ethnic group native to India, which forms the south of Asia, containing 17.31% of the world's population. The Indian nationality is in essence made up of regional nationalities, reflecting the rich and complex history of India...

 film actor and producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...

 who works mainly in Malayalam cinema
Malayalam cinema
The Cinema of Kerala or Malayalam cinema refers to the film industry in the Indian state of Kerala, which makes films in the Malayalam language. Malayalam movies typically portray social or family issues and are considered more realistic than films from other parts of India. Malayalam cinema has...

. He has also acted in a few Tamil
Tamil cinema
Tamil cinema is the film industry based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to the production of films in the Tamil language. It is based in Chennai's Kodambakkam district, where several South Indian film production companies are headquartered...

, Hindi, Telugu
Telugu cinema
The Cinema of Andhra Pradesh, also referred to as Telugu Cinema or Tollywood, is the Telugu film industry in India. The Telugu language film industry is known for being one of the three largest in terms of no.of films produced yearly in India. The Prasads IMAX theatre in Hyderabad is one of the...

, and Kannada films. During a career spanning more than three decades, he has acted in more than 360 films, and is only next to Prem Nazir
Prem Nazir
Abdul Khader , better known by his stage name Prem Nazir , was an Indian film actor. He is considered one of the all time super stars in Malayalam cinema...

 in the number of lead roles in Indian films. He also appeared in the highest number of dual roles (nine) in Malayalam film.

Mammootty was awarded the National Film Award for Best Actor
National Film Award for Best Actor
The National Film Award for Best Actor is an honor presented annually at the National Film Awards of India to an actor who has delivered the best performance in a leading role within the Indian film industry.-Background:The Directorate of Film Festivals makes awards annually in several categories...

 three times . He also won five Kerala State Film Awards, and eleven Filmfare Awards
Filmfare Awards South
Filmfare Awards South is the South Indian segment of the annual Filmfare Awards, presented by The Times Group to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the South Indian film industry. The awards are separately given for Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films...

. He was the first (1998) Malayalam actor to be honoured with the state honour Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...

 for contributions toward Indian cinema
Cinema of India
The cinema of India consists of films produced across India, which includes the cinematic culture of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Indian films came to be followed throughout South Asia and...

. He was honoured a Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.-Commonwealth:...

 by University of Kerala in Jan 2010 and by University of Calicut
University of Calicut
The University of Calicut is an affiliating university in the southern state of Kerala in India. It is situated in Thenjipalam, in the district of Malappuram with a number of off-campus centres in neighbouring districts. The University conducts courses and examinations for the students of the...

 in Dec 2010. Vanitha
Vanitha
Vanitha is an Indian magazine published fortnightly by the Malayala Manorama group. Although its name translates to "woman" in Malayalam, it includes articles on a variety of topics, and is not strictly a women's magazine. Published in Malayalam and Hindi, it is the largest selling magazine in...

, a leading women's magazine in Malayalam, in 2004, chose Mammootty as the actor with the highest sex appeal in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

, following a survey among its readers.

Mammootty is Chairman
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...

 of Malayalam Communications, which runs Malayalam TV channels Kairali TV
Kairali TV
Kairali TV is an Indian television channel broadcasting in the Malayalam language catering to the Malayalam speaking population in Kerala as well as abroad . The channel, headquartered in Trivandrum, has studio facilities in Trivandrum as well as Kochi. Malayalam Communications Limited is the...

, People TV
People TV
People TV is an Indian television channel based at Trivandrum. It was launched by Malayalam Communications Limited. The channel focusses on news and current issues. It was People TV that introduced camera sting operation in Malayalam Television Journalism successfully...

, and WE TV
WE TV
We TV is the third TV channel from Malayalam Communications Ltd, in Kerala and based at Trivandrum. The other two channels of this company are Kairali TV and People TV. WE TV is mainly aimed at the youth and was officially launched on April 14, 2007. Mr...

. Mammootty has promoted humanitarian causes
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...

 throughout Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

 and is the goodwill ambassador
Brand ambassador
A Brand Ambassador is a person employed by a company to be the sales rep and physical representative of the company with respect to sales and marketing. The Brand Ambassador is meant to embody the corporate image in appearance, demeanor, values, and ethics....

 of the Akshaya project
Akshaya project
The Akshaya project, first started in the rural Kasaragod district of Kerala, India, and now spread all around the state, was the first district-wide e-literacy project in India and one of the largest known Internet Protocol based wireless networks in the world...

.

Family and early life

Mammootty was born and raised in Chempu
Chempu
Chempu is a village near Vaikom in Kottayam, Kerala, India. It is bounded by the shores of the Lake Vembanad, and is crossed by various distributaries of the River Muvattupuzha....

 near Vaikom
Vaikom
Vaikom is a taluk and also its capital town, situated in the North-West of Kottayam in Kerala, India. Its western border is the Lake Vembanad, and is crossed by various estuaries of the River Muvattupuzha. It lies between Ernakulam and Kottayam...

 in the Kottayam district
Kottayam district
Kottayam is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The district has its headquarters at Kottayam town, located at 9.36° N and 76.17° E. According to the 1991 census, it is the first district to achieve highest literacy rate in the whole of India...

 of the state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

 in a middle class, Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...

 family. He was the eldest son of the family. His father Ismail was a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...

 and his mother Fatima was a housewife
Housewife
Housewife is a term used to describe a married woman with household responsibilities who is not employed outside the home. Merriam Webster describes a housewife as a married woman who is in charge of her household...

. He did his Pre-University course (pre-degree) at Maharajas College
Maharajas College
The Maharaja's College is one of the biggest centres of learning and higher education in Kerala, India. Located in the heart of Cochin city, it is spread over a campus of on the banks of Vembanad Lake...

, Kochi
Kochi
-Places:* Kochi, a city in the state of Kerala, India, formerly known as Cochin* Kingdom of Cochin, a former feudal city-state on Malabar Coast, India** Fort Kochi, one of the three main urban components which constitute the present day city of Kochi, Kerala, India...

, and then graduated with a L.L.B. from Ernakulam
Ernakulam district
-Economy:Agriculture constitutes the most important segment of the district’s economy and it is the biggest source of employment. Of the geographical 235319 hectares, crops are grown in 0 hectares. Coconut is the principal crop followed by rubber, paddy, and tapioca...

 Government Law College. He also practiced law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...

 for two years in Manjeri
Manjeri
Manjeri is a town and municipality in Malappuram District in the state of Kerala, India. It is the commercial capital of Malappuram District and is 28 km from an international airport and 50 km from Kozhikode railway station....

. He married Sulfath in 1980 and has a daughter, Surumi (b. 1982) and a son, Dulquer Salmaan (b. 1986).

Early career (1971–1980)

Mammootty's debut was an uncredited appearance in the 1971 film Anubhavangal Paalichakal (Malayalam: അനുഭവങ്ങള്‍ പാളിച്ചകള്‍) directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan, which starred Sathyan
Sathyaneshan Nadar
Manuel Sathyaneshan Nadar commonly known by his stage name Sathyan, was an Indian film actor known for his work in Malayalam cinema. He has won the Kerala State Film Award twice and is renowned for his acting skills...

, Prem Nazir
Prem Nazir
Abdul Khader , better known by his stage name Prem Nazir , was an Indian film actor. He is considered one of the all time super stars in Malayalam cinema...

 and Sheela
Sheela
Sheela ), is a Malayalam film actress from India. She, along with Prem Nazir, holds the world record for acting in the largest number of films together as heroine and hero. In 2005 she won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the Malayalam film Akale. She has also...

 in the lead roles. His only scene in the film was being one among a running crowd along with the lead actor Sathyan. Mammootty then was a student at the Maharajas College
Maharajas College
The Maharaja's College is one of the biggest centres of learning and higher education in Kerala, India. Located in the heart of Cochin city, it is spread over a campus of on the banks of Vembanad Lake...

.

His second film was Kaalachakram
Kaalachakram
Kaalachakram is a 1973 Malayalam film directed by K. Narayanan, written by Sreekumaran Thampi, and starring Prem Nazir and Jayabharathi. This is the second film and the first dialogued appearance of the later superstar Mammootty.- Cast :*Prem Nazeer...

 (Malayalam: കാലചക്രം), a 1973 Malayalam film directed by K. Narayanan, and starring Prem Nazir and Jayabharathi
Jayabharathi
Jayabharathi is a popular Malayalam film actress who started her career in late 1960s. She is a two-time winner of the Kerala State Film Award for best actress....

. This was the first dialogued appearance of Mammootty, appearing only in one scene in the film. He acted under the screenname Sajin, but later dropped it.

His professional film career began in 1979, when he played his first lead role in Devalokam, directed by veteran M. T. Vasudevan Nair
M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair , popularly known as MT, is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj...

. However, this film was never completed.

His next film was the 1980 film, Vilkkanundu Swapnangal
Vilkkanundu Swapnangal
Vilkkanundu Swapnangal is a 1980 Malayalam drama film directed by Azad, written by M.T. Vasudevan Nair, and starring Sukumaran in the lead role. The film features Mammootty, as an antagonist in a supporting role. Voice for Mammootty in this film was dubbed by Sreenivasan.-Plot:To supported his...

 (Malayalam: വില്‍ക്കാനുണ്ട് സ്വപ്നങ്ങള്‍), directed by Azad, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair
M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair , popularly known as MT, is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj...

, and starring Sukumaran
Sukumaran
Edappal Ponnamkuzhi Veettil Sukumaran Nair , popularly known as Sukumaran, was an Indian film actor, and producer....

 in the lead role. The film featured Mammootty, as an antagonist in a supporting role. Voice for Mammootty in this film was dubbed by Sreenivasan.

Mammootty's first full length character was in the 1980 film Mela
Mela (1980 film)
Mela is a 1980 Malayalam film written & directed by K. G. George and starring Raghu, Anjali Naidu, and Mammootty. This is the first film where, the later superstar of Malayalam film, Mammootty, even though the antagonist, plays a notable and full-length role.This is also a film noted for starring...

 (Malayalam: മേള) which was written and directed by K. G. George
K. G. George
Kulakkatil Geevarghese George is an Indian film director who work in Malayalam film. George is one of the most celebrated filmmakers of Kerala who modernized the Malayalam cinema in the seventies. He is the founder-chairman of MACTA, and continues to be an executive member...

 and starring Raghu and Anjali Naidu as other lead actors. Mammootty played the antagonist in this film.

Establishing himself (1980–1983)

Mammootty began to establish himself as an actor and as a star through his film of the 1980s viz Sphodanam (directed by P. G. Viswambharan), Thrishna (directed by I.V. Sasi), etc. In 1981, he got his first state award in the Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
This is a list of awards for supporting actor. These are accolades given by a group of film or television professionals in recognition of the work of supporting and character actors...

 category for his performance in Ahimsa. His performances in films like Aalkkoottathil Thaniye
Aalkkoottathil Thaniye
Aalkkoottathil Thaniye is a 1984 Malayalam film directed by I. V. Sasi, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, and starring Mammootty, Mohanlal and Seema.-Plot:...

 and Adiyozhukkukal
Adiyozhukkukal
Adiyozhukkukal is a 1984 Malayalam drama film directed by I. V. Sasi and written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair; starring Mammootty, Seema, Mohanlal, Balan K. Nair, Vincent and Rahman in the main roles...

, scripted by M. T. Vasudevan Nair
M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair , popularly known as MT, is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj...

 established him as an actor of substance.The role of a police officer in the investigative thriller Yavanika (1982) directed by K. G. George cemented his position as a hero in Malayalam cinema. The film was a big commercial success and Mammootty's role got rave reviews for its style and dialogue delivery. This was the beginning of a trend whereby Mammootty would play the role of a tough cop in many action and investigative thrillers in the coming years.

The golden period (1984–1993)

In a period of five years from 1982 to 1986 Mammootty acted in more than 150 films in the lead role. In 1986 alone, he acted in about 35 films in the lead role.

The mid of 80s saw a period of tear busting stories in Malayalam film. Most of the films were tragedies. This period featured what later came to be referred to as the 'Mammootty-Kutty-Petty' films. These films had Mammootty as the protagonist, a husband and a father, with a 3–4 year old daughter, and employed in a top ranking post in a company. Mammootty made a comeback with New Delhi and Thaniyavarthanam
Thaniyavarthanam
Thaniyavarthanam is a 1987 Malayalam film written by A. K. Lohithadas and directed by Sibi Malayil. It stars Mammootty, Thilakan, Mukesh, Saritha, Philomina and Kaviyoor Ponnamma in the main roles. The story revolves around a family whose male members have a history of lunacy.-Plot:Balan Mash is...

, both released in 1987. New Delhi was a very important movie in his life as an actor. The film was loosely based on the novel, "The Almighty" by Irving Wallace. His portrayal of a victimized journalist, who systematically took revenge on politicians who flattered him, was noticed and well accepted by the masses. Meanwhile, his role as Balan mash in Thaniyavarthanam, written by Lohithadas
Lohithadas
Ambazhathil Karunakaran Lohithadas was an Indian screenwriter, director, and producer known for his extensive work in Malayalam cinema....

 and directed by Sibi Malayil
Sibi Malayil
Sibi Malayil is an Indian film director of Malayalam cinema best known for his melodramas of the 80s and 90s. Since the mid-1980s he has directed some 40 movies. Movies like Kireedam, Dasharatham, Thaniyavarthanam, His Highness Abdullah, Bharatham, and Akashadoothu defined the way Malayalam movies...

, was critically acclaimed.

In 1988 Mammootty delivered one of the biggest hits in the history of Malayalam Cinema with his Oru CBI Diary Kurippu
Oru CBI Diary Kurippu
Oru CBI Diary Kurippu is a 1988 Malayalam film directed by K. Madhu, scripted by S. N. Swamy, and starring Mammootty, Suresh Gopi and Jagathy Sreekumar....

. Oru CBI Diary Kurippu went on to create box-office history in Kerala as well as in Tamil Nadu. Mammootty's role as a CBI officer in this film got him critical acclaim. Following the success of the first CBI film Oru CBI Diary Kurippu, three more murder mystery sequels were produced with the same cast of characters: Jagratha
Jagratha
Jagratha is a 1989 Malayalam film directed by K. Madhu, starring Mammootty, Mukesh and Jagathy Sreekumar.This film is the second in the series of the CBI investigative thrillers featuring Mammootty as CBI officer Sethurama Iyer. Oru CBI Diary Kurippu is the prequel to this film and sequels are...

 (1989), Sethurama Iyer CBI
Sethurama Iyer CBI
Sethurama Iyer CBI is a 2004 Malayalam film directed by K Madhu, written by S. N. Swami, and starring Mammootty, Mukesh and Jagathy Sreekumar....

 (2004) and Nerariyan C.B.I (2005), all directed by K. Madhu
K. Madhu
K. Madhu is a Malayalam film director.Popular for his suspense and investigation thrillers, K.Madhu has a long list of hits in his kitty.-Career:...

, penned by S. N. Swamy
S. N. Swamy
S. N. Swamy is an Indian screenwriter who works in Malayalam cinema. Particularly known for scripting films in the thriller genre, he has scripted some of the biggest hits in Malayalam film history including the CBI film series , Koodum Thedi, Irupatham Noottandu, Moonnam Mura, August 1,...

 with Mammootty as Sethurama Iyer
Sethurama Iyer
Sethurama Iyer is a fictional character, and the protagonist of the CBI investigative thriller series of films in Malayalam directed by K. Madhu...

, an intelligent but unassuming CBI officer. The films by M. T. Vasudevan Nair
M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair , popularly known as MT, is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj...

 and Padmarajan
Padmarajan
P. Padmarajan was an Indian author, screenwriter, and film director who contributed in Malayalam language. Padmarajan was the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam, along with Bharathan, in the 1980s, which created films that were widely received while also being critically acclaimed...

, arguably among the best of Malayalam writer-directors, widened Mammootty's acting horizon. Two of M.T. Vasudevan Nair’s films with autobiographical elements were acted by Mammootty. One was Aksharangal directed by I. V. Sasi
I. V. Sasi
Irruppam Veedu Sasidaran, better known as I. V. Sasi, is a Malayali Indian film director who is known for his films of the 1970s, 80s and early 90s. He has directed about 150 films in various South Indian languages and Hindi. He is known as the "veteran" or the "guru" filmmaker in Malayalam...

 and the other was Sukrutham
Sukrutham
Sukrutham is a 1994 Malayalam film directed by Harikumar, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, with background music by Johnson. It is considered one of the outstanding Malayalam films of the mid-1990s...

 directed by Harikumar.

Mammootty touched the pinnacle of his career in Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha
Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha
Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha is a 1989 Malayalam film directed by Hariharan, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, and starring Mammootty, Balan K. Nair, Suresh Gopi, Madhavi, Geetha, and Captain Raju.The film is based on a legend about the famous Chekavar warriors of present day northern Kerala...

; the film was directed by T. Hariharan and penned by M.T.Vasudevan Nair. His depiction of a Chekavar (mercenary warrior) of distinguished valor but vilified by circumstances won him the National Film Award for Best Actor. Along with the huge commercial success of the film, Mammooty was given rave reviews about his lead role in the film, which required heavy physical and psychological preparations. His role as a hunter Varunni in Mrigaya, directed by I.V. Sasi, and another film Mahayanam
Mahayanam
Mahayanam is a 1989 Malayalam film directed by Joshy, and written by Lohithadas. With Mammootty, Mukesh, and Seema appearing in lead roles, this film was a big hit at the box office.-Plot:...

, was also scanned for the State Award. Mammootty won the Filmfare award for Amaram
Amaram
Amaram is a 1991 Malayalam film directed by Bharathan and written by A. K. Lohithadas, starring Mammootty, Murali, Maathu, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Balan K. Nair, Ashokan, Chitra, and Kuthiravattam Pappu in the main roles. The film score is composed by Johnson while the songs are by Raveendran.The...

 directed by Bharathan
Bharathan
Bharathan was an Indian film director, artist, lyricist, music director, sculptor, poster designer, editor and art director. Bharathan is noted for being the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam cinema, along with Padmarajan, in the 1980s, which created films that were widely...

. He played the role of an uneducated fisherman who dreams of making his only daughter a doctor.

During this time, Mammootty appeared in many of the films directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Moutatthu "Adoor" Gopalakrishnan Unnithan is an Indian film director, script writer, and producer. Adoor Gopalakrishnan had a major role in revolutionizing Malayalam cinema and is regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of India.. Adoor's first film Swayamvaram pioneered the new wave cinema...

's. He starred in three of his films, Anantharam
Anantharam
Anantharam is a village located in Jinnaram Mandal of Medak District, Andhra Pradesh, India. This small village is on the watch-list of the coveted award of 'the model village' of India....

 ('Thenceforth'), Mathilukal
Mathilukal
This article has details about the novel as well as its film adaptation.Mathilukal is a Malayalam novel written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer in 1965. It is one of the most cherished and well-known love stories in Malayalam. Its hero, Basheer himself, and heroine, Narayani, never meet, yet they love...

 ('Walls') and Vidheyan
Vidheyan
Vidheyan is a 1993 Indian Malayalam film directed and co-written by Adoor Gopalakrishnan. It is a cinematic adaptation of the novel Bhaskara Pattelarum Ente Jeevithavum by Malayalam writer Paul Zacharia. The film explores the master-slave dialectic in a South Karnataka setting...

 ('The Servile'). His portrayal of the protagonist in Mathilukal (based on 'Mathilukal', a novel by the ace Malayalam novelist Vaikom Muhammad Basheer) was instrumental in getting him his first National Film Award for Best Actor. Mammootty also portrayed the roles in Adoor Gopalakrishnan's Vidheyan and T V Chandran's Ponthan Mada
Ponthan Mada
Ponthan Mada is a 1994 Malayalam-language Indian feature film written and directed by T. V. Chandran. The film stars Mammootty and Naseeruddin Shah.-Plot:...

. He received the National Film Award for Best Actor and State Award for his roles in both films. His performance in Valtsalyam
Valtsalyam
Vatsalyam is a 1993 Malayalam film directed by Cochin Haneefa, written by Lohithadas, and starring Mammootty, Siddique, Geetha, Janardhanan, and Kaviyoor Ponnamma....- Cast :*Mammootty*Geetha*Siddique*Janardhanan*Ilavarasi*Sunitha*Kaviyoor Ponnamma...

 directed by Cochin Haneefa
Cochin Haneefa
Mohammed Haneefa, better known by his stage name Cochin Haneefa was an Indian film actor, director, and screenwriter. He started his career in the 1970s mainly portraying villainous roles, before going on to become one of the most popular comedians of Malayalam cinema...

 was also considered for the State Award. The King
The King (1995 film)
The King is a 1995 Malayalam action thriller film. Directed by Shaji Kailas and written by Renji Panicker with Mammootty as district collector, this film is one of the biggest hits in the history of Malayalam cinema....

, scripted by Renji Panikkar
Renji Panicker
Renji Panicker is an Indian script writer, producer and director who works in Malayalam cinema. He made his debut as a director with Bharatchandran IPS in 2005....

, was released in 1995 and was directed by Shaji Kailas
Shaji Kailas
Shaji Kailas is a Malayalam film director. He is known for his hard-hitting action films.-Childhood and entry into films:Shaji Kailas was born in Vanchiyoor, Thiruvananthapuram, to Late Sivakumaran Nair and Janakiyamma. After attending Model Boys School, Shaji pursued degree at Mahatma Gandhi...

. Mammootty played the central character as a District collector and it turned out to be the biggest hit of the year.

In 1997, he won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor
Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Malayalam)
The Filmfare Best Actor Award is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards South for Malayalam film lead actors. The award was first given in 1972 with Madhu being the first recipient....

 for the movie Bhoothakannadi directed by Lohithadas
Lohithadas
Ambazhathil Karunakaran Lohithadas was an Indian screenwriter, director, and producer known for his extensive work in Malayalam cinema....

.

Mammootty acted in In 1999, Mammootty won his third national award
National Film Award for Best Actor
The National Film Award for Best Actor is an honor presented annually at the National Film Awards of India to an actor who has delivered the best performance in a leading role within the Indian film industry.-Background:The Directorate of Film Festivals makes awards annually in several categories...

 for Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (film)
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar is a 2000 Indian feature film in English language, directed by Jabbar Patel. The film tells the story of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, known mainly for his contributions in shaping the Constitution of India, as the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constituent Assembly...

, an English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

 movie about the life of Ambedkar
B. R. Ambedkar
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar , popularly also known as Babasaheb, was an Indian jurist, political leader, philosopher, thinker, anthropologist, historian, orator, prolific writer, economist, scholar, editor, a revolutionary and one of the founding fathers of independent India. He was also the Chairman...

, directed by Jabbar Patel
Jabbar Patel
Dr. Jabbar Patel is a theatre and film director of India. His production of the play Vijay Tendulkar's play Ghashiram Kotwal, in 1973 is considered a classic in Modern Indian Theatre....

. The film was sponsored by the National Film Development Corporation of India and the Ministry of Social Justice. The film was released after a long and controversial gestation period.

1994 to 2000

By the end of 1990s he had films such as Priyadarshan
Priyadarshan
Priyadarshan is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter. In a career spanning over two decades, Priyadarshan has directed over 80 films in several Indian languages including Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu...

's Megham
Megham
Megham is a 1999 Malayalam musical comedy film directed by Priyadarshan, starring Mammootty, Priya Gill, Dileep, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Pooja Batra, Sreenivasan, Nedumudi Venu, Captain Raju, and Cochin Haneefa. The music was composed by Ouseppachan...

 and Fazil's Harikrishnans
Harikrishnans
Harikrishnans is a 1998 Malayalam film directed by Fazil and starring Mammootty, Mohanlal, and Juhi Chawla in the lead roles...

 in which he co-starred with actor Mohanlal
Mohanlal
Mohanlal Vishwanathan Nair , known mononymously as Mohanlal , is a National Award-winning Indian actor, producer, singer and writer who is well known for his versatile and natural acting in Indian cinema & hence widely known as the Universal Star...

. Due to immense popularity of both the actors, Fazil was forced to use multiple climaxes for the first time in India in Harikrishnans.

Mammootty started of the decade (2000) with Lohithadas
Lohithadas
Ambazhathil Karunakaran Lohithadas was an Indian screenwriter, director, and producer known for his extensive work in Malayalam cinema....

's Arayannagalude Veedu
Arayannagalude Veedu
Arayannegalude Veedu is a Malayalam cinema written and directed by A. K. Lohithadas in 2000The film was both commercially and critically celebrated.-Plot:...

. A critical and commercial success, it earned the Filmfare Best Actor Award
Filmfare Best Actor Award
The Filmfare Award for Best Actor is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a male actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. The award was first given in 1954....

 for Mammootty. He portrayed Arackal Madhavanunni in Shaji Kailas
Shaji Kailas
Shaji Kailas is a Malayalam film director. He is known for his hard-hitting action films.-Childhood and entry into films:Shaji Kailas was born in Vanchiyoor, Thiruvananthapuram, to Late Sivakumaran Nair and Janakiyamma. After attending Model Boys School, Shaji pursued degree at Mahatma Gandhi...

's action thriller Valliettan
Valliettan
Valliettan or Valyettan is a 2000 Malayalam action film directed by Shaji Kailas. Scripted by Ranjith, this film has Mammootty, Shobana, Siddique, Innocent, and Saikumar in leading roles.The film was a box office blockbuster...

, which was one of the highest grossing films of the year.

Setback (2001–2003)

The period 2001–2003 was of a big setback for Mammootty. In 2001 he acted only in two films one of which, the much hyped Dubai
Dubai (2001 film)
Dubai is a 2001 Malayalam thriller film directed by Joshiy with Mammootty in the main role. Scripted by Renji Panicker, Dubai, speaks about the fight of Ravi Mamman, a Dubai based business tycoon against his enemies....

 (one of the most expensive films ever made in Malayalam), was a boxoffice disaster. In 2002, he acted in only three films , none of which was successful. And in 2003 he got to appear only in two films, again without commercial success.

Comeback (2004–2011)

The 2004 film, the third installment in the CBI series, Sethurama Iyer CBI
Sethurama Iyer CBI
Sethurama Iyer CBI is a 2004 Malayalam film directed by K Madhu, written by S. N. Swami, and starring Mammootty, Mukesh and Jagathy Sreekumar....

 marked his come back. In 2004, he won the state award for his portrayal of Operator Madhavan in Blessy
Blessy
Blessy is an Indian film director and screenwriter who has made several critically acclaimed films in Malayalam. As a film director, he is influenced by Padmarajan and Bharathan.- Career :...

's Kazhcha. Ranjith's Black
Black (2004 film)
Black: The Man From Darkness is a 2004 Malayalam action thriller film made in India, written and directed by Ranjith, and produced by Lal. It deals with the underworld operations in Kochi, India. Mammootty plays the role of Karikkamuri Shanmugham, who is a hit man and a contract killer. The film...

 and V. M. Vinu's Vesham
Vesham
Vesham is a 2004 Malayalam film directed by V. M. Vinu in which Mammootty plays the lead role Appu, a businessman. The film is highly regarded as the best family entertainer of the year...

 were also successful ventures.

Mammootty had six releases in 2005, including Anwar Rasheed
Anwar Rasheed
Anwar Rasheed is a Malayali Indian film director notable for his debut film Rajamanikyam starring Mammootty. His second feature film was Chotta Mumbai , which had Mohanlal in the lead role...

's directorial debut Rajamanikyam
Rajamanikyam
Rajamanikyam is a 2005 Malayalam film, the directorial debut of Anwar Rasheed, written by T. A. Shahid, and starring Mammootty in the title role....

. He portrayed Bellary Raja, a Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...

 based cattle dealer, in the film which was the highest grosser of the year.

In 2006, Mammootty won the Filmfare Best Actor Award
Filmfare Best Actor Award
The Filmfare Award for Best Actor is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a male actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. The award was first given in 1954....

 for the movie Karutha Pakshikal
Karutha Pakshikal
Karutha Pakshikal is a 2006 Malayalam film directed by Kamal.-Awards:Mammootty and Padmapriya won the 2007 Filmfare Award. Film also marked the excellent acting of actress Meena who played the role of a rich woman. Rajesh Hebbar who enacts the role of Meena's husband Satish, has also done an...

 directed by Kamal. He also did I. V. Sasi
I. V. Sasi
Irruppam Veedu Sasidaran, better known as I. V. Sasi, is a Malayali Indian film director who is known for his films of the 1970s, 80s and early 90s. He has directed about 150 films in various South Indian languages and Hindi. He is known as the "veteran" or the "guru" filmmaker in Malayalam...

's Balram vs. Tharadas, in which he reprised his roles Inspector Balram
Inspector Balram
Inspector Balram is a 1991 Malayalam film directed by I. V. Sasi, scripted by T. Damodaran, and starring Mammootty. It is a sequel to the 1986 film Aavanazhi and was followed by a sequel, Balram vs. Taradas, in 2006....

 from the 1991 blockbuster Inspector Balram
Inspector Balram
Inspector Balram is a 1991 Malayalam film directed by I. V. Sasi, scripted by T. Damodaran, and starring Mammootty. It is a sequel to the 1986 film Aavanazhi and was followed by a sequel, Balram vs. Taradas, in 2006....

 and Tharadas
Tharadas
Thradas is Anti-hero and character of I.V. Sasi's Athirathram and Balram vs. Tharadas. He is played by Mammootty. His parents were killed by police and he was raised by his uncle Shankardas who treated him as own son. This caused his cousin Chandu to become jealous. He was also the rival of...

 from the 1984 blockbuster Athirathram
Athirathram (film)
Athirathram is a 1984 Malayalam crime film directed by I.V. Sasi. The film's central character Tharadas re-appears in Sasi's 2006 film Balram vs. Taradas.-Plot:...

. It was I. V. Sasi's 144th film, and a record 35th with Mammootty. Mammootty’s career graph raised spectacularly after the release of Rajamanikyam
Rajamanikyam
Rajamanikyam is a 2005 Malayalam film, the directorial debut of Anwar Rasheed, written by T. A. Shahid, and starring Mammootty in the title role....

 directed by debutant Anwar Rasheed
Anwar Rasheed
Anwar Rasheed is a Malayali Indian film director notable for his debut film Rajamanikyam starring Mammootty. His second feature film was Chotta Mumbai , which had Mohanlal in the lead role...

. Released during Ramadan 2005, the movie broke all collection records and became the biggest hit of 2005. Rajamanikyam was also touted as the biggest hit of all time ever produced in the Malayalam cinema. In 2006, Mammootty continued his success with the film Thuruppugulan. Mammootty's action comedy Mayavi
Mayavi
Mayavi is a Malayalam language comics strip appearing in the Indian children's weekly Balarama owned by Malayala Manorama group. The comics is written by Mohan and illustrated at first by Pradip Sathe. Artist Mohandas took over the job of drawing the series after Balarama became a biweekly...

 became the top grosser of 2007. His portrayal of Dr.Nathan in Shyamaprasad's Ore Kadal
Ore Kadal
Ore Kadal is a 2007 Malayalam film written and directed by Shyamaprasad. The film examines the extra martial relationship between an intellectual economist and a housewife...

 (2007) was critically acclaimed. Big B
Big B
Big B may refer to:* Big B , a 2007 Malayalam action-thriller* Big B , American rapper* Big B Drugs, a defunct American drugstore chain* Amitabh Bachchan or Big B, Indian actor...

 was another hit in 2007.

In 2008, Mammootty delivered another blockbuster Annan Thambi
Annan Thambi
Annan Thambi is a 2008 Malayalam film by Anwar Rasheed, starring Mammootty, Lakshmi Rai and Gopika. Mammootty did a double role in the film by playing twin brothers. Rahulraj composed the music of this movie.-Plot:...

. The film released in 75 centres across the state and completed 50 days in nearly 61 centres.The film is touted as the biggest hit in malayalam surpassing the record of Rajamanikyam. He played a police cop for 25th time in the film Roudram
Roudram
Raudram is a 2008 Malayalam film directed by Renji Panicker. Mammootty plays the lead role of Narendran, a dedicated IPS officer. Sai Kumar, Vijayaraghavan, and Rajan P Dev plays other leading roles.-Plot:...

 which was not a commercial success. He starred in Kerala's multistarrer Twenty: 20 his another release in 2008 which too was a success.

Also, "Mayabazaar" holds the record for highest channel right collecting film in Malayalam Film Industry, by selling the channel right for 1.3 crores. The record breaks his own record of 1.1 crores for the film Annan Thambi.

In October 2009, Pazhassi Raja, directed by Hariharan
Hariharan (director)
Hariharan is a Malayali film director. His movies mainly revolved around the cultural and relational aspects of a typical Kerala society. His notable works include Pazhassi Raja, Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, Sargam, Parinayam, Amrutham Gamaya and Nakhakshathangal, which won him national...

 and written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair
M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair , popularly known as MT, is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj...

, was released. . He also acted in the short film Puramkazhchakal (directed by Lal Jose
Lal Jose
Lal Jose is an Indian film director. His debut film as a director is Oru Maravathoor Kanavu . His popular films include Meesa Madhavan , Classmates and Arabikkatha .- Biography :...

) from Malayalam's first Portmanteau film Kerala Cafe
Kerala Cafe
Kerala Cafe is a Malayalam anthology film produced by Ranjith and directed by a team of ten directors including Lal Jose, Shaji Kailas, Anwar Rasheed, Shyamaprasad, B. Unnikrishnan, Revathy, Anjali Menon, M. Padmakumar, Shankar Ramakrishnan, and Uday Ananthan. For the first time in the history of...

. In 2009, he won his fifth state award for Best Actor
Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor
The Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor has been awarded annually in India since 1969. The Kerala State Film Awards were managed directly by the Government of Kerala's Department of Cultural Affairs until 1997; they are now given by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, an autonomous non-profit...

 for his performance in Ranjith's Paleri Manikyam
Paleri Manikyam
Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha is a 2009 Malayalam crime drama film written and directed by Ranjith, starring Mammootty, Shwetha Menon and Mythili. It is based on a best selling Malayalam novel of the same name by T. P. Rajeevan, which said the true story of the first recorded...

. Two films he acted in – Kutty Srank and Pazhassi Raja – bagged eight national awards. He was nominated for the National Award for Best Actor
National Film Award for Best Actor
The National Film Award for Best Actor is an honor presented annually at the National Film Awards of India to an actor who has delivered the best performance in a leading role within the Indian film industry.-Background:The Directorate of Film Festivals makes awards annually in several categories...

 in 2009, but he lost the award in the final round of the competition to Amitabh Bachan. The jury's decision to give the award to Bachan was criticised by Shaji N Karun, director of Kutty Srank (the movie which won the award for best film of 2009) and Ranjith, director of Paleri Manikyam
Paleri Manikyam
Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha is a 2009 Malayalam crime drama film written and directed by Ranjith, starring Mammootty, Shwetha Menon and Mythili. It is based on a best selling Malayalam novel of the same name by T. P. Rajeevan, which said the true story of the first recorded...

.

Mammootty started of the decade (2010) with Pokkiri Raja
Pokkiri Raja (2010 film)
Pokkiri Raja is a 2010 Malayalam masala film starring Mammootty in the title role, along with Prithviraj and Shriya Saran in the main roles. The film is written by the duo Udayakrishna-Siby K. Thomas, directed by debutante Vyshakh, and the music is composed by Jassie Gift. The film was released on...

, Pranchiyettan and the Saint, directed by Ranjith, and Best Actor
Best Actor (film)
- External links :* http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/7722/malayalam/best-actor/index.htm Best Actor] at Nowrunning.com*...

. Pokkiri Raja went on to become the highest grossing film of the year with the trade pundits declaring it as a blockbuster success. Pranchiyettan and the Saint which has been touted as the beginning of a renaissance in Malayalam cinema, became the longest running Malayalam film of the last five years.

Present

His latest releases are Sohan Seenulal's Doubles
Doubles (2011 film)
Doubles is a 2011 Malayalam comedy-action drama film directed by debutant Sohan Seenulal and written by the Sachi-Sethu duo. It stars Mammootty, Nadia Moidu and Taapsee Pannu in the lead roles, and features an extensive cast of supporting actors with Saiju Kurup, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Salim Kumar,...

, Jayaraj
Jayaraj
Jayaraj Rajasekharan Nair, often credited as Jayaraj, is an award-winning Indian Malayali filmmaker who has marked his presence in mainstream as well as art house films...

's The Train and Babu Janardhanan's 1993 Bombay, March 12
1993 Bombay, March 12
-Critical reception:The film received positive reviews upon release.But did not make a big move in box office.Paresh C. Palicha of Rediff.com said, "Bombay March 12 is a promising debut for scriptwriter Babu Janardhanan as a director." He rated the film three in a scale of five . Mammootty's...

. He is currently working on films like, Abhay Simha's Kannada film Shikari
Shikari (2011 film)
Shikari is an upcoming bilingual film in Kannada and Malayalam. The film is written and directed by Abhay Simha. It stars Mammootty and Poonam Bajwa in the lead, with Aditya, Mohan and Innocent doing other major roles. The film is the Kannada debut of Mammootty, and also the Malayalam debut of...

, Shafi's Venicile Vyaapari
Venicile Vyaapari
Venicile Vyapari is an upcoming Malayalam film starring Mammootty, Kavya Madhavan and Poonam Bajwa. Directed by Shafi, the film's plot unfolds in Alappuzha, a town in Kerala popularly known as the Venice of the East. The story follows a murder mystery. Mammootty plays the protagonist, Pavithran, a...

 and Shaji Kailas
Shaji Kailas
Shaji Kailas is a Malayalam film director. He is known for his hard-hitting action films.-Childhood and entry into films:Shaji Kailas was born in Vanchiyoor, Thiruvananthapuram, to Late Sivakumaran Nair and Janakiyamma. After attending Model Boys School, Shaji pursued degree at Mahatma Gandhi...

's The King and the Commissioner.

Films in other languages

Mammootty has acted in a few non-Malayalam
Malayalam cinema
The Cinema of Kerala or Malayalam cinema refers to the film industry in the Indian state of Kerala, which makes films in the Malayalam language. Malayalam movies typically portray social or family issues and are considered more realistic than films from other parts of India. Malayalam cinema has...

 movies and these include some Tamil, Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...

, Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...

, Kannada and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

 films. In 1989, he made his Tamil debut in Maunam Sammatham, directed by K. Madhu. He has acted in Tamil films for directors including K. Balachander
K. Balachander
K. Balachander is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer. Balachander is known for his distinct film-making style. His films analyse unusual or complicated interpersonal relationships and social themes. He has directed nearly 80 films and has worked in 100 films either as director or...

 (Azhagan), Mani Ratnam
Mani Ratnam
Mani Ratnam is an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter and producer. He made his directorial debut with the Kannada film Pallavi Anu Pallavi starring Anil Kapoor in 1983...

 (Thalapathy), and Rajiv Menon
Rajiv Menon
Rajiv Menon is an Indian cinematographer and film maker. He is known for directing critically acclaimed Tamil films like Minsaara Kanavu and Kandukondain Kandukondain.-Early Life:...

 (Kandukondain Kandukondain
Kandukondain Kandukondain
Kandukondain Kandukondain is a 2000 Tamil musical and romantic film based on Jane Austen's novel Sense and Sensibility. Directed and co-written by Rajiv Menon, the film features an ensemble cast of Ajith Kumar, Mammootty, Tabu, Aishwarya Rai and Abbas in the lead roles...

). Kilippechu Kekkavaa (1993), directed by Fazil
Fazil
A. M. Fazil is an Indian filmmaker, producer, and screenwriter of Malayalam cinema.His father wanted him to be a doctor, but in school and college, extra curricular activities engulfed him. He wrote plays, enacted them with his friends A. M. Fazil (born 1953, in Alleppey, Kerala) is an Indian...

, had Mammootty as a romantic hero. He played the role of Anantha Sharma in K. Vishwanath
Kasinadhuni Viswanath
Kasinadhuni Vishwanath is an Indian film director and actor from Telugu Cinema. He is a multiple winner of National Film Award and Nandi Award...

's Telugu film Swathi Kiranam
Swathi Kiranam
Swathi Kiranam is a 1992 Telugu Musical hit film directed by Dr.K.Viswanath. The movie starred Mammootty, Master Manjunath, and Radhika. The movie is about an egoistic music teacher unable to tolerate the extraordinary talent of his prodigious young disciple.-Plot:The film starts with a shabby old...

 (1992).

He acted in the Kannada film Shikari in 2011.

He made his debut into Hindi films through Thriyathri which was released in 1989, though his first film as a hero
Hero
A hero , in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demigod, their cult being one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion...

 was Dhartiputra
Dhartiputra
Dhartiputra was a 1993 Hindi film, directed by Iqbal Durrani, and was debut Hindi film of Malayalam actor Mammotty. Produced by Dinesh Patel, who earlier produced Phool aur Kaante and Divya Shakti. Music by Nadeem-Shravan.-Cast:* Mammootty* Jaya Prada...

. He starred in the biographical film Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (film)
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar is a 2000 Indian feature film in English language, directed by Jabbar Patel. The film tells the story of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, known mainly for his contributions in shaping the Constitution of India, as the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constituent Assembly...

 directed by Jabbar Patel
Jabbar Patel
Dr. Jabbar Patel is a theatre and film director of India. His production of the play Vijay Tendulkar's play Ghashiram Kotwal, in 1973 is considered a classic in Modern Indian Theatre....

 which was in the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

. He also appeared in Sau Jhooth Ek Sach (2004).

During the 2006 IIFA Awards ceremony held at Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...

, he openly criticized the organizers of the IIFA Awards for completely ignoring South Indian film by stating that the Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...

 film industry should stand up to competition from the South Indian film industry before calling itself international.

Films shown at International film festivals

The movie Mathilukal
Mathilukal
This article has details about the novel as well as its film adaptation.Mathilukal is a Malayalam novel written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer in 1965. It is one of the most cherished and well-known love stories in Malayalam. Its hero, Basheer himself, and heroine, Narayani, never meet, yet they love...

 ('The Walls') has been shown in almost 40 International Film festival
Film festival
A film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings...

 beginning with Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...

. It was well received upon screening at the Venice International Film Festival
Venice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...

, and won four awards
National Film Awards
The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it is administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.Every year, a national panel...

 in 1990.

Vidheyan
Vidheyan
Vidheyan is a 1993 Indian Malayalam film directed and co-written by Adoor Gopalakrishnan. It is a cinematic adaptation of the novel Bhaskara Pattelarum Ente Jeevithavum by Malayalam writer Paul Zacharia. The film explores the master-slave dialectic in a South Karnataka setting...

, the cinematic adaptation of the novel "Bhaskara Pattelarum Ente Jeevithavum" by Malayalam writer Paul Zachariah explores the master-slave dialectic in a South Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...

 setting. The film won the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC)
Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema
The Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema is a worldwide organization of 29 member countries. It was created as the result of a conference on Asian cinema organized by Cinemaya, the Asian Film Quarterly, in New Delhi in 1990 at the instance and with the support of UNESCO, Paris.Headquartered...

 Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam
International Film Festival Rotterdam
The International Film Festival Rotterdam is an annual film festival held in various cinemas in Rotterdam, Netherlands held at the end of January. It is approximately comparable in size to other major European festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Locarno...

, along with the Interfilm Award - Honorable Mention at the Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival
International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg
Mannheim-Heidelberg International Filmfestival is an annual film festival held jointly by the cities of Mannheim and Heidelberg in Baden-Württemberg. The festival was established in 1952. In Mannheim there are six cinema centres and 19 single cinemas.The festival presents arthouse films of...

.

Philanthropic work

Mammootty is involved in more than half a dozen philanthropic projects
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...

 aimed at helping needy people.

Mammootty is the patron
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...

 of the Pain and Palliative Care Society
Palliative care
Palliative care is a specialized area of healthcare that focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients...

, a charitable organization
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...

 in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

 formed with the aim of improving the quality of life among patients with advanced cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...

. He has been the fuel and the engine of the Pain and Palliative Care
Palliative care
Palliative care is a specialized area of healthcare that focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients...

 Centre situated in Kozhikode
Kozhikode
Kozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...

, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. Mammootty has now put forth a novel project to provide the pain and palliative care to those suffering from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...

 throughout Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

.

Mammootty is the ambassador of Jeevan Jothi, a social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...

 project aimed at providing aid to people seeking treatment for any ophthalmic
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...

 diseases, cardiac diseases, orthopedic diseases, liver diseases, renal dysfunctions
Renal failure
Renal failure or kidney failure describes a medical condition in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter toxins and waste products from the blood...

, Haemophilia diseases
Haemophilia
Haemophilia is a group of hereditary genetic disorders that impair the body's ability to control blood clotting or coagulation, which is used to stop bleeding when a blood vessel is broken. Haemophilia A is the most common form of the disorder, present in about 1 in 5,000–10,000 male births...

, or ENT
Otolaryngology
Otolaryngology or ENT is the branch of medicine and surgery that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, and head and neck disorders....

 disorders.

Mammootty is the goodwill ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....

 of a charity project "Street India Movement", which is aimed at the eradication of child begging and child labor
Child labor
Child labour refers to the employment of children at regular and sustained labour. This practice is considered exploitative by many international organizations and is illegal in many countries...

. He has promoted the activities of the movement, which networks with orphanages and institutions looking after the children.

Kazhcha is a venture to extend free eye care and treatment organized by Mammootty Fans Welfare Association and Mammootty Times, in association with Little Flower Hospital and Research Centre and the Eye Bank Association of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

. One of the major activities related to this is distribution of free spectacles to children. A special fund received from the office of the President of India
President of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...

 will be utilized for this purpose. Free eye camps will also be conducted at various places in connection to this project.

During Onam
Onam
Onam is a Hindu festival celebrated by the people of Kerala, India. The festival commemorates the Vamana avatar of Vishnu and the subsequent homecoming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali. It falls during the month of Chingam and lasts for ten days...

 2007, Mammootty donated food items among thousand families in Parathodu near Kanjirappally
Kanjirappally
Kanjirappally is a taluk and a town in Kottayam district, in the state of Kerala, India. Rubber plantations are a major source of income for the local population. The place has a large population of Syrian Catholic Christians....

 in Kottayam district
Kottayam district
Kottayam is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The district has its headquarters at Kottayam town, located at 9.36° N and 76.17° E. According to the 1991 census, it is the first district to achieve highest literacy rate in the whole of India...

, a Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

 village which was hit by Chikungunya
Chikungunya
Chikungunya virus is an insect-borne virus, of the genus Alphavirus, that is transmitted to humans by virus-carrying Aedes mosquitoes. There have been recent breakouts of CHIKV associated with severe illness...

. The village which was worst hit by the disease claimed the most lives in the state.

Akshaya
Akshaya project
The Akshaya project, first started in the rural Kasaragod district of Kerala, India, and now spread all around the state, was the first district-wide e-literacy project in India and one of the largest known Internet Protocol based wireless networks in the world...

, the information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...

 dissemination project of the Government of Kerala
Government of Kerala
The Government of Kerala is a democratically elected body that governs the State of Kerala, India for a period of 5 years. The state government is headed by the Governor of Kerala as the nominal head of state, with a democratically elected Chief Minister as real head of the executive. The state...

, has Mammootty as its Goodwill Ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador is a collective term sometimes used as a substitute honorific title or a title of honor for an Ambassador of Goodwill; but, most appropriately for a generic recognition, it is a job position or description that is usually indicated following the name of the individual recognized...

. He formally took over the role on 26 February 2006 at a video networked programme which was linked to all the district headquarters of the state. Mammootty spearheaded the campaign by appearing in print and visual media advertisements and other publicity materials that sent the message of the Akshaya project
Akshaya project
The Akshaya project, first started in the rural Kasaragod district of Kerala, India, and now spread all around the state, was the first district-wide e-literacy project in India and one of the largest known Internet Protocol based wireless networks in the world...

 to the grassroots.

Mammootty is a patron of "Share International Foundation", a charity organisation working towards removing the inequalities in society. The foundation has done many notable humanitarian works including the recent "Hridaya Sparsham project of the Care", to mobilise help for the heart surgery of children. Mammootty's plea over the social networking sites evoked aid worth about 1 crore within a day.

Television career

As of 2010, Mammootty is the Chairman
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...

 of Malayalam Communications, which runs some Malayalam TV channels such as Kairali TV
Kairali TV
Kairali TV is an Indian television channel broadcasting in the Malayalam language catering to the Malayalam speaking population in Kerala as well as abroad . The channel, headquartered in Trivandrum, has studio facilities in Trivandrum as well as Kochi. Malayalam Communications Limited is the...

, People TV
People TV
People TV is an Indian television channel based at Trivandrum. It was launched by Malayalam Communications Limited. The channel focusses on news and current issues. It was People TV that introduced camera sting operation in Malayalam Television Journalism successfully...

 and Channel We
WE TV
We TV is the third TV channel from Malayalam Communications Ltd, in Kerala and based at Trivandrum. The other two channels of this company are Kairali TV and People TV. WE TV is mainly aimed at the youth and was officially launched on April 14, 2007. Mr...

.

He owned a production company during the 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...

, Casino, along with Mohanlal
Mohanlal
Mohanlal Vishwanathan Nair , known mononymously as Mohanlal , is a National Award-winning Indian actor, producer, singer and writer who is well known for his versatile and natural acting in Indian cinema & hence widely known as the Universal Star...

, I.V. Sasi, Seema
Seema (actress)
Seema is an Indian actress. She has performed in approximately 250 films in Malayalam, nine in Tamil, seven in Telugu, three in Kannada and one in Hindi. Seema is still active in the movie industry.She began her career in Tamil film at fourteen as a dancer...

 and Century Kochumon. The production house produced commercially successful films such as Nadodikkattu
Nadodikkattu
Nadodikattu is a 1987 Malayalam comedy film directed by Sathyan Anthikkad and written by Sreenivasan. The story revolves around two impecunious young Malayali men, Ramdas aka Dasan and Vijayan who not being able to find any job in Kerala, plan to go to Dubai to make their fortunes, but get...

, Gandhi Nagar 2nd Street, Adiyozhukkukal and Karimpin Poovinakkare.

He formed a television production company
Production company
A production company provides the physical basis for works in the realms of the performing arts, new media art, film, television, radio, and video.- Tasks and functions :...

, Megabytes, which produced television serials
Serial (radio and television)
Serials are series of television programs and radio programs that rely on a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode by episode fashion. Serials typically follow main story arcs that span entire television seasons or even the full run of the series, which distinguishes them from...

, the first being Jwalayay in the late 1990s, which was also his first project as a producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...

. He also owns a distribution company named Mammootty Technotainment. The company distributed his Tamil film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...

 Karmegham in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

.

Other activities

Mammootty was appointed as the Global Brand ambassador
Brand ambassador
A Brand Ambassador is a person employed by a company to be the sales rep and physical representative of the company with respect to sales and marketing. The Brand Ambassador is meant to embody the corporate image in appearance, demeanor, values, and ethics....

 of the Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

-based South Indian Bank on 16 October 2006. He was also featured as the brand ambassador for Kerala Volleyball League.

Mammootty and Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...

-based businessman MA Yousuf Ali
M A Yousuf Ali
M. A. Yousuf Ali is a Non-resident Indian businessman hailing from Nattika in Thrissur district of Kerala. He is the Managing Director of Abu Dhabi-headquartered EMKE Group of Companies which owns the LuLu Hypermarket chain in Middle East...

 met with the officials of the Dubai Internet City
Dubai Internet City
Dubai Internet City is an information technology park created by the government of Dubai as a free economic zone and a strategic base for companies targeting regional emerging markets. The economic rules of DIC allow companies to avail themselves of a number of ownership, taxation and custom...

 (DIC) to lobby for the proposed Smart City
SmartCity, Kochi
SmartCity Kochi is a planned IT township to be constructed in Kochi, Kerala in India. Smart City Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. is a joint venture company formed to develop the Kochi Smart City project. Government of Kerala , TECOM Investments , a subsidiary of Dubai Holding are the main investors of...

 project at Kochi
Kochi
-Places:* Kochi, a city in the state of Kerala, India, formerly known as Cochin* Kingdom of Cochin, a former feudal city-state on Malabar Coast, India** Fort Kochi, one of the three main urban components which constitute the present day city of Kochi, Kerala, India...

.

Mammootty wrote his first book Kazhchapadu (roughly translated as "Perspective", a compilation of short essays he has written in various publications over the years).

Mammootty owns the distrubution company Playhouse Entertainments. Some films distributed by the company are Chattambinadu
Chattambinadu
Chattambinaadu is a Malayalam film released in 2009. The film was directed by Shafi and written by Benny P. Nayarambalam, and stars Mammootty, Lakshmi Rai, Siddique, Manoj K. Jayan, Vinu Mohan, and Suraj Venjarammoodu...

, Three Kings
Three Kings (2011 film)
Three Kings is a 2011 Malayalam–language caper film directed by V. K. Prakash and starring Jayasurya, Indrajith, Kunchacko Boban, Sandhya, Ann Augustine and Samvrutha Sunil...

, Living Together
Living Together (film)
-Box office:The film received negative reception from critics and viewers, and it's turning out as one of the biggest box office disasters of recent times.-External links:* . The Hindu. Retrieved 2011-02-18....

, Neelathamara, Pranchiyettan & the Saint
Pranchiyettan & the Saint
Pranchiyettan & the Saint is a 2010 Malayalam satirical film written, directed, and produced by Ranjith. The film centres on the fictitious conversation between the Thrissur based rice merchant C.E. Francis aka Pranchiyettan and St. Francis of Assisi...

, and The King and the Commissioner.

Awards, honours and recognitions

Mammootty has won three National Film Awards
National Film Awards
The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it is administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.Every year, a national panel...

, seven Kerala State Film Awards, eleven Filmfare Awards
Filmfare Awards South
Filmfare Awards South is the South Indian segment of the annual Filmfare Awards, presented by The Times Group to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the South Indian film industry. The awards are separately given for Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films...

, eleven Kerala Film Critics Awards and five Asianet Film Awards
Asianet Film Awards
The Asianet Film Awards is the most prominent award ceremony for Malayalam films presented annually by Asianet, a Malayalam-language television network from the south-Indian state of Kerala. The awards ceremony has been instituted to honour both artistic and technical excellence in the Malayalam...

 (from fourteen nominations). In 1998, Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...

 honored Mammootty, with its fourth highest civilian award, Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...

, awarded for his national service, including his contribution to the Indian film industry. He was conferred with Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.-Commonwealth:...

 degree by University of Calicut
University of Calicut
The University of Calicut is an affiliating university in the southern state of Kerala in India. It is situated in Thenjipalam, in the district of Malappuram with a number of off-campus centres in neighbouring districts. The University conducts courses and examinations for the students of the...

 and University of Kerala in 2010.

External links


Mammootty is an Indian
Indian people
Indian people or Indisians constitute the Asian nation and pan-ethnic group native to India, which forms the south of Asia, containing 17.31% of the world's population. The Indian nationality is in essence made up of regional nationalities, reflecting the rich and complex history of India...

 film actor and producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...

 who works mainly in Malayalam cinema
Malayalam cinema
The Cinema of Kerala or Malayalam cinema refers to the film industry in the Indian state of Kerala, which makes films in the Malayalam language. Malayalam movies typically portray social or family issues and are considered more realistic than films from other parts of India. Malayalam cinema has...

. He has also acted in a few Tamil
Tamil cinema
Tamil cinema is the film industry based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to the production of films in the Tamil language. It is based in Chennai's Kodambakkam district, where several South Indian film production companies are headquartered...

, Hindi, Telugu
Telugu cinema
The Cinema of Andhra Pradesh, also referred to as Telugu Cinema or Tollywood, is the Telugu film industry in India. The Telugu language film industry is known for being one of the three largest in terms of no.of films produced yearly in India. The Prasads IMAX theatre in Hyderabad is one of the...

, and Kannada films. During a career spanning more than three decades, he has acted in more than 360 films, and is only next to Prem Nazir
Prem Nazir
Abdul Khader , better known by his stage name Prem Nazir , was an Indian film actor. He is considered one of the all time super stars in Malayalam cinema...

 in the number of lead roles in Indian films. He also appeared in the highest number of dual roles (nine) in Malayalam film.

Mammootty was awarded the National Film Award for Best Actor
National Film Award for Best Actor
The National Film Award for Best Actor is an honor presented annually at the National Film Awards of India to an actor who has delivered the best performance in a leading role within the Indian film industry.-Background:The Directorate of Film Festivals makes awards annually in several categories...

 three times . He also won five Kerala State Film Awards, and eleven Filmfare Awards
Filmfare Awards South
Filmfare Awards South is the South Indian segment of the annual Filmfare Awards, presented by The Times Group to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the South Indian film industry. The awards are separately given for Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films...

. He was the first (1998) Malayalam actor to be honoured with the state honour Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...

 for contributions toward Indian cinema
Cinema of India
The cinema of India consists of films produced across India, which includes the cinematic culture of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Indian films came to be followed throughout South Asia and...

. He was honoured a Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.-Commonwealth:...

 by University of Kerala in Jan 2010 and by University of Calicut
University of Calicut
The University of Calicut is an affiliating university in the southern state of Kerala in India. It is situated in Thenjipalam, in the district of Malappuram with a number of off-campus centres in neighbouring districts. The University conducts courses and examinations for the students of the...

 in Dec 2010. Vanitha
Vanitha
Vanitha is an Indian magazine published fortnightly by the Malayala Manorama group. Although its name translates to "woman" in Malayalam, it includes articles on a variety of topics, and is not strictly a women's magazine. Published in Malayalam and Hindi, it is the largest selling magazine in...

, a leading women's magazine in Malayalam, in 2004, chose Mammootty as the actor with the highest sex appeal in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

, following a survey among its readers.

Mammootty is Chairman
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...

 of Malayalam Communications, which runs Malayalam TV channels Kairali TV
Kairali TV
Kairali TV is an Indian television channel broadcasting in the Malayalam language catering to the Malayalam speaking population in Kerala as well as abroad . The channel, headquartered in Trivandrum, has studio facilities in Trivandrum as well as Kochi. Malayalam Communications Limited is the...

, People TV
People TV
People TV is an Indian television channel based at Trivandrum. It was launched by Malayalam Communications Limited. The channel focusses on news and current issues. It was People TV that introduced camera sting operation in Malayalam Television Journalism successfully...

, and WE TV
WE TV
We TV is the third TV channel from Malayalam Communications Ltd, in Kerala and based at Trivandrum. The other two channels of this company are Kairali TV and People TV. WE TV is mainly aimed at the youth and was officially launched on April 14, 2007. Mr...

. Mammootty has promoted humanitarian causes
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...

 throughout Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

 and is the goodwill ambassador
Brand ambassador
A Brand Ambassador is a person employed by a company to be the sales rep and physical representative of the company with respect to sales and marketing. The Brand Ambassador is meant to embody the corporate image in appearance, demeanor, values, and ethics....

 of the Akshaya project
Akshaya project
The Akshaya project, first started in the rural Kasaragod district of Kerala, India, and now spread all around the state, was the first district-wide e-literacy project in India and one of the largest known Internet Protocol based wireless networks in the world...

.

Family and early life

Mammootty was born and raised in Chempu
Chempu
Chempu is a village near Vaikom in Kottayam, Kerala, India. It is bounded by the shores of the Lake Vembanad, and is crossed by various distributaries of the River Muvattupuzha....

 near Vaikom
Vaikom
Vaikom is a taluk and also its capital town, situated in the North-West of Kottayam in Kerala, India. Its western border is the Lake Vembanad, and is crossed by various estuaries of the River Muvattupuzha. It lies between Ernakulam and Kottayam...

 in the Kottayam district
Kottayam district
Kottayam is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The district has its headquarters at Kottayam town, located at 9.36° N and 76.17° E. According to the 1991 census, it is the first district to achieve highest literacy rate in the whole of India...

 of the state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

 in a middle class, Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...

 family. He was the eldest son of the family. His father Ismail was a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...

 and his mother Fatima was a housewife
Housewife
Housewife is a term used to describe a married woman with household responsibilities who is not employed outside the home. Merriam Webster describes a housewife as a married woman who is in charge of her household...

. He did his Pre-University course (pre-degree) at Maharajas College
Maharajas College
The Maharaja's College is one of the biggest centres of learning and higher education in Kerala, India. Located in the heart of Cochin city, it is spread over a campus of on the banks of Vembanad Lake...

, Kochi
Kochi
-Places:* Kochi, a city in the state of Kerala, India, formerly known as Cochin* Kingdom of Cochin, a former feudal city-state on Malabar Coast, India** Fort Kochi, one of the three main urban components which constitute the present day city of Kochi, Kerala, India...

, and then graduated with a L.L.B. from Ernakulam
Ernakulam district
-Economy:Agriculture constitutes the most important segment of the district’s economy and it is the biggest source of employment. Of the geographical 235319 hectares, crops are grown in 0 hectares. Coconut is the principal crop followed by rubber, paddy, and tapioca...

 Government Law College. He also practiced law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...

 for two years in Manjeri
Manjeri
Manjeri is a town and municipality in Malappuram District in the state of Kerala, India. It is the commercial capital of Malappuram District and is 28 km from an international airport and 50 km from Kozhikode railway station....

. He married Sulfath in 1980 and has a daughter, Surumi (b. 1982) and a son, Dulquer Salmaan (b. 1986).

Early career (1971–1980)

Mammootty's debut was an uncredited appearance in the 1971 film Anubhavangal Paalichakal (Malayalam: അനുഭവങ്ങള്‍ പാളിച്ചകള്‍) directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan, which starred Sathyan
Sathyaneshan Nadar
Manuel Sathyaneshan Nadar commonly known by his stage name Sathyan, was an Indian film actor known for his work in Malayalam cinema. He has won the Kerala State Film Award twice and is renowned for his acting skills...

, Prem Nazir
Prem Nazir
Abdul Khader , better known by his stage name Prem Nazir , was an Indian film actor. He is considered one of the all time super stars in Malayalam cinema...

 and Sheela
Sheela
Sheela ), is a Malayalam film actress from India. She, along with Prem Nazir, holds the world record for acting in the largest number of films together as heroine and hero. In 2005 she won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the Malayalam film Akale. She has also...

 in the lead roles. His only scene in the film was being one among a running crowd along with the lead actor Sathyan. Mammootty then was a student at the Maharajas College
Maharajas College
The Maharaja's College is one of the biggest centres of learning and higher education in Kerala, India. Located in the heart of Cochin city, it is spread over a campus of on the banks of Vembanad Lake...

.

His second film was Kaalachakram
Kaalachakram
Kaalachakram is a 1973 Malayalam film directed by K. Narayanan, written by Sreekumaran Thampi, and starring Prem Nazir and Jayabharathi. This is the second film and the first dialogued appearance of the later superstar Mammootty.- Cast :*Prem Nazeer...

 (Malayalam: കാലചക്രം), a 1973 Malayalam film directed by K. Narayanan, and starring Prem Nazir and Jayabharathi
Jayabharathi
Jayabharathi is a popular Malayalam film actress who started her career in late 1960s. She is a two-time winner of the Kerala State Film Award for best actress....

. This was the first dialogued appearance of Mammootty, appearing only in one scene in the film. He acted under the screenname Sajin, but later dropped it.

His professional film career began in 1979, when he played his first lead role in Devalokam, directed by veteran M. T. Vasudevan Nair
M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair , popularly known as MT, is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj...

. However, this film was never completed.

His next film was the 1980 film, Vilkkanundu Swapnangal
Vilkkanundu Swapnangal
Vilkkanundu Swapnangal is a 1980 Malayalam drama film directed by Azad, written by M.T. Vasudevan Nair, and starring Sukumaran in the lead role. The film features Mammootty, as an antagonist in a supporting role. Voice for Mammootty in this film was dubbed by Sreenivasan.-Plot:To supported his...

 (Malayalam: വില്‍ക്കാനുണ്ട് സ്വപ്നങ്ങള്‍), directed by Azad, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair
M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair , popularly known as MT, is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj...

, and starring Sukumaran
Sukumaran
Edappal Ponnamkuzhi Veettil Sukumaran Nair , popularly known as Sukumaran, was an Indian film actor, and producer....

 in the lead role. The film featured Mammootty, as an antagonist in a supporting role. Voice for Mammootty in this film was dubbed by Sreenivasan.

Mammootty's first full length character was in the 1980 film Mela
Mela (1980 film)
Mela is a 1980 Malayalam film written & directed by K. G. George and starring Raghu, Anjali Naidu, and Mammootty. This is the first film where, the later superstar of Malayalam film, Mammootty, even though the antagonist, plays a notable and full-length role.This is also a film noted for starring...

 (Malayalam: മേള) which was written and directed by K. G. George
K. G. George
Kulakkatil Geevarghese George is an Indian film director who work in Malayalam film. George is one of the most celebrated filmmakers of Kerala who modernized the Malayalam cinema in the seventies. He is the founder-chairman of MACTA, and continues to be an executive member...

 and starring Raghu and Anjali Naidu as other lead actors. Mammootty played the antagonist in this film.

Establishing himself (1980–1983)

Mammootty began to establish himself as an actor and as a star through his film of the 1980s viz Sphodanam (directed by P. G. Viswambharan), Thrishna (directed by I.V. Sasi), etc. In 1981, he got his first state award in the Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
This is a list of awards for supporting actor. These are accolades given by a group of film or television professionals in recognition of the work of supporting and character actors...

 category for his performance in Ahimsa. His performances in films like Aalkkoottathil Thaniye
Aalkkoottathil Thaniye
Aalkkoottathil Thaniye is a 1984 Malayalam film directed by I. V. Sasi, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, and starring Mammootty, Mohanlal and Seema.-Plot:...

 and Adiyozhukkukal
Adiyozhukkukal
Adiyozhukkukal is a 1984 Malayalam drama film directed by I. V. Sasi and written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair; starring Mammootty, Seema, Mohanlal, Balan K. Nair, Vincent and Rahman in the main roles...

, scripted by M. T. Vasudevan Nair
M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair , popularly known as MT, is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj...

 established him as an actor of substance.The role of a police officer in the investigative thriller Yavanika (1982) directed by K. G. George cemented his position as a hero in Malayalam cinema. The film was a big commercial success and Mammootty's role got rave reviews for its style and dialogue delivery. This was the beginning of a trend whereby Mammootty would play the role of a tough cop in many action and investigative thrillers in the coming years.

The golden period (1984–1993)

In a period of five years from 1982 to 1986 Mammootty acted in more than 150 films in the lead role. In 1986 alone, he acted in about 35 films in the lead role.

The mid of 80s saw a period of tear busting stories in Malayalam film. Most of the films were tragedies. This period featured what later came to be referred to as the 'Mammootty-Kutty-Petty' films. These films had Mammootty as the protagonist, a husband and a father, with a 3–4 year old daughter, and employed in a top ranking post in a company. Mammootty made a comeback with New Delhi and Thaniyavarthanam
Thaniyavarthanam
Thaniyavarthanam is a 1987 Malayalam film written by A. K. Lohithadas and directed by Sibi Malayil. It stars Mammootty, Thilakan, Mukesh, Saritha, Philomina and Kaviyoor Ponnamma in the main roles. The story revolves around a family whose male members have a history of lunacy.-Plot:Balan Mash is...

, both released in 1987. New Delhi was a very important movie in his life as an actor. The film was loosely based on the novel, "The Almighty" by Irving Wallace. His portrayal of a victimized journalist, who systematically took revenge on politicians who flattered him, was noticed and well accepted by the masses. Meanwhile, his role as Balan mash in Thaniyavarthanam, written by Lohithadas
Lohithadas
Ambazhathil Karunakaran Lohithadas was an Indian screenwriter, director, and producer known for his extensive work in Malayalam cinema....

 and directed by Sibi Malayil
Sibi Malayil
Sibi Malayil is an Indian film director of Malayalam cinema best known for his melodramas of the 80s and 90s. Since the mid-1980s he has directed some 40 movies. Movies like Kireedam, Dasharatham, Thaniyavarthanam, His Highness Abdullah, Bharatham, and Akashadoothu defined the way Malayalam movies...

, was critically acclaimed.

In 1988 Mammootty delivered one of the biggest hits in the history of Malayalam Cinema with his Oru CBI Diary Kurippu
Oru CBI Diary Kurippu
Oru CBI Diary Kurippu is a 1988 Malayalam film directed by K. Madhu, scripted by S. N. Swamy, and starring Mammootty, Suresh Gopi and Jagathy Sreekumar....

. Oru CBI Diary Kurippu went on to create box-office history in Kerala as well as in Tamil Nadu. Mammootty's role as a CBI officer in this film got him critical acclaim. Following the success of the first CBI film Oru CBI Diary Kurippu, three more murder mystery sequels were produced with the same cast of characters: Jagratha
Jagratha
Jagratha is a 1989 Malayalam film directed by K. Madhu, starring Mammootty, Mukesh and Jagathy Sreekumar.This film is the second in the series of the CBI investigative thrillers featuring Mammootty as CBI officer Sethurama Iyer. Oru CBI Diary Kurippu is the prequel to this film and sequels are...

 (1989), Sethurama Iyer CBI
Sethurama Iyer CBI
Sethurama Iyer CBI is a 2004 Malayalam film directed by K Madhu, written by S. N. Swami, and starring Mammootty, Mukesh and Jagathy Sreekumar....

 (2004) and Nerariyan C.B.I (2005), all directed by K. Madhu
K. Madhu
K. Madhu is a Malayalam film director.Popular for his suspense and investigation thrillers, K.Madhu has a long list of hits in his kitty.-Career:...

, penned by S. N. Swamy
S. N. Swamy
S. N. Swamy is an Indian screenwriter who works in Malayalam cinema. Particularly known for scripting films in the thriller genre, he has scripted some of the biggest hits in Malayalam film history including the CBI film series , Koodum Thedi, Irupatham Noottandu, Moonnam Mura, August 1,...

 with Mammootty as Sethurama Iyer
Sethurama Iyer
Sethurama Iyer is a fictional character, and the protagonist of the CBI investigative thriller series of films in Malayalam directed by K. Madhu...

, an intelligent but unassuming CBI officer. The films by M. T. Vasudevan Nair
M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair , popularly known as MT, is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj...

 and Padmarajan
Padmarajan
P. Padmarajan was an Indian author, screenwriter, and film director who contributed in Malayalam language. Padmarajan was the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam, along with Bharathan, in the 1980s, which created films that were widely received while also being critically acclaimed...

, arguably among the best of Malayalam writer-directors, widened Mammootty's acting horizon. Two of M.T. Vasudevan Nair’s films with autobiographical elements were acted by Mammootty. One was Aksharangal directed by I. V. Sasi
I. V. Sasi
Irruppam Veedu Sasidaran, better known as I. V. Sasi, is a Malayali Indian film director who is known for his films of the 1970s, 80s and early 90s. He has directed about 150 films in various South Indian languages and Hindi. He is known as the "veteran" or the "guru" filmmaker in Malayalam...

 and the other was Sukrutham
Sukrutham
Sukrutham is a 1994 Malayalam film directed by Harikumar, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, with background music by Johnson. It is considered one of the outstanding Malayalam films of the mid-1990s...

 directed by Harikumar.

Mammootty touched the pinnacle of his career in Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha
Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha
Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha is a 1989 Malayalam film directed by Hariharan, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, and starring Mammootty, Balan K. Nair, Suresh Gopi, Madhavi, Geetha, and Captain Raju.The film is based on a legend about the famous Chekavar warriors of present day northern Kerala...

; the film was directed by T. Hariharan and penned by M.T.Vasudevan Nair. His depiction of a Chekavar (mercenary warrior) of distinguished valor but vilified by circumstances won him the National Film Award for Best Actor. Along with the huge commercial success of the film, Mammooty was given rave reviews about his lead role in the film, which required heavy physical and psychological preparations. His role as a hunter Varunni in Mrigaya, directed by I.V. Sasi, and another film Mahayanam
Mahayanam
Mahayanam is a 1989 Malayalam film directed by Joshy, and written by Lohithadas. With Mammootty, Mukesh, and Seema appearing in lead roles, this film was a big hit at the box office.-Plot:...

, was also scanned for the State Award. Mammootty won the Filmfare award for Amaram
Amaram
Amaram is a 1991 Malayalam film directed by Bharathan and written by A. K. Lohithadas, starring Mammootty, Murali, Maathu, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Balan K. Nair, Ashokan, Chitra, and Kuthiravattam Pappu in the main roles. The film score is composed by Johnson while the songs are by Raveendran.The...

 directed by Bharathan
Bharathan
Bharathan was an Indian film director, artist, lyricist, music director, sculptor, poster designer, editor and art director. Bharathan is noted for being the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam cinema, along with Padmarajan, in the 1980s, which created films that were widely...

. He played the role of an uneducated fisherman who dreams of making his only daughter a doctor.

During this time, Mammootty appeared in many of the films directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Moutatthu "Adoor" Gopalakrishnan Unnithan is an Indian film director, script writer, and producer. Adoor Gopalakrishnan had a major role in revolutionizing Malayalam cinema and is regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of India.. Adoor's first film Swayamvaram pioneered the new wave cinema...

's. He starred in three of his films, Anantharam
Anantharam
Anantharam is a village located in Jinnaram Mandal of Medak District, Andhra Pradesh, India. This small village is on the watch-list of the coveted award of 'the model village' of India....

 ('Thenceforth'), Mathilukal
Mathilukal
This article has details about the novel as well as its film adaptation.Mathilukal is a Malayalam novel written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer in 1965. It is one of the most cherished and well-known love stories in Malayalam. Its hero, Basheer himself, and heroine, Narayani, never meet, yet they love...

 ('Walls') and Vidheyan
Vidheyan
Vidheyan is a 1993 Indian Malayalam film directed and co-written by Adoor Gopalakrishnan. It is a cinematic adaptation of the novel Bhaskara Pattelarum Ente Jeevithavum by Malayalam writer Paul Zacharia. The film explores the master-slave dialectic in a South Karnataka setting...

 ('The Servile'). His portrayal of the protagonist in Mathilukal (based on 'Mathilukal', a novel by the ace Malayalam novelist Vaikom Muhammad Basheer) was instrumental in getting him his first National Film Award for Best Actor. Mammootty also portrayed the roles in Adoor Gopalakrishnan's Vidheyan and T V Chandran's Ponthan Mada
Ponthan Mada
Ponthan Mada is a 1994 Malayalam-language Indian feature film written and directed by T. V. Chandran. The film stars Mammootty and Naseeruddin Shah.-Plot:...

. He received the National Film Award for Best Actor and State Award for his roles in both films. His performance in Valtsalyam
Valtsalyam
Vatsalyam is a 1993 Malayalam film directed by Cochin Haneefa, written by Lohithadas, and starring Mammootty, Siddique, Geetha, Janardhanan, and Kaviyoor Ponnamma....- Cast :*Mammootty*Geetha*Siddique*Janardhanan*Ilavarasi*Sunitha*Kaviyoor Ponnamma...

 directed by Cochin Haneefa
Cochin Haneefa
Mohammed Haneefa, better known by his stage name Cochin Haneefa was an Indian film actor, director, and screenwriter. He started his career in the 1970s mainly portraying villainous roles, before going on to become one of the most popular comedians of Malayalam cinema...

 was also considered for the State Award. The King
The King (1995 film)
The King is a 1995 Malayalam action thriller film. Directed by Shaji Kailas and written by Renji Panicker with Mammootty as district collector, this film is one of the biggest hits in the history of Malayalam cinema....

, scripted by Renji Panikkar
Renji Panicker
Renji Panicker is an Indian script writer, producer and director who works in Malayalam cinema. He made his debut as a director with Bharatchandran IPS in 2005....

, was released in 1995 and was directed by Shaji Kailas
Shaji Kailas
Shaji Kailas is a Malayalam film director. He is known for his hard-hitting action films.-Childhood and entry into films:Shaji Kailas was born in Vanchiyoor, Thiruvananthapuram, to Late Sivakumaran Nair and Janakiyamma. After attending Model Boys School, Shaji pursued degree at Mahatma Gandhi...

. Mammootty played the central character as a District collector and it turned out to be the biggest hit of the year.

In 1997, he won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor
Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Malayalam)
The Filmfare Best Actor Award is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards South for Malayalam film lead actors. The award was first given in 1972 with Madhu being the first recipient....

 for the movie Bhoothakannadi directed by Lohithadas
Lohithadas
Ambazhathil Karunakaran Lohithadas was an Indian screenwriter, director, and producer known for his extensive work in Malayalam cinema....

.

Mammootty acted in In 1999, Mammootty won his third national award
National Film Award for Best Actor
The National Film Award for Best Actor is an honor presented annually at the National Film Awards of India to an actor who has delivered the best performance in a leading role within the Indian film industry.-Background:The Directorate of Film Festivals makes awards annually in several categories...

 for Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (film)
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar is a 2000 Indian feature film in English language, directed by Jabbar Patel. The film tells the story of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, known mainly for his contributions in shaping the Constitution of India, as the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constituent Assembly...

, an English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

 movie about the life of Ambedkar
B. R. Ambedkar
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar , popularly also known as Babasaheb, was an Indian jurist, political leader, philosopher, thinker, anthropologist, historian, orator, prolific writer, economist, scholar, editor, a revolutionary and one of the founding fathers of independent India. He was also the Chairman...

, directed by Jabbar Patel
Jabbar Patel
Dr. Jabbar Patel is a theatre and film director of India. His production of the play Vijay Tendulkar's play Ghashiram Kotwal, in 1973 is considered a classic in Modern Indian Theatre....

. The film was sponsored by the National Film Development Corporation of India and the Ministry of Social Justice. The film was released after a long and controversial gestation period.

1994 to 2000

By the end of 1990s he had films such as Priyadarshan
Priyadarshan
Priyadarshan is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter. In a career spanning over two decades, Priyadarshan has directed over 80 films in several Indian languages including Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu...

's Megham
Megham
Megham is a 1999 Malayalam musical comedy film directed by Priyadarshan, starring Mammootty, Priya Gill, Dileep, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Pooja Batra, Sreenivasan, Nedumudi Venu, Captain Raju, and Cochin Haneefa. The music was composed by Ouseppachan...

 and Fazil's Harikrishnans
Harikrishnans
Harikrishnans is a 1998 Malayalam film directed by Fazil and starring Mammootty, Mohanlal, and Juhi Chawla in the lead roles...

 in which he co-starred with actor Mohanlal
Mohanlal
Mohanlal Vishwanathan Nair , known mononymously as Mohanlal , is a National Award-winning Indian actor, producer, singer and writer who is well known for his versatile and natural acting in Indian cinema & hence widely known as the Universal Star...

. Due to immense popularity of both the actors, Fazil was forced to use multiple climaxes for the first time in India in Harikrishnans.

Mammootty started of the decade (2000) with Lohithadas
Lohithadas
Ambazhathil Karunakaran Lohithadas was an Indian screenwriter, director, and producer known for his extensive work in Malayalam cinema....

's Arayannagalude Veedu
Arayannagalude Veedu
Arayannegalude Veedu is a Malayalam cinema written and directed by A. K. Lohithadas in 2000The film was both commercially and critically celebrated.-Plot:...

. A critical and commercial success, it earned the Filmfare Best Actor Award
Filmfare Best Actor Award
The Filmfare Award for Best Actor is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a male actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. The award was first given in 1954....

 for Mammootty. He portrayed Arackal Madhavanunni in Shaji Kailas
Shaji Kailas
Shaji Kailas is a Malayalam film director. He is known for his hard-hitting action films.-Childhood and entry into films:Shaji Kailas was born in Vanchiyoor, Thiruvananthapuram, to Late Sivakumaran Nair and Janakiyamma. After attending Model Boys School, Shaji pursued degree at Mahatma Gandhi...

's action thriller Valliettan
Valliettan
Valliettan or Valyettan is a 2000 Malayalam action film directed by Shaji Kailas. Scripted by Ranjith, this film has Mammootty, Shobana, Siddique, Innocent, and Saikumar in leading roles.The film was a box office blockbuster...

, which was one of the highest grossing films of the year.

Setback (2001–2003)

The period 2001–2003 was of a big setback for Mammootty. In 2001 he acted only in two films one of which, the much hyped Dubai
Dubai (2001 film)
Dubai is a 2001 Malayalam thriller film directed by Joshiy with Mammootty in the main role. Scripted by Renji Panicker, Dubai, speaks about the fight of Ravi Mamman, a Dubai based business tycoon against his enemies....

 (one of the most expensive films ever made in Malayalam), was a boxoffice disaster. In 2002, he acted in only three films , none of which was successful. And in 2003 he got to appear only in two films, again without commercial success.

Comeback (2004–2011)

The 2004 film, the third installment in the CBI series, Sethurama Iyer CBI
Sethurama Iyer CBI
Sethurama Iyer CBI is a 2004 Malayalam film directed by K Madhu, written by S. N. Swami, and starring Mammootty, Mukesh and Jagathy Sreekumar....

 marked his come back. In 2004, he won the state award for his portrayal of Operator Madhavan in Blessy
Blessy
Blessy is an Indian film director and screenwriter who has made several critically acclaimed films in Malayalam. As a film director, he is influenced by Padmarajan and Bharathan.- Career :...

's Kazhcha. Ranjith's Black
Black (2004 film)
Black: The Man From Darkness is a 2004 Malayalam action thriller film made in India, written and directed by Ranjith, and produced by Lal. It deals with the underworld operations in Kochi, India. Mammootty plays the role of Karikkamuri Shanmugham, who is a hit man and a contract killer. The film...

 and V. M. Vinu's Vesham
Vesham
Vesham is a 2004 Malayalam film directed by V. M. Vinu in which Mammootty plays the lead role Appu, a businessman. The film is highly regarded as the best family entertainer of the year...

 were also successful ventures.

Mammootty had six releases in 2005, including Anwar Rasheed
Anwar Rasheed
Anwar Rasheed is a Malayali Indian film director notable for his debut film Rajamanikyam starring Mammootty. His second feature film was Chotta Mumbai , which had Mohanlal in the lead role...

's directorial debut Rajamanikyam
Rajamanikyam
Rajamanikyam is a 2005 Malayalam film, the directorial debut of Anwar Rasheed, written by T. A. Shahid, and starring Mammootty in the title role....

. He portrayed Bellary Raja, a Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...

 based cattle dealer, in the film which was the highest grosser of the year.

In 2006, Mammootty won the Filmfare Best Actor Award
Filmfare Best Actor Award
The Filmfare Award for Best Actor is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a male actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. The award was first given in 1954....

 for the movie Karutha Pakshikal
Karutha Pakshikal
Karutha Pakshikal is a 2006 Malayalam film directed by Kamal.-Awards:Mammootty and Padmapriya won the 2007 Filmfare Award. Film also marked the excellent acting of actress Meena who played the role of a rich woman. Rajesh Hebbar who enacts the role of Meena's husband Satish, has also done an...

 directed by Kamal. He also did I. V. Sasi
I. V. Sasi
Irruppam Veedu Sasidaran, better known as I. V. Sasi, is a Malayali Indian film director who is known for his films of the 1970s, 80s and early 90s. He has directed about 150 films in various South Indian languages and Hindi. He is known as the "veteran" or the "guru" filmmaker in Malayalam...

's Balram vs. Tharadas, in which he reprised his roles Inspector Balram
Inspector Balram
Inspector Balram is a 1991 Malayalam film directed by I. V. Sasi, scripted by T. Damodaran, and starring Mammootty. It is a sequel to the 1986 film Aavanazhi and was followed by a sequel, Balram vs. Taradas, in 2006....

 from the 1991 blockbuster Inspector Balram
Inspector Balram
Inspector Balram is a 1991 Malayalam film directed by I. V. Sasi, scripted by T. Damodaran, and starring Mammootty. It is a sequel to the 1986 film Aavanazhi and was followed by a sequel, Balram vs. Taradas, in 2006....

 and Tharadas
Tharadas
Thradas is Anti-hero and character of I.V. Sasi's Athirathram and Balram vs. Tharadas. He is played by Mammootty. His parents were killed by police and he was raised by his uncle Shankardas who treated him as own son. This caused his cousin Chandu to become jealous. He was also the rival of...

 from the 1984 blockbuster Athirathram
Athirathram (film)
Athirathram is a 1984 Malayalam crime film directed by I.V. Sasi. The film's central character Tharadas re-appears in Sasi's 2006 film Balram vs. Taradas.-Plot:...

. It was I. V. Sasi's 144th film, and a record 35th with Mammootty. Mammootty’s career graph raised spectacularly after the release of Rajamanikyam
Rajamanikyam
Rajamanikyam is a 2005 Malayalam film, the directorial debut of Anwar Rasheed, written by T. A. Shahid, and starring Mammootty in the title role....

 directed by debutant Anwar Rasheed
Anwar Rasheed
Anwar Rasheed is a Malayali Indian film director notable for his debut film Rajamanikyam starring Mammootty. His second feature film was Chotta Mumbai , which had Mohanlal in the lead role...

. Released during Ramadan 2005, the movie broke all collection records and became the biggest hit of 2005. Rajamanikyam was also touted as the biggest hit of all time ever produced in the Malayalam cinema. In 2006, Mammootty continued his success with the film Thuruppugulan. Mammootty's action comedy Mayavi
Mayavi
Mayavi is a Malayalam language comics strip appearing in the Indian children's weekly Balarama owned by Malayala Manorama group. The comics is written by Mohan and illustrated at first by Pradip Sathe. Artist Mohandas took over the job of drawing the series after Balarama became a biweekly...

 became the top grosser of 2007. His portrayal of Dr.Nathan in Shyamaprasad's Ore Kadal
Ore Kadal
Ore Kadal is a 2007 Malayalam film written and directed by Shyamaprasad. The film examines the extra martial relationship between an intellectual economist and a housewife...

 (2007) was critically acclaimed. Big B
Big B
Big B may refer to:* Big B , a 2007 Malayalam action-thriller* Big B , American rapper* Big B Drugs, a defunct American drugstore chain* Amitabh Bachchan or Big B, Indian actor...

 was another hit in 2007.

In 2008, Mammootty delivered another blockbuster Annan Thambi
Annan Thambi
Annan Thambi is a 2008 Malayalam film by Anwar Rasheed, starring Mammootty, Lakshmi Rai and Gopika. Mammootty did a double role in the film by playing twin brothers. Rahulraj composed the music of this movie.-Plot:...

. The film released in 75 centres across the state and completed 50 days in nearly 61 centres.The film is touted as the biggest hit in malayalam surpassing the record of Rajamanikyam. He played a police cop for 25th time in the film Roudram
Roudram
Raudram is a 2008 Malayalam film directed by Renji Panicker. Mammootty plays the lead role of Narendran, a dedicated IPS officer. Sai Kumar, Vijayaraghavan, and Rajan P Dev plays other leading roles.-Plot:...

 which was not a commercial success. He starred in Kerala's multistarrer Twenty: 20 his another release in 2008 which too was a success.

Also, "Mayabazaar" holds the record for highest channel right collecting film in Malayalam Film Industry, by selling the channel right for 1.3 crores. The record breaks his own record of 1.1 crores for the film Annan Thambi.

In October 2009, Pazhassi Raja, directed by Hariharan
Hariharan (director)
Hariharan is a Malayali film director. His movies mainly revolved around the cultural and relational aspects of a typical Kerala society. His notable works include Pazhassi Raja, Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, Sargam, Parinayam, Amrutham Gamaya and Nakhakshathangal, which won him national...

 and written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair
M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair , popularly known as MT, is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj...

, was released. . He also acted in the short film Puramkazhchakal (directed by Lal Jose
Lal Jose
Lal Jose is an Indian film director. His debut film as a director is Oru Maravathoor Kanavu . His popular films include Meesa Madhavan , Classmates and Arabikkatha .- Biography :...

) from Malayalam's first Portmanteau film Kerala Cafe
Kerala Cafe
Kerala Cafe is a Malayalam anthology film produced by Ranjith and directed by a team of ten directors including Lal Jose, Shaji Kailas, Anwar Rasheed, Shyamaprasad, B. Unnikrishnan, Revathy, Anjali Menon, M. Padmakumar, Shankar Ramakrishnan, and Uday Ananthan. For the first time in the history of...

. In 2009, he won his fifth state award for Best Actor
Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor
The Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor has been awarded annually in India since 1969. The Kerala State Film Awards were managed directly by the Government of Kerala's Department of Cultural Affairs until 1997; they are now given by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, an autonomous non-profit...

 for his performance in Ranjith's Paleri Manikyam
Paleri Manikyam
Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha is a 2009 Malayalam crime drama film written and directed by Ranjith, starring Mammootty, Shwetha Menon and Mythili. It is based on a best selling Malayalam novel of the same name by T. P. Rajeevan, which said the true story of the first recorded...

. Two films he acted in – Kutty Srank and Pazhassi Raja – bagged eight national awards. He was nominated for the National Award for Best Actor
National Film Award for Best Actor
The National Film Award for Best Actor is an honor presented annually at the National Film Awards of India to an actor who has delivered the best performance in a leading role within the Indian film industry.-Background:The Directorate of Film Festivals makes awards annually in several categories...

 in 2009, but he lost the award in the final round of the competition to Amitabh Bachan. The jury's decision to give the award to Bachan was criticised by Shaji N Karun, director of Kutty Srank (the movie which won the award for best film of 2009) and Ranjith, director of Paleri Manikyam
Paleri Manikyam
Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha is a 2009 Malayalam crime drama film written and directed by Ranjith, starring Mammootty, Shwetha Menon and Mythili. It is based on a best selling Malayalam novel of the same name by T. P. Rajeevan, which said the true story of the first recorded...

.

Mammootty started of the decade (2010) with Pokkiri Raja
Pokkiri Raja (2010 film)
Pokkiri Raja is a 2010 Malayalam masala film starring Mammootty in the title role, along with Prithviraj and Shriya Saran in the main roles. The film is written by the duo Udayakrishna-Siby K. Thomas, directed by debutante Vyshakh, and the music is composed by Jassie Gift. The film was released on...

, Pranchiyettan and the Saint, directed by Ranjith, and Best Actor
Best Actor (film)
- External links :* http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/7722/malayalam/best-actor/index.htm Best Actor] at Nowrunning.com*...

. Pokkiri Raja went on to become the highest grossing film of the year with the trade pundits declaring it as a blockbuster success. Pranchiyettan and the Saint which has been touted as the beginning of a renaissance in Malayalam cinema, became the longest running Malayalam film of the last five years.

Present

His latest releases are Sohan Seenulal's Doubles
Doubles (2011 film)
Doubles is a 2011 Malayalam comedy-action drama film directed by debutant Sohan Seenulal and written by the Sachi-Sethu duo. It stars Mammootty, Nadia Moidu and Taapsee Pannu in the lead roles, and features an extensive cast of supporting actors with Saiju Kurup, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Salim Kumar,...

, Jayaraj
Jayaraj
Jayaraj Rajasekharan Nair, often credited as Jayaraj, is an award-winning Indian Malayali filmmaker who has marked his presence in mainstream as well as art house films...

's The Train and Babu Janardhanan's 1993 Bombay, March 12
1993 Bombay, March 12
-Critical reception:The film received positive reviews upon release.But did not make a big move in box office.Paresh C. Palicha of Rediff.com said, "Bombay March 12 is a promising debut for scriptwriter Babu Janardhanan as a director." He rated the film three in a scale of five . Mammootty's...

. He is currently working on films like, Abhay Simha's Kannada film Shikari
Shikari (2011 film)
Shikari is an upcoming bilingual film in Kannada and Malayalam. The film is written and directed by Abhay Simha. It stars Mammootty and Poonam Bajwa in the lead, with Aditya, Mohan and Innocent doing other major roles. The film is the Kannada debut of Mammootty, and also the Malayalam debut of...

, Shafi's Venicile Vyaapari
Venicile Vyaapari
Venicile Vyapari is an upcoming Malayalam film starring Mammootty, Kavya Madhavan and Poonam Bajwa. Directed by Shafi, the film's plot unfolds in Alappuzha, a town in Kerala popularly known as the Venice of the East. The story follows a murder mystery. Mammootty plays the protagonist, Pavithran, a...

 and Shaji Kailas
Shaji Kailas
Shaji Kailas is a Malayalam film director. He is known for his hard-hitting action films.-Childhood and entry into films:Shaji Kailas was born in Vanchiyoor, Thiruvananthapuram, to Late Sivakumaran Nair and Janakiyamma. After attending Model Boys School, Shaji pursued degree at Mahatma Gandhi...

's The King and the Commissioner.

Films in other languages

Mammootty has acted in a few non-Malayalam
Malayalam cinema
The Cinema of Kerala or Malayalam cinema refers to the film industry in the Indian state of Kerala, which makes films in the Malayalam language. Malayalam movies typically portray social or family issues and are considered more realistic than films from other parts of India. Malayalam cinema has...

 movies and these include some Tamil, Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...

, Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...

, Kannada and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

 films. In 1989, he made his Tamil debut in Maunam Sammatham, directed by K. Madhu. He has acted in Tamil films for directors including K. Balachander
K. Balachander
K. Balachander is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer. Balachander is known for his distinct film-making style. His films analyse unusual or complicated interpersonal relationships and social themes. He has directed nearly 80 films and has worked in 100 films either as director or...

 (Azhagan), Mani Ratnam
Mani Ratnam
Mani Ratnam is an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter and producer. He made his directorial debut with the Kannada film Pallavi Anu Pallavi starring Anil Kapoor in 1983...

 (Thalapathy), and Rajiv Menon
Rajiv Menon
Rajiv Menon is an Indian cinematographer and film maker. He is known for directing critically acclaimed Tamil films like Minsaara Kanavu and Kandukondain Kandukondain.-Early Life:...

 (Kandukondain Kandukondain
Kandukondain Kandukondain
Kandukondain Kandukondain is a 2000 Tamil musical and romantic film based on Jane Austen's novel Sense and Sensibility. Directed and co-written by Rajiv Menon, the film features an ensemble cast of Ajith Kumar, Mammootty, Tabu, Aishwarya Rai and Abbas in the lead roles...

). Kilippechu Kekkavaa (1993), directed by Fazil
Fazil
A. M. Fazil is an Indian filmmaker, producer, and screenwriter of Malayalam cinema.His father wanted him to be a doctor, but in school and college, extra curricular activities engulfed him. He wrote plays, enacted them with his friends A. M. Fazil (born 1953, in Alleppey, Kerala) is an Indian...

, had Mammootty as a romantic hero. He played the role of Anantha Sharma in K. Vishwanath
Kasinadhuni Viswanath
Kasinadhuni Vishwanath is an Indian film director and actor from Telugu Cinema. He is a multiple winner of National Film Award and Nandi Award...

's Telugu film Swathi Kiranam
Swathi Kiranam
Swathi Kiranam is a 1992 Telugu Musical hit film directed by Dr.K.Viswanath. The movie starred Mammootty, Master Manjunath, and Radhika. The movie is about an egoistic music teacher unable to tolerate the extraordinary talent of his prodigious young disciple.-Plot:The film starts with a shabby old...

 (1992).

He acted in the Kannada film Shikari in 2011.

He made his debut into Hindi films through Thriyathri which was released in 1989, though his first film as a hero
Hero
A hero , in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demigod, their cult being one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion...

 was Dhartiputra
Dhartiputra
Dhartiputra was a 1993 Hindi film, directed by Iqbal Durrani, and was debut Hindi film of Malayalam actor Mammotty. Produced by Dinesh Patel, who earlier produced Phool aur Kaante and Divya Shakti. Music by Nadeem-Shravan.-Cast:* Mammootty* Jaya Prada...

. He starred in the biographical film Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (film)
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar is a 2000 Indian feature film in English language, directed by Jabbar Patel. The film tells the story of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, known mainly for his contributions in shaping the Constitution of India, as the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constituent Assembly...

 directed by Jabbar Patel
Jabbar Patel
Dr. Jabbar Patel is a theatre and film director of India. His production of the play Vijay Tendulkar's play Ghashiram Kotwal, in 1973 is considered a classic in Modern Indian Theatre....

 which was in the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

. He also appeared in Sau Jhooth Ek Sach (2004).

During the 2006 IIFA Awards ceremony held at Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...

, he openly criticized the organizers of the IIFA Awards for completely ignoring South Indian film by stating that the Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...

 film industry should stand up to competition from the South Indian film industry before calling itself international.

Films shown at International film festivals

The movie Mathilukal
Mathilukal
This article has details about the novel as well as its film adaptation.Mathilukal is a Malayalam novel written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer in 1965. It is one of the most cherished and well-known love stories in Malayalam. Its hero, Basheer himself, and heroine, Narayani, never meet, yet they love...

 ('The Walls') has been shown in almost 40 International Film festival
Film festival
A film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings...

 beginning with Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...

. It was well received upon screening at the Venice International Film Festival
Venice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...

, and won four awards
National Film Awards
The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it is administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.Every year, a national panel...

 in 1990.

Vidheyan
Vidheyan
Vidheyan is a 1993 Indian Malayalam film directed and co-written by Adoor Gopalakrishnan. It is a cinematic adaptation of the novel Bhaskara Pattelarum Ente Jeevithavum by Malayalam writer Paul Zacharia. The film explores the master-slave dialectic in a South Karnataka setting...

, the cinematic adaptation of the novel "Bhaskara Pattelarum Ente Jeevithavum" by Malayalam writer Paul Zachariah explores the master-slave dialectic in a South Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...

 setting. The film won the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC)
Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema
The Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema is a worldwide organization of 29 member countries. It was created as the result of a conference on Asian cinema organized by Cinemaya, the Asian Film Quarterly, in New Delhi in 1990 at the instance and with the support of UNESCO, Paris.Headquartered...

 Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam
International Film Festival Rotterdam
The International Film Festival Rotterdam is an annual film festival held in various cinemas in Rotterdam, Netherlands held at the end of January. It is approximately comparable in size to other major European festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Locarno...

, along with the Interfilm Award - Honorable Mention at the Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival
International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg
Mannheim-Heidelberg International Filmfestival is an annual film festival held jointly by the cities of Mannheim and Heidelberg in Baden-Württemberg. The festival was established in 1952. In Mannheim there are six cinema centres and 19 single cinemas.The festival presents arthouse films of...

.

Philanthropic work

Mammootty is involved in more than half a dozen philanthropic projects
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...

 aimed at helping needy people.

Mammootty is the patron
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...

 of the Pain and Palliative Care Society
Palliative care
Palliative care is a specialized area of healthcare that focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients...

, a charitable organization
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...

 in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

 formed with the aim of improving the quality of life among patients with advanced cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...

. He has been the fuel and the engine of the Pain and Palliative Care
Palliative care
Palliative care is a specialized area of healthcare that focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients...

 Centre situated in Kozhikode
Kozhikode
Kozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...

, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. Mammootty has now put forth a novel project to provide the pain and palliative care to those suffering from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...

 throughout Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

.

Mammootty is the ambassador of Jeevan Jothi, a social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...

 project aimed at providing aid to people seeking treatment for any ophthalmic
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...

 diseases, cardiac diseases, orthopedic diseases, liver diseases, renal dysfunctions
Renal failure
Renal failure or kidney failure describes a medical condition in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter toxins and waste products from the blood...

, Haemophilia diseases
Haemophilia
Haemophilia is a group of hereditary genetic disorders that impair the body's ability to control blood clotting or coagulation, which is used to stop bleeding when a blood vessel is broken. Haemophilia A is the most common form of the disorder, present in about 1 in 5,000–10,000 male births...

, or ENT
Otolaryngology
Otolaryngology or ENT is the branch of medicine and surgery that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, and head and neck disorders....

 disorders.

Mammootty is the goodwill ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....

 of a charity project "Street India Movement", which is aimed at the eradication of child begging and child labor
Child labor
Child labour refers to the employment of children at regular and sustained labour. This practice is considered exploitative by many international organizations and is illegal in many countries...

. He has promoted the activities of the movement, which networks with orphanages and institutions looking after the children.

Kazhcha is a venture to extend free eye care and treatment organized by Mammootty Fans Welfare Association and Mammootty Times, in association with Little Flower Hospital and Research Centre and the Eye Bank Association of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

. One of the major activities related to this is distribution of free spectacles to children. A special fund received from the office of the President of India
President of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...

 will be utilized for this purpose. Free eye camps will also be conducted at various places in connection to this project.

During Onam
Onam
Onam is a Hindu festival celebrated by the people of Kerala, India. The festival commemorates the Vamana avatar of Vishnu and the subsequent homecoming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali. It falls during the month of Chingam and lasts for ten days...

 2007, Mammootty donated food items among thousand families in Parathodu near Kanjirappally
Kanjirappally
Kanjirappally is a taluk and a town in Kottayam district, in the state of Kerala, India. Rubber plantations are a major source of income for the local population. The place has a large population of Syrian Catholic Christians....

 in Kottayam district
Kottayam district
Kottayam is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The district has its headquarters at Kottayam town, located at 9.36° N and 76.17° E. According to the 1991 census, it is the first district to achieve highest literacy rate in the whole of India...

, a Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

 village which was hit by Chikungunya
Chikungunya
Chikungunya virus is an insect-borne virus, of the genus Alphavirus, that is transmitted to humans by virus-carrying Aedes mosquitoes. There have been recent breakouts of CHIKV associated with severe illness...

. The village which was worst hit by the disease claimed the most lives in the state.

Akshaya
Akshaya project
The Akshaya project, first started in the rural Kasaragod district of Kerala, India, and now spread all around the state, was the first district-wide e-literacy project in India and one of the largest known Internet Protocol based wireless networks in the world...

, the information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...

 dissemination project of the Government of Kerala
Government of Kerala
The Government of Kerala is a democratically elected body that governs the State of Kerala, India for a period of 5 years. The state government is headed by the Governor of Kerala as the nominal head of state, with a democratically elected Chief Minister as real head of the executive. The state...

, has Mammootty as its Goodwill Ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador is a collective term sometimes used as a substitute honorific title or a title of honor for an Ambassador of Goodwill; but, most appropriately for a generic recognition, it is a job position or description that is usually indicated following the name of the individual recognized...

. He formally took over the role on 26 February 2006 at a video networked programme which was linked to all the district headquarters of the state. Mammootty spearheaded the campaign by appearing in print and visual media advertisements and other publicity materials that sent the message of the Akshaya project
Akshaya project
The Akshaya project, first started in the rural Kasaragod district of Kerala, India, and now spread all around the state, was the first district-wide e-literacy project in India and one of the largest known Internet Protocol based wireless networks in the world...

 to the grassroots.

Mammootty is a patron of "Share International Foundation", a charity organisation working towards removing the inequalities in society. The foundation has done many notable humanitarian works including the recent "Hridaya Sparsham project of the Care", to mobilise help for the heart surgery of children. Mammootty's plea over the social networking sites evoked aid worth about 1 crore within a day.

Television career

As of 2010, Mammootty is the Chairman
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...

 of Malayalam Communications, which runs some Malayalam TV channels such as Kairali TV
Kairali TV
Kairali TV is an Indian television channel broadcasting in the Malayalam language catering to the Malayalam speaking population in Kerala as well as abroad . The channel, headquartered in Trivandrum, has studio facilities in Trivandrum as well as Kochi. Malayalam Communications Limited is the...

, People TV
People TV
People TV is an Indian television channel based at Trivandrum. It was launched by Malayalam Communications Limited. The channel focusses on news and current issues. It was People TV that introduced camera sting operation in Malayalam Television Journalism successfully...

 and Channel We
WE TV
We TV is the third TV channel from Malayalam Communications Ltd, in Kerala and based at Trivandrum. The other two channels of this company are Kairali TV and People TV. WE TV is mainly aimed at the youth and was officially launched on April 14, 2007. Mr...

.

He owned a production company during the 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...

, Casino, along with Mohanlal
Mohanlal
Mohanlal Vishwanathan Nair , known mononymously as Mohanlal , is a National Award-winning Indian actor, producer, singer and writer who is well known for his versatile and natural acting in Indian cinema & hence widely known as the Universal Star...

, I.V. Sasi, Seema
Seema (actress)
Seema is an Indian actress. She has performed in approximately 250 films in Malayalam, nine in Tamil, seven in Telugu, three in Kannada and one in Hindi. Seema is still active in the movie industry.She began her career in Tamil film at fourteen as a dancer...

 and Century Kochumon. The production house produced commercially successful films such as Nadodikkattu
Nadodikkattu
Nadodikattu is a 1987 Malayalam comedy film directed by Sathyan Anthikkad and written by Sreenivasan. The story revolves around two impecunious young Malayali men, Ramdas aka Dasan and Vijayan who not being able to find any job in Kerala, plan to go to Dubai to make their fortunes, but get...

, Gandhi Nagar 2nd Street, Adiyozhukkukal and Karimpin Poovinakkare.

He formed a television production company
Production company
A production company provides the physical basis for works in the realms of the performing arts, new media art, film, television, radio, and video.- Tasks and functions :...

, Megabytes, which produced television serials
Serial (radio and television)
Serials are series of television programs and radio programs that rely on a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode by episode fashion. Serials typically follow main story arcs that span entire television seasons or even the full run of the series, which distinguishes them from...

, the first being Jwalayay in the late 1990s, which was also his first project as a producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...

. He also owns a distribution company named Mammootty Technotainment. The company distributed his Tamil film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...

 Karmegham in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

.

Other activities

Mammootty was appointed as the Global Brand ambassador
Brand ambassador
A Brand Ambassador is a person employed by a company to be the sales rep and physical representative of the company with respect to sales and marketing. The Brand Ambassador is meant to embody the corporate image in appearance, demeanor, values, and ethics....

 of the Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

-based South Indian Bank on 16 October 2006. He was also featured as the brand ambassador for Kerala Volleyball League.

Mammootty and Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...

-based businessman MA Yousuf Ali
M A Yousuf Ali
M. A. Yousuf Ali is a Non-resident Indian businessman hailing from Nattika in Thrissur district of Kerala. He is the Managing Director of Abu Dhabi-headquartered EMKE Group of Companies which owns the LuLu Hypermarket chain in Middle East...

 met with the officials of the Dubai Internet City
Dubai Internet City
Dubai Internet City is an information technology park created by the government of Dubai as a free economic zone and a strategic base for companies targeting regional emerging markets. The economic rules of DIC allow companies to avail themselves of a number of ownership, taxation and custom...

 (DIC) to lobby for the proposed Smart City
SmartCity, Kochi
SmartCity Kochi is a planned IT township to be constructed in Kochi, Kerala in India. Smart City Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. is a joint venture company formed to develop the Kochi Smart City project. Government of Kerala , TECOM Investments , a subsidiary of Dubai Holding are the main investors of...

 project at Kochi
Kochi
-Places:* Kochi, a city in the state of Kerala, India, formerly known as Cochin* Kingdom of Cochin, a former feudal city-state on Malabar Coast, India** Fort Kochi, one of the three main urban components which constitute the present day city of Kochi, Kerala, India...

.

Mammootty wrote his first book Kazhchapadu (roughly translated as "Perspective", a compilation of short essays he has written in various publications over the years).

Mammootty owns the distrubution company Playhouse Entertainments. Some films distributed by the company are Chattambinadu
Chattambinadu
Chattambinaadu is a Malayalam film released in 2009. The film was directed by Shafi and written by Benny P. Nayarambalam, and stars Mammootty, Lakshmi Rai, Siddique, Manoj K. Jayan, Vinu Mohan, and Suraj Venjarammoodu...

, Three Kings
Three Kings (2011 film)
Three Kings is a 2011 Malayalam–language caper film directed by V. K. Prakash and starring Jayasurya, Indrajith, Kunchacko Boban, Sandhya, Ann Augustine and Samvrutha Sunil...

, Living Together
Living Together (film)
-Box office:The film received negative reception from critics and viewers, and it's turning out as one of the biggest box office disasters of recent times.-External links:* . The Hindu. Retrieved 2011-02-18....

, Neelathamara, Pranchiyettan & the Saint
Pranchiyettan & the Saint
Pranchiyettan & the Saint is a 2010 Malayalam satirical film written, directed, and produced by Ranjith. The film centres on the fictitious conversation between the Thrissur based rice merchant C.E. Francis aka Pranchiyettan and St. Francis of Assisi...

, and The King and the Commissioner.

Awards, honours and recognitions

Mammootty has won three National Film Awards
National Film Awards
The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it is administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.Every year, a national panel...

, seven Kerala State Film Awards, eleven Filmfare Awards
Filmfare Awards South
Filmfare Awards South is the South Indian segment of the annual Filmfare Awards, presented by The Times Group to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the South Indian film industry. The awards are separately given for Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films...

, eleven Kerala Film Critics Awards and five Asianet Film Awards
Asianet Film Awards
The Asianet Film Awards is the most prominent award ceremony for Malayalam films presented annually by Asianet, a Malayalam-language television network from the south-Indian state of Kerala. The awards ceremony has been instituted to honour both artistic and technical excellence in the Malayalam...

 (from fourteen nominations). In 1998, Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...

 honored Mammootty, with its fourth highest civilian award, Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...

, awarded for his national service, including his contribution to the Indian film industry. He was conferred with Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.-Commonwealth:...

 degree by University of Calicut
University of Calicut
The University of Calicut is an affiliating university in the southern state of Kerala in India. It is situated in Thenjipalam, in the district of Malappuram with a number of off-campus centres in neighbouring districts. The University conducts courses and examinations for the students of the...

 and University of Kerala in 2010.

External links


Mammootty is an Indian
Indian people
Indian people or Indisians constitute the Asian nation and pan-ethnic group native to India, which forms the south of Asia, containing 17.31% of the world's population. The Indian nationality is in essence made up of regional nationalities, reflecting the rich and complex history of India...

 film actor and producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...

 who works mainly in Malayalam cinema
Malayalam cinema
The Cinema of Kerala or Malayalam cinema refers to the film industry in the Indian state of Kerala, which makes films in the Malayalam language. Malayalam movies typically portray social or family issues and are considered more realistic than films from other parts of India. Malayalam cinema has...

. He has also acted in a few Tamil
Tamil cinema
Tamil cinema is the film industry based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to the production of films in the Tamil language. It is based in Chennai's Kodambakkam district, where several South Indian film production companies are headquartered...

, Hindi, Telugu
Telugu cinema
The Cinema of Andhra Pradesh, also referred to as Telugu Cinema or Tollywood, is the Telugu film industry in India. The Telugu language film industry is known for being one of the three largest in terms of no.of films produced yearly in India. The Prasads IMAX theatre in Hyderabad is one of the...

, and Kannada films. During a career spanning more than three decades, he has acted in more than 360 films, and is only next to Prem Nazir
Prem Nazir
Abdul Khader , better known by his stage name Prem Nazir , was an Indian film actor. He is considered one of the all time super stars in Malayalam cinema...

 in the number of lead roles in Indian films. He also appeared in the highest number of dual roles (nine) in Malayalam film.

Mammootty was awarded the National Film Award for Best Actor
National Film Award for Best Actor
The National Film Award for Best Actor is an honor presented annually at the National Film Awards of India to an actor who has delivered the best performance in a leading role within the Indian film industry.-Background:The Directorate of Film Festivals makes awards annually in several categories...

 three times . He also won five Kerala State Film Awards, and eleven Filmfare Awards
Filmfare Awards South
Filmfare Awards South is the South Indian segment of the annual Filmfare Awards, presented by The Times Group to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the South Indian film industry. The awards are separately given for Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films...

. He was the first (1998) Malayalam actor to be honoured with the state honour Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...

 for contributions toward Indian cinema
Cinema of India
The cinema of India consists of films produced across India, which includes the cinematic culture of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Indian films came to be followed throughout South Asia and...

. He was honoured a Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.-Commonwealth:...

 by University of Kerala in Jan 2010 and by University of Calicut
University of Calicut
The University of Calicut is an affiliating university in the southern state of Kerala in India. It is situated in Thenjipalam, in the district of Malappuram with a number of off-campus centres in neighbouring districts. The University conducts courses and examinations for the students of the...

 in Dec 2010. Vanitha
Vanitha
Vanitha is an Indian magazine published fortnightly by the Malayala Manorama group. Although its name translates to "woman" in Malayalam, it includes articles on a variety of topics, and is not strictly a women's magazine. Published in Malayalam and Hindi, it is the largest selling magazine in...

, a leading women's magazine in Malayalam, in 2004, chose Mammootty as the actor with the highest sex appeal in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

, following a survey among its readers.

Mammootty is Chairman
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...

 of Malayalam Communications, which runs Malayalam TV channels Kairali TV
Kairali TV
Kairali TV is an Indian television channel broadcasting in the Malayalam language catering to the Malayalam speaking population in Kerala as well as abroad . The channel, headquartered in Trivandrum, has studio facilities in Trivandrum as well as Kochi. Malayalam Communications Limited is the...

, People TV
People TV
People TV is an Indian television channel based at Trivandrum. It was launched by Malayalam Communications Limited. The channel focusses on news and current issues. It was People TV that introduced camera sting operation in Malayalam Television Journalism successfully...

, and WE TV
WE TV
We TV is the third TV channel from Malayalam Communications Ltd, in Kerala and based at Trivandrum. The other two channels of this company are Kairali TV and People TV. WE TV is mainly aimed at the youth and was officially launched on April 14, 2007. Mr...

. Mammootty has promoted humanitarian causes
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...

 throughout Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

 and is the goodwill ambassador
Brand ambassador
A Brand Ambassador is a person employed by a company to be the sales rep and physical representative of the company with respect to sales and marketing. The Brand Ambassador is meant to embody the corporate image in appearance, demeanor, values, and ethics....

 of the Akshaya project
Akshaya project
The Akshaya project, first started in the rural Kasaragod district of Kerala, India, and now spread all around the state, was the first district-wide e-literacy project in India and one of the largest known Internet Protocol based wireless networks in the world...

.

Family and early life

Mammootty was born and raised in Chempu
Chempu
Chempu is a village near Vaikom in Kottayam, Kerala, India. It is bounded by the shores of the Lake Vembanad, and is crossed by various distributaries of the River Muvattupuzha....

 near Vaikom
Vaikom
Vaikom is a taluk and also its capital town, situated in the North-West of Kottayam in Kerala, India. Its western border is the Lake Vembanad, and is crossed by various estuaries of the River Muvattupuzha. It lies between Ernakulam and Kottayam...

 in the Kottayam district
Kottayam district
Kottayam is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The district has its headquarters at Kottayam town, located at 9.36° N and 76.17° E. According to the 1991 census, it is the first district to achieve highest literacy rate in the whole of India...

 of the state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

 in a middle class, Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...

 family. He was the eldest son of the family. His father Ismail was a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...

 and his mother Fatima was a housewife
Housewife
Housewife is a term used to describe a married woman with household responsibilities who is not employed outside the home. Merriam Webster describes a housewife as a married woman who is in charge of her household...

. He did his Pre-University course (pre-degree) at Maharajas College
Maharajas College
The Maharaja's College is one of the biggest centres of learning and higher education in Kerala, India. Located in the heart of Cochin city, it is spread over a campus of on the banks of Vembanad Lake...

, Kochi
Kochi
-Places:* Kochi, a city in the state of Kerala, India, formerly known as Cochin* Kingdom of Cochin, a former feudal city-state on Malabar Coast, India** Fort Kochi, one of the three main urban components which constitute the present day city of Kochi, Kerala, India...

, and then graduated with a L.L.B. from Ernakulam
Ernakulam district
-Economy:Agriculture constitutes the most important segment of the district’s economy and it is the biggest source of employment. Of the geographical 235319 hectares, crops are grown in 0 hectares. Coconut is the principal crop followed by rubber, paddy, and tapioca...

 Government Law College. He also practiced law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...

 for two years in Manjeri
Manjeri
Manjeri is a town and municipality in Malappuram District in the state of Kerala, India. It is the commercial capital of Malappuram District and is 28 km from an international airport and 50 km from Kozhikode railway station....

. He married Sulfath in 1980 and has a daughter, Surumi (b. 1982) and a son, Dulquer Salmaan (b. 1986).

Early career (1971–1980)

Mammootty's debut was an uncredited appearance in the 1971 film Anubhavangal Paalichakal (Malayalam: അനുഭവങ്ങള്‍ പാളിച്ചകള്‍) directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan, which starred Sathyan
Sathyaneshan Nadar
Manuel Sathyaneshan Nadar commonly known by his stage name Sathyan, was an Indian film actor known for his work in Malayalam cinema. He has won the Kerala State Film Award twice and is renowned for his acting skills...

, Prem Nazir
Prem Nazir
Abdul Khader , better known by his stage name Prem Nazir , was an Indian film actor. He is considered one of the all time super stars in Malayalam cinema...

 and Sheela
Sheela
Sheela ), is a Malayalam film actress from India. She, along with Prem Nazir, holds the world record for acting in the largest number of films together as heroine and hero. In 2005 she won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the Malayalam film Akale. She has also...

 in the lead roles. His only scene in the film was being one among a running crowd along with the lead actor Sathyan. Mammootty then was a student at the Maharajas College
Maharajas College
The Maharaja's College is one of the biggest centres of learning and higher education in Kerala, India. Located in the heart of Cochin city, it is spread over a campus of on the banks of Vembanad Lake...

.

His second film was Kaalachakram
Kaalachakram
Kaalachakram is a 1973 Malayalam film directed by K. Narayanan, written by Sreekumaran Thampi, and starring Prem Nazir and Jayabharathi. This is the second film and the first dialogued appearance of the later superstar Mammootty.- Cast :*Prem Nazeer...

 (Malayalam: കാലചക്രം), a 1973 Malayalam film directed by K. Narayanan, and starring Prem Nazir and Jayabharathi
Jayabharathi
Jayabharathi is a popular Malayalam film actress who started her career in late 1960s. She is a two-time winner of the Kerala State Film Award for best actress....

. This was the first dialogued appearance of Mammootty, appearing only in one scene in the film. He acted under the screenname Sajin, but later dropped it.

His professional film career began in 1979, when he played his first lead role in Devalokam, directed by veteran M. T. Vasudevan Nair
M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair , popularly known as MT, is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj...

. However, this film was never completed.

His next film was the 1980 film, Vilkkanundu Swapnangal
Vilkkanundu Swapnangal
Vilkkanundu Swapnangal is a 1980 Malayalam drama film directed by Azad, written by M.T. Vasudevan Nair, and starring Sukumaran in the lead role. The film features Mammootty, as an antagonist in a supporting role. Voice for Mammootty in this film was dubbed by Sreenivasan.-Plot:To supported his...

 (Malayalam: വില്‍ക്കാനുണ്ട് സ്വപ്നങ്ങള്‍), directed by Azad, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair
M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair , popularly known as MT, is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj...

, and starring Sukumaran
Sukumaran
Edappal Ponnamkuzhi Veettil Sukumaran Nair , popularly known as Sukumaran, was an Indian film actor, and producer....

 in the lead role. The film featured Mammootty, as an antagonist in a supporting role. Voice for Mammootty in this film was dubbed by Sreenivasan.

Mammootty's first full length character was in the 1980 film Mela
Mela (1980 film)
Mela is a 1980 Malayalam film written & directed by K. G. George and starring Raghu, Anjali Naidu, and Mammootty. This is the first film where, the later superstar of Malayalam film, Mammootty, even though the antagonist, plays a notable and full-length role.This is also a film noted for starring...

 (Malayalam: മേള) which was written and directed by K. G. George
K. G. George
Kulakkatil Geevarghese George is an Indian film director who work in Malayalam film. George is one of the most celebrated filmmakers of Kerala who modernized the Malayalam cinema in the seventies. He is the founder-chairman of MACTA, and continues to be an executive member...

 and starring Raghu and Anjali Naidu as other lead actors. Mammootty played the antagonist in this film.

Establishing himself (1980–1983)

Mammootty began to establish himself as an actor and as a star through his film of the 1980s viz Sphodanam (directed by P. G. Viswambharan), Thrishna (directed by I.V. Sasi), etc. In 1981, he got his first state award in the Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
This is a list of awards for supporting actor. These are accolades given by a group of film or television professionals in recognition of the work of supporting and character actors...

 category for his performance in Ahimsa. His performances in films like Aalkkoottathil Thaniye
Aalkkoottathil Thaniye
Aalkkoottathil Thaniye is a 1984 Malayalam film directed by I. V. Sasi, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, and starring Mammootty, Mohanlal and Seema.-Plot:...

 and Adiyozhukkukal
Adiyozhukkukal
Adiyozhukkukal is a 1984 Malayalam drama film directed by I. V. Sasi and written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair; starring Mammootty, Seema, Mohanlal, Balan K. Nair, Vincent and Rahman in the main roles...

, scripted by M. T. Vasudevan Nair
M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair , popularly known as MT, is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj...

 established him as an actor of substance.The role of a police officer in the investigative thriller Yavanika (1982) directed by K. G. George cemented his position as a hero in Malayalam cinema. The film was a big commercial success and Mammootty's role got rave reviews for its style and dialogue delivery. This was the beginning of a trend whereby Mammootty would play the role of a tough cop in many action and investigative thrillers in the coming years.

The golden period (1984–1993)

In a period of five years from 1982 to 1986 Mammootty acted in more than 150 films in the lead role. In 1986 alone, he acted in about 35 films in the lead role.

The mid of 80s saw a period of tear busting stories in Malayalam film. Most of the films were tragedies. This period featured what later came to be referred to as the 'Mammootty-Kutty-Petty' films. These films had Mammootty as the protagonist, a husband and a father, with a 3–4 year old daughter, and employed in a top ranking post in a company. Mammootty made a comeback with New Delhi and Thaniyavarthanam
Thaniyavarthanam
Thaniyavarthanam is a 1987 Malayalam film written by A. K. Lohithadas and directed by Sibi Malayil. It stars Mammootty, Thilakan, Mukesh, Saritha, Philomina and Kaviyoor Ponnamma in the main roles. The story revolves around a family whose male members have a history of lunacy.-Plot:Balan Mash is...

, both released in 1987. New Delhi was a very important movie in his life as an actor. The film was loosely based on the novel, "The Almighty" by Irving Wallace. His portrayal of a victimized journalist, who systematically took revenge on politicians who flattered him, was noticed and well accepted by the masses. Meanwhile, his role as Balan mash in Thaniyavarthanam, written by Lohithadas
Lohithadas
Ambazhathil Karunakaran Lohithadas was an Indian screenwriter, director, and producer known for his extensive work in Malayalam cinema....

 and directed by Sibi Malayil
Sibi Malayil
Sibi Malayil is an Indian film director of Malayalam cinema best known for his melodramas of the 80s and 90s. Since the mid-1980s he has directed some 40 movies. Movies like Kireedam, Dasharatham, Thaniyavarthanam, His Highness Abdullah, Bharatham, and Akashadoothu defined the way Malayalam movies...

, was critically acclaimed.

In 1988 Mammootty delivered one of the biggest hits in the history of Malayalam Cinema with his Oru CBI Diary Kurippu
Oru CBI Diary Kurippu
Oru CBI Diary Kurippu is a 1988 Malayalam film directed by K. Madhu, scripted by S. N. Swamy, and starring Mammootty, Suresh Gopi and Jagathy Sreekumar....

. Oru CBI Diary Kurippu went on to create box-office history in Kerala as well as in Tamil Nadu. Mammootty's role as a CBI officer in this film got him critical acclaim. Following the success of the first CBI film Oru CBI Diary Kurippu, three more murder mystery sequels were produced with the same cast of characters: Jagratha
Jagratha
Jagratha is a 1989 Malayalam film directed by K. Madhu, starring Mammootty, Mukesh and Jagathy Sreekumar.This film is the second in the series of the CBI investigative thrillers featuring Mammootty as CBI officer Sethurama Iyer. Oru CBI Diary Kurippu is the prequel to this film and sequels are...

 (1989), Sethurama Iyer CBI
Sethurama Iyer CBI
Sethurama Iyer CBI is a 2004 Malayalam film directed by K Madhu, written by S. N. Swami, and starring Mammootty, Mukesh and Jagathy Sreekumar....

 (2004) and Nerariyan C.B.I (2005), all directed by K. Madhu
K. Madhu
K. Madhu is a Malayalam film director.Popular for his suspense and investigation thrillers, K.Madhu has a long list of hits in his kitty.-Career:...

, penned by S. N. Swamy
S. N. Swamy
S. N. Swamy is an Indian screenwriter who works in Malayalam cinema. Particularly known for scripting films in the thriller genre, he has scripted some of the biggest hits in Malayalam film history including the CBI film series , Koodum Thedi, Irupatham Noottandu, Moonnam Mura, August 1,...

 with Mammootty as Sethurama Iyer
Sethurama Iyer
Sethurama Iyer is a fictional character, and the protagonist of the CBI investigative thriller series of films in Malayalam directed by K. Madhu...

, an intelligent but unassuming CBI officer. The films by M. T. Vasudevan Nair
M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair , popularly known as MT, is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj...

 and Padmarajan
Padmarajan
P. Padmarajan was an Indian author, screenwriter, and film director who contributed in Malayalam language. Padmarajan was the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam, along with Bharathan, in the 1980s, which created films that were widely received while also being critically acclaimed...

, arguably among the best of Malayalam writer-directors, widened Mammootty's acting horizon. Two of M.T. Vasudevan Nair’s films with autobiographical elements were acted by Mammootty. One was Aksharangal directed by I. V. Sasi
I. V. Sasi
Irruppam Veedu Sasidaran, better known as I. V. Sasi, is a Malayali Indian film director who is known for his films of the 1970s, 80s and early 90s. He has directed about 150 films in various South Indian languages and Hindi. He is known as the "veteran" or the "guru" filmmaker in Malayalam...

 and the other was Sukrutham
Sukrutham
Sukrutham is a 1994 Malayalam film directed by Harikumar, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, with background music by Johnson. It is considered one of the outstanding Malayalam films of the mid-1990s...

 directed by Harikumar.

Mammootty touched the pinnacle of his career in Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha
Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha
Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha is a 1989 Malayalam film directed by Hariharan, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, and starring Mammootty, Balan K. Nair, Suresh Gopi, Madhavi, Geetha, and Captain Raju.The film is based on a legend about the famous Chekavar warriors of present day northern Kerala...

; the film was directed by T. Hariharan and penned by M.T.Vasudevan Nair. His depiction of a Chekavar (mercenary warrior) of distinguished valor but vilified by circumstances won him the National Film Award for Best Actor. Along with the huge commercial success of the film, Mammooty was given rave reviews about his lead role in the film, which required heavy physical and psychological preparations. His role as a hunter Varunni in Mrigaya, directed by I.V. Sasi, and another film Mahayanam
Mahayanam
Mahayanam is a 1989 Malayalam film directed by Joshy, and written by Lohithadas. With Mammootty, Mukesh, and Seema appearing in lead roles, this film was a big hit at the box office.-Plot:...

, was also scanned for the State Award. Mammootty won the Filmfare award for Amaram
Amaram
Amaram is a 1991 Malayalam film directed by Bharathan and written by A. K. Lohithadas, starring Mammootty, Murali, Maathu, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Balan K. Nair, Ashokan, Chitra, and Kuthiravattam Pappu in the main roles. The film score is composed by Johnson while the songs are by Raveendran.The...

 directed by Bharathan
Bharathan
Bharathan was an Indian film director, artist, lyricist, music director, sculptor, poster designer, editor and art director. Bharathan is noted for being the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam cinema, along with Padmarajan, in the 1980s, which created films that were widely...

. He played the role of an uneducated fisherman who dreams of making his only daughter a doctor.

During this time, Mammootty appeared in many of the films directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Moutatthu "Adoor" Gopalakrishnan Unnithan is an Indian film director, script writer, and producer. Adoor Gopalakrishnan had a major role in revolutionizing Malayalam cinema and is regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of India.. Adoor's first film Swayamvaram pioneered the new wave cinema...

's. He starred in three of his films, Anantharam
Anantharam
Anantharam is a village located in Jinnaram Mandal of Medak District, Andhra Pradesh, India. This small village is on the watch-list of the coveted award of 'the model village' of India....

 ('Thenceforth'), Mathilukal
Mathilukal
This article has details about the novel as well as its film adaptation.Mathilukal is a Malayalam novel written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer in 1965. It is one of the most cherished and well-known love stories in Malayalam. Its hero, Basheer himself, and heroine, Narayani, never meet, yet they love...

 ('Walls') and Vidheyan
Vidheyan
Vidheyan is a 1993 Indian Malayalam film directed and co-written by Adoor Gopalakrishnan. It is a cinematic adaptation of the novel Bhaskara Pattelarum Ente Jeevithavum by Malayalam writer Paul Zacharia. The film explores the master-slave dialectic in a South Karnataka setting...

 ('The Servile'). His portrayal of the protagonist in Mathilukal (based on 'Mathilukal', a novel by the ace Malayalam novelist Vaikom Muhammad Basheer) was instrumental in getting him his first National Film Award for Best Actor. Mammootty also portrayed the roles in Adoor Gopalakrishnan's Vidheyan and T V Chandran's Ponthan Mada
Ponthan Mada
Ponthan Mada is a 1994 Malayalam-language Indian feature film written and directed by T. V. Chandran. The film stars Mammootty and Naseeruddin Shah.-Plot:...

. He received the National Film Award for Best Actor and State Award for his roles in both films. His performance in Valtsalyam
Valtsalyam
Vatsalyam is a 1993 Malayalam film directed by Cochin Haneefa, written by Lohithadas, and starring Mammootty, Siddique, Geetha, Janardhanan, and Kaviyoor Ponnamma....- Cast :*Mammootty*Geetha*Siddique*Janardhanan*Ilavarasi*Sunitha*Kaviyoor Ponnamma...

 directed by Cochin Haneefa
Cochin Haneefa
Mohammed Haneefa, better known by his stage name Cochin Haneefa was an Indian film actor, director, and screenwriter. He started his career in the 1970s mainly portraying villainous roles, before going on to become one of the most popular comedians of Malayalam cinema...

 was also considered for the State Award. The King
The King (1995 film)
The King is a 1995 Malayalam action thriller film. Directed by Shaji Kailas and written by Renji Panicker with Mammootty as district collector, this film is one of the biggest hits in the history of Malayalam cinema....

, scripted by Renji Panikkar
Renji Panicker
Renji Panicker is an Indian script writer, producer and director who works in Malayalam cinema. He made his debut as a director with Bharatchandran IPS in 2005....

, was released in 1995 and was directed by Shaji Kailas
Shaji Kailas
Shaji Kailas is a Malayalam film director. He is known for his hard-hitting action films.-Childhood and entry into films:Shaji Kailas was born in Vanchiyoor, Thiruvananthapuram, to Late Sivakumaran Nair and Janakiyamma. After attending Model Boys School, Shaji pursued degree at Mahatma Gandhi...

. Mammootty played the central character as a District collector and it turned out to be the biggest hit of the year.

In 1997, he won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor
Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Malayalam)
The Filmfare Best Actor Award is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards South for Malayalam film lead actors. The award was first given in 1972 with Madhu being the first recipient....

 for the movie Bhoothakannadi directed by Lohithadas
Lohithadas
Ambazhathil Karunakaran Lohithadas was an Indian screenwriter, director, and producer known for his extensive work in Malayalam cinema....

.

Mammootty acted in In 1999, Mammootty won his third national award
National Film Award for Best Actor
The National Film Award for Best Actor is an honor presented annually at the National Film Awards of India to an actor who has delivered the best performance in a leading role within the Indian film industry.-Background:The Directorate of Film Festivals makes awards annually in several categories...

 for Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (film)
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar is a 2000 Indian feature film in English language, directed by Jabbar Patel. The film tells the story of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, known mainly for his contributions in shaping the Constitution of India, as the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constituent Assembly...

, an English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

 movie about the life of Ambedkar
B. R. Ambedkar
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar , popularly also known as Babasaheb, was an Indian jurist, political leader, philosopher, thinker, anthropologist, historian, orator, prolific writer, economist, scholar, editor, a revolutionary and one of the founding fathers of independent India. He was also the Chairman...

, directed by Jabbar Patel
Jabbar Patel
Dr. Jabbar Patel is a theatre and film director of India. His production of the play Vijay Tendulkar's play Ghashiram Kotwal, in 1973 is considered a classic in Modern Indian Theatre....

. The film was sponsored by the National Film Development Corporation of India and the Ministry of Social Justice. The film was released after a long and controversial gestation period.

1994 to 2000

By the end of 1990s he had films such as Priyadarshan
Priyadarshan
Priyadarshan is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter. In a career spanning over two decades, Priyadarshan has directed over 80 films in several Indian languages including Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu...

's Megham
Megham
Megham is a 1999 Malayalam musical comedy film directed by Priyadarshan, starring Mammootty, Priya Gill, Dileep, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Pooja Batra, Sreenivasan, Nedumudi Venu, Captain Raju, and Cochin Haneefa. The music was composed by Ouseppachan...

 and Fazil's Harikrishnans
Harikrishnans
Harikrishnans is a 1998 Malayalam film directed by Fazil and starring Mammootty, Mohanlal, and Juhi Chawla in the lead roles...

 in which he co-starred with actor Mohanlal
Mohanlal
Mohanlal Vishwanathan Nair , known mononymously as Mohanlal , is a National Award-winning Indian actor, producer, singer and writer who is well known for his versatile and natural acting in Indian cinema & hence widely known as the Universal Star...

. Due to immense popularity of both the actors, Fazil was forced to use multiple climaxes for the first time in India in Harikrishnans.

Mammootty started of the decade (2000) with Lohithadas
Lohithadas
Ambazhathil Karunakaran Lohithadas was an Indian screenwriter, director, and producer known for his extensive work in Malayalam cinema....

's Arayannagalude Veedu
Arayannagalude Veedu
Arayannegalude Veedu is a Malayalam cinema written and directed by A. K. Lohithadas in 2000The film was both commercially and critically celebrated.-Plot:...

. A critical and commercial success, it earned the Filmfare Best Actor Award
Filmfare Best Actor Award
The Filmfare Award for Best Actor is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a male actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. The award was first given in 1954....

 for Mammootty. He portrayed Arackal Madhavanunni in Shaji Kailas
Shaji Kailas
Shaji Kailas is a Malayalam film director. He is known for his hard-hitting action films.-Childhood and entry into films:Shaji Kailas was born in Vanchiyoor, Thiruvananthapuram, to Late Sivakumaran Nair and Janakiyamma. After attending Model Boys School, Shaji pursued degree at Mahatma Gandhi...

's action thriller Valliettan
Valliettan
Valliettan or Valyettan is a 2000 Malayalam action film directed by Shaji Kailas. Scripted by Ranjith, this film has Mammootty, Shobana, Siddique, Innocent, and Saikumar in leading roles.The film was a box office blockbuster...

, which was one of the highest grossing films of the year.

Setback (2001–2003)

The period 2001–2003 was of a big setback for Mammootty. In 2001 he acted only in two films one of which, the much hyped Dubai
Dubai (2001 film)
Dubai is a 2001 Malayalam thriller film directed by Joshiy with Mammootty in the main role. Scripted by Renji Panicker, Dubai, speaks about the fight of Ravi Mamman, a Dubai based business tycoon against his enemies....

 (one of the most expensive films ever made in Malayalam), was a boxoffice disaster. In 2002, he acted in only three films , none of which was successful. And in 2003 he got to appear only in two films, again without commercial success.

Comeback (2004–2011)

The 2004 film, the third installment in the CBI series, Sethurama Iyer CBI
Sethurama Iyer CBI
Sethurama Iyer CBI is a 2004 Malayalam film directed by K Madhu, written by S. N. Swami, and starring Mammootty, Mukesh and Jagathy Sreekumar....

 marked his come back. In 2004, he won the state award for his portrayal of Operator Madhavan in Blessy
Blessy
Blessy is an Indian film director and screenwriter who has made several critically acclaimed films in Malayalam. As a film director, he is influenced by Padmarajan and Bharathan.- Career :...

's Kazhcha. Ranjith's Black
Black (2004 film)
Black: The Man From Darkness is a 2004 Malayalam action thriller film made in India, written and directed by Ranjith, and produced by Lal. It deals with the underworld operations in Kochi, India. Mammootty plays the role of Karikkamuri Shanmugham, who is a hit man and a contract killer. The film...

 and V. M. Vinu's Vesham
Vesham
Vesham is a 2004 Malayalam film directed by V. M. Vinu in which Mammootty plays the lead role Appu, a businessman. The film is highly regarded as the best family entertainer of the year...

 were also successful ventures.

Mammootty had six releases in 2005, including Anwar Rasheed
Anwar Rasheed
Anwar Rasheed is a Malayali Indian film director notable for his debut film Rajamanikyam starring Mammootty. His second feature film was Chotta Mumbai , which had Mohanlal in the lead role...

's directorial debut Rajamanikyam
Rajamanikyam
Rajamanikyam is a 2005 Malayalam film, the directorial debut of Anwar Rasheed, written by T. A. Shahid, and starring Mammootty in the title role....

. He portrayed Bellary Raja, a Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...

 based cattle dealer, in the film which was the highest grosser of the year.

In 2006, Mammootty won the Filmfare Best Actor Award
Filmfare Best Actor Award
The Filmfare Award for Best Actor is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a male actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. The award was first given in 1954....

 for the movie Karutha Pakshikal
Karutha Pakshikal
Karutha Pakshikal is a 2006 Malayalam film directed by Kamal.-Awards:Mammootty and Padmapriya won the 2007 Filmfare Award. Film also marked the excellent acting of actress Meena who played the role of a rich woman. Rajesh Hebbar who enacts the role of Meena's husband Satish, has also done an...

 directed by Kamal. He also did I. V. Sasi
I. V. Sasi
Irruppam Veedu Sasidaran, better known as I. V. Sasi, is a Malayali Indian film director who is known for his films of the 1970s, 80s and early 90s. He has directed about 150 films in various South Indian languages and Hindi. He is known as the "veteran" or the "guru" filmmaker in Malayalam...

's Balram vs. Tharadas, in which he reprised his roles Inspector Balram
Inspector Balram
Inspector Balram is a 1991 Malayalam film directed by I. V. Sasi, scripted by T. Damodaran, and starring Mammootty. It is a sequel to the 1986 film Aavanazhi and was followed by a sequel, Balram vs. Taradas, in 2006....

 from the 1991 blockbuster Inspector Balram
Inspector Balram
Inspector Balram is a 1991 Malayalam film directed by I. V. Sasi, scripted by T. Damodaran, and starring Mammootty. It is a sequel to the 1986 film Aavanazhi and was followed by a sequel, Balram vs. Taradas, in 2006....

 and Tharadas
Tharadas
Thradas is Anti-hero and character of I.V. Sasi's Athirathram and Balram vs. Tharadas. He is played by Mammootty. His parents were killed by police and he was raised by his uncle Shankardas who treated him as own son. This caused his cousin Chandu to become jealous. He was also the rival of...

 from the 1984 blockbuster Athirathram
Athirathram (film)
Athirathram is a 1984 Malayalam crime film directed by I.V. Sasi. The film's central character Tharadas re-appears in Sasi's 2006 film Balram vs. Taradas.-Plot:...

. It was I. V. Sasi's 144th film, and a record 35th with Mammootty. Mammootty’s career graph raised spectacularly after the release of Rajamanikyam
Rajamanikyam
Rajamanikyam is a 2005 Malayalam film, the directorial debut of Anwar Rasheed, written by T. A. Shahid, and starring Mammootty in the title role....

 directed by debutant Anwar Rasheed
Anwar Rasheed
Anwar Rasheed is a Malayali Indian film director notable for his debut film Rajamanikyam starring Mammootty. His second feature film was Chotta Mumbai , which had Mohanlal in the lead role...

. Released during Ramadan 2005, the movie broke all collection records and became the biggest hit of 2005. Rajamanikyam was also touted as the biggest hit of all time ever produced in the Malayalam cinema. In 2006, Mammootty continued his success with the film Thuruppugulan. Mammootty's action comedy Mayavi
Mayavi
Mayavi is a Malayalam language comics strip appearing in the Indian children's weekly Balarama owned by Malayala Manorama group. The comics is written by Mohan and illustrated at first by Pradip Sathe. Artist Mohandas took over the job of drawing the series after Balarama became a biweekly...

 became the top grosser of 2007. His portrayal of Dr.Nathan in Shyamaprasad's Ore Kadal
Ore Kadal
Ore Kadal is a 2007 Malayalam film written and directed by Shyamaprasad. The film examines the extra martial relationship between an intellectual economist and a housewife...

 (2007) was critically acclaimed. Big B
Big B
Big B may refer to:* Big B , a 2007 Malayalam action-thriller* Big B , American rapper* Big B Drugs, a defunct American drugstore chain* Amitabh Bachchan or Big B, Indian actor...

 was another hit in 2007.

In 2008, Mammootty delivered another blockbuster Annan Thambi
Annan Thambi
Annan Thambi is a 2008 Malayalam film by Anwar Rasheed, starring Mammootty, Lakshmi Rai and Gopika. Mammootty did a double role in the film by playing twin brothers. Rahulraj composed the music of this movie.-Plot:...

. The film released in 75 centres across the state and completed 50 days in nearly 61 centres.The film is touted as the biggest hit in malayalam surpassing the record of Rajamanikyam. He played a police cop for 25th time in the film Roudram
Roudram
Raudram is a 2008 Malayalam film directed by Renji Panicker. Mammootty plays the lead role of Narendran, a dedicated IPS officer. Sai Kumar, Vijayaraghavan, and Rajan P Dev plays other leading roles.-Plot:...

 which was not a commercial success. He starred in Kerala's multistarrer Twenty: 20 his another release in 2008 which too was a success.

Also, "Mayabazaar" holds the record for highest channel right collecting film in Malayalam Film Industry, by selling the channel right for 1.3 crores. The record breaks his own record of 1.1 crores for the film Annan Thambi.

In October 2009, Pazhassi Raja, directed by Hariharan
Hariharan (director)
Hariharan is a Malayali film director. His movies mainly revolved around the cultural and relational aspects of a typical Kerala society. His notable works include Pazhassi Raja, Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, Sargam, Parinayam, Amrutham Gamaya and Nakhakshathangal, which won him national...

 and written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair
M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair , popularly known as MT, is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj...

, was released. . He also acted in the short film Puramkazhchakal (directed by Lal Jose
Lal Jose
Lal Jose is an Indian film director. His debut film as a director is Oru Maravathoor Kanavu . His popular films include Meesa Madhavan , Classmates and Arabikkatha .- Biography :...

) from Malayalam's first Portmanteau film Kerala Cafe
Kerala Cafe
Kerala Cafe is a Malayalam anthology film produced by Ranjith and directed by a team of ten directors including Lal Jose, Shaji Kailas, Anwar Rasheed, Shyamaprasad, B. Unnikrishnan, Revathy, Anjali Menon, M. Padmakumar, Shankar Ramakrishnan, and Uday Ananthan. For the first time in the history of...

. In 2009, he won his fifth state award for Best Actor
Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor
The Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor has been awarded annually in India since 1969. The Kerala State Film Awards were managed directly by the Government of Kerala's Department of Cultural Affairs until 1997; they are now given by the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, an autonomous non-profit...

 for his performance in Ranjith's Paleri Manikyam
Paleri Manikyam
Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha is a 2009 Malayalam crime drama film written and directed by Ranjith, starring Mammootty, Shwetha Menon and Mythili. It is based on a best selling Malayalam novel of the same name by T. P. Rajeevan, which said the true story of the first recorded...

. Two films he acted in – Kutty Srank and Pazhassi Raja – bagged eight national awards. He was nominated for the National Award for Best Actor
National Film Award for Best Actor
The National Film Award for Best Actor is an honor presented annually at the National Film Awards of India to an actor who has delivered the best performance in a leading role within the Indian film industry.-Background:The Directorate of Film Festivals makes awards annually in several categories...

 in 2009, but he lost the award in the final round of the competition to Amitabh Bachan. The jury's decision to give the award to Bachan was criticised by Shaji N Karun, director of Kutty Srank (the movie which won the award for best film of 2009) and Ranjith, director of Paleri Manikyam
Paleri Manikyam
Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha is a 2009 Malayalam crime drama film written and directed by Ranjith, starring Mammootty, Shwetha Menon and Mythili. It is based on a best selling Malayalam novel of the same name by T. P. Rajeevan, which said the true story of the first recorded...

.

Mammootty started of the decade (2010) with Pokkiri Raja
Pokkiri Raja (2010 film)
Pokkiri Raja is a 2010 Malayalam masala film starring Mammootty in the title role, along with Prithviraj and Shriya Saran in the main roles. The film is written by the duo Udayakrishna-Siby K. Thomas, directed by debutante Vyshakh, and the music is composed by Jassie Gift. The film was released on...

, Pranchiyettan and the Saint, directed by Ranjith, and Best Actor
Best Actor (film)
- External links :* http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/7722/malayalam/best-actor/index.htm Best Actor] at Nowrunning.com*...

. Pokkiri Raja went on to become the highest grossing film of the year with the trade pundits declaring it as a blockbuster success. Pranchiyettan and the Saint which has been touted as the beginning of a renaissance in Malayalam cinema, became the longest running Malayalam film of the last five years.

Present

His latest releases are Sohan Seenulal's Doubles
Doubles (2011 film)
Doubles is a 2011 Malayalam comedy-action drama film directed by debutant Sohan Seenulal and written by the Sachi-Sethu duo. It stars Mammootty, Nadia Moidu and Taapsee Pannu in the lead roles, and features an extensive cast of supporting actors with Saiju Kurup, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Salim Kumar,...

, Jayaraj
Jayaraj
Jayaraj Rajasekharan Nair, often credited as Jayaraj, is an award-winning Indian Malayali filmmaker who has marked his presence in mainstream as well as art house films...

's The Train and Babu Janardhanan's 1993 Bombay, March 12
1993 Bombay, March 12
-Critical reception:The film received positive reviews upon release.But did not make a big move in box office.Paresh C. Palicha of Rediff.com said, "Bombay March 12 is a promising debut for scriptwriter Babu Janardhanan as a director." He rated the film three in a scale of five . Mammootty's...

. He is currently working on films like, Abhay Simha's Kannada film Shikari
Shikari (2011 film)
Shikari is an upcoming bilingual film in Kannada and Malayalam. The film is written and directed by Abhay Simha. It stars Mammootty and Poonam Bajwa in the lead, with Aditya, Mohan and Innocent doing other major roles. The film is the Kannada debut of Mammootty, and also the Malayalam debut of...

, Shafi's Venicile Vyaapari
Venicile Vyaapari
Venicile Vyapari is an upcoming Malayalam film starring Mammootty, Kavya Madhavan and Poonam Bajwa. Directed by Shafi, the film's plot unfolds in Alappuzha, a town in Kerala popularly known as the Venice of the East. The story follows a murder mystery. Mammootty plays the protagonist, Pavithran, a...

 and Shaji Kailas
Shaji Kailas
Shaji Kailas is a Malayalam film director. He is known for his hard-hitting action films.-Childhood and entry into films:Shaji Kailas was born in Vanchiyoor, Thiruvananthapuram, to Late Sivakumaran Nair and Janakiyamma. After attending Model Boys School, Shaji pursued degree at Mahatma Gandhi...

's The King and the Commissioner.

Films in other languages

Mammootty has acted in a few non-Malayalam
Malayalam cinema
The Cinema of Kerala or Malayalam cinema refers to the film industry in the Indian state of Kerala, which makes films in the Malayalam language. Malayalam movies typically portray social or family issues and are considered more realistic than films from other parts of India. Malayalam cinema has...

 movies and these include some Tamil, Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...

, Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...

, Kannada and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

 films. In 1989, he made his Tamil debut in Maunam Sammatham, directed by K. Madhu. He has acted in Tamil films for directors including K. Balachander
K. Balachander
K. Balachander is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer. Balachander is known for his distinct film-making style. His films analyse unusual or complicated interpersonal relationships and social themes. He has directed nearly 80 films and has worked in 100 films either as director or...

 (Azhagan), Mani Ratnam
Mani Ratnam
Mani Ratnam is an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter and producer. He made his directorial debut with the Kannada film Pallavi Anu Pallavi starring Anil Kapoor in 1983...

 (Thalapathy), and Rajiv Menon
Rajiv Menon
Rajiv Menon is an Indian cinematographer and film maker. He is known for directing critically acclaimed Tamil films like Minsaara Kanavu and Kandukondain Kandukondain.-Early Life:...

 (Kandukondain Kandukondain
Kandukondain Kandukondain
Kandukondain Kandukondain is a 2000 Tamil musical and romantic film based on Jane Austen's novel Sense and Sensibility. Directed and co-written by Rajiv Menon, the film features an ensemble cast of Ajith Kumar, Mammootty, Tabu, Aishwarya Rai and Abbas in the lead roles...

). Kilippechu Kekkavaa (1993), directed by Fazil
Fazil
A. M. Fazil is an Indian filmmaker, producer, and screenwriter of Malayalam cinema.His father wanted him to be a doctor, but in school and college, extra curricular activities engulfed him. He wrote plays, enacted them with his friends A. M. Fazil (born 1953, in Alleppey, Kerala) is an Indian...

, had Mammootty as a romantic hero. He played the role of Anantha Sharma in K. Vishwanath
Kasinadhuni Viswanath
Kasinadhuni Vishwanath is an Indian film director and actor from Telugu Cinema. He is a multiple winner of National Film Award and Nandi Award...

's Telugu film Swathi Kiranam
Swathi Kiranam
Swathi Kiranam is a 1992 Telugu Musical hit film directed by Dr.K.Viswanath. The movie starred Mammootty, Master Manjunath, and Radhika. The movie is about an egoistic music teacher unable to tolerate the extraordinary talent of his prodigious young disciple.-Plot:The film starts with a shabby old...

 (1992).

He acted in the Kannada film Shikari in 2011.

He made his debut into Hindi films through Thriyathri which was released in 1989, though his first film as a hero
Hero
A hero , in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demigod, their cult being one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion...

 was Dhartiputra
Dhartiputra
Dhartiputra was a 1993 Hindi film, directed by Iqbal Durrani, and was debut Hindi film of Malayalam actor Mammotty. Produced by Dinesh Patel, who earlier produced Phool aur Kaante and Divya Shakti. Music by Nadeem-Shravan.-Cast:* Mammootty* Jaya Prada...

. He starred in the biographical film Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (film)
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar is a 2000 Indian feature film in English language, directed by Jabbar Patel. The film tells the story of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, known mainly for his contributions in shaping the Constitution of India, as the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constituent Assembly...

 directed by Jabbar Patel
Jabbar Patel
Dr. Jabbar Patel is a theatre and film director of India. His production of the play Vijay Tendulkar's play Ghashiram Kotwal, in 1973 is considered a classic in Modern Indian Theatre....

 which was in the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

. He also appeared in Sau Jhooth Ek Sach (2004).

During the 2006 IIFA Awards ceremony held at Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...

, he openly criticized the organizers of the IIFA Awards for completely ignoring South Indian film by stating that the Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...

 film industry should stand up to competition from the South Indian film industry before calling itself international.

Films shown at International film festivals

The movie Mathilukal
Mathilukal
This article has details about the novel as well as its film adaptation.Mathilukal is a Malayalam novel written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer in 1965. It is one of the most cherished and well-known love stories in Malayalam. Its hero, Basheer himself, and heroine, Narayani, never meet, yet they love...

 ('The Walls') has been shown in almost 40 International Film festival
Film festival
A film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings...

 beginning with Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...

. It was well received upon screening at the Venice International Film Festival
Venice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...

, and won four awards
National Film Awards
The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it is administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.Every year, a national panel...

 in 1990.

Vidheyan
Vidheyan
Vidheyan is a 1993 Indian Malayalam film directed and co-written by Adoor Gopalakrishnan. It is a cinematic adaptation of the novel Bhaskara Pattelarum Ente Jeevithavum by Malayalam writer Paul Zacharia. The film explores the master-slave dialectic in a South Karnataka setting...

, the cinematic adaptation of the novel "Bhaskara Pattelarum Ente Jeevithavum" by Malayalam writer Paul Zachariah explores the master-slave dialectic in a South Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...

 setting. The film won the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC)
Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema
The Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema is a worldwide organization of 29 member countries. It was created as the result of a conference on Asian cinema organized by Cinemaya, the Asian Film Quarterly, in New Delhi in 1990 at the instance and with the support of UNESCO, Paris.Headquartered...

 Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam
International Film Festival Rotterdam
The International Film Festival Rotterdam is an annual film festival held in various cinemas in Rotterdam, Netherlands held at the end of January. It is approximately comparable in size to other major European festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Locarno...

, along with the Interfilm Award - Honorable Mention at the Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival
International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg
Mannheim-Heidelberg International Filmfestival is an annual film festival held jointly by the cities of Mannheim and Heidelberg in Baden-Württemberg. The festival was established in 1952. In Mannheim there are six cinema centres and 19 single cinemas.The festival presents arthouse films of...

.

Philanthropic work

Mammootty is involved in more than half a dozen philanthropic projects
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...

 aimed at helping needy people.

Mammootty is the patron
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...

 of the Pain and Palliative Care Society
Palliative care
Palliative care is a specialized area of healthcare that focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients...

, a charitable organization
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...

 in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

 formed with the aim of improving the quality of life among patients with advanced cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...

. He has been the fuel and the engine of the Pain and Palliative Care
Palliative care
Palliative care is a specialized area of healthcare that focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients...

 Centre situated in Kozhikode
Kozhikode
Kozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...

, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. Mammootty has now put forth a novel project to provide the pain and palliative care to those suffering from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...

 throughout Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

.

Mammootty is the ambassador of Jeevan Jothi, a social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...

 project aimed at providing aid to people seeking treatment for any ophthalmic
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...

 diseases, cardiac diseases, orthopedic diseases, liver diseases, renal dysfunctions
Renal failure
Renal failure or kidney failure describes a medical condition in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter toxins and waste products from the blood...

, Haemophilia diseases
Haemophilia
Haemophilia is a group of hereditary genetic disorders that impair the body's ability to control blood clotting or coagulation, which is used to stop bleeding when a blood vessel is broken. Haemophilia A is the most common form of the disorder, present in about 1 in 5,000–10,000 male births...

, or ENT
Otolaryngology
Otolaryngology or ENT is the branch of medicine and surgery that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, and head and neck disorders....

 disorders.

Mammootty is the goodwill ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....

 of a charity project "Street India Movement", which is aimed at the eradication of child begging and child labor
Child labor
Child labour refers to the employment of children at regular and sustained labour. This practice is considered exploitative by many international organizations and is illegal in many countries...

. He has promoted the activities of the movement, which networks with orphanages and institutions looking after the children.

Kazhcha is a venture to extend free eye care and treatment organized by Mammootty Fans Welfare Association and Mammootty Times, in association with Little Flower Hospital and Research Centre and the Eye Bank Association of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

. One of the major activities related to this is distribution of free spectacles to children. A special fund received from the office of the President of India
President of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...

 will be utilized for this purpose. Free eye camps will also be conducted at various places in connection to this project.

During Onam
Onam
Onam is a Hindu festival celebrated by the people of Kerala, India. The festival commemorates the Vamana avatar of Vishnu and the subsequent homecoming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali. It falls during the month of Chingam and lasts for ten days...

 2007, Mammootty donated food items among thousand families in Parathodu near Kanjirappally
Kanjirappally
Kanjirappally is a taluk and a town in Kottayam district, in the state of Kerala, India. Rubber plantations are a major source of income for the local population. The place has a large population of Syrian Catholic Christians....

 in Kottayam district
Kottayam district
Kottayam is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The district has its headquarters at Kottayam town, located at 9.36° N and 76.17° E. According to the 1991 census, it is the first district to achieve highest literacy rate in the whole of India...

, a Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

 village which was hit by Chikungunya
Chikungunya
Chikungunya virus is an insect-borne virus, of the genus Alphavirus, that is transmitted to humans by virus-carrying Aedes mosquitoes. There have been recent breakouts of CHIKV associated with severe illness...

. The village which was worst hit by the disease claimed the most lives in the state.

Akshaya
Akshaya project
The Akshaya project, first started in the rural Kasaragod district of Kerala, India, and now spread all around the state, was the first district-wide e-literacy project in India and one of the largest known Internet Protocol based wireless networks in the world...

, the information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...

 dissemination project of the Government of Kerala
Government of Kerala
The Government of Kerala is a democratically elected body that governs the State of Kerala, India for a period of 5 years. The state government is headed by the Governor of Kerala as the nominal head of state, with a democratically elected Chief Minister as real head of the executive. The state...

, has Mammootty as its Goodwill Ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador is a collective term sometimes used as a substitute honorific title or a title of honor for an Ambassador of Goodwill; but, most appropriately for a generic recognition, it is a job position or description that is usually indicated following the name of the individual recognized...

. He formally took over the role on 26 February 2006 at a video networked programme which was linked to all the district headquarters of the state. Mammootty spearheaded the campaign by appearing in print and visual media advertisements and other publicity materials that sent the message of the Akshaya project
Akshaya project
The Akshaya project, first started in the rural Kasaragod district of Kerala, India, and now spread all around the state, was the first district-wide e-literacy project in India and one of the largest known Internet Protocol based wireless networks in the world...

 to the grassroots.

Mammootty is a patron of "Share International Foundation", a charity organisation working towards removing the inequalities in society. The foundation has done many notable humanitarian works including the recent "Hridaya Sparsham project of the Care", to mobilise help for the heart surgery of children. Mammootty's plea over the social networking sites evoked aid worth about 1 crore within a day.

Television career

As of 2010, Mammootty is the Chairman
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...

 of Malayalam Communications, which runs some Malayalam TV channels such as Kairali TV
Kairali TV
Kairali TV is an Indian television channel broadcasting in the Malayalam language catering to the Malayalam speaking population in Kerala as well as abroad . The channel, headquartered in Trivandrum, has studio facilities in Trivandrum as well as Kochi. Malayalam Communications Limited is the...

, People TV
People TV
People TV is an Indian television channel based at Trivandrum. It was launched by Malayalam Communications Limited. The channel focusses on news and current issues. It was People TV that introduced camera sting operation in Malayalam Television Journalism successfully...

 and Channel We
WE TV
We TV is the third TV channel from Malayalam Communications Ltd, in Kerala and based at Trivandrum. The other two channels of this company are Kairali TV and People TV. WE TV is mainly aimed at the youth and was officially launched on April 14, 2007. Mr...

.

He owned a production company during the 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...

, Casino, along with Mohanlal
Mohanlal
Mohanlal Vishwanathan Nair , known mononymously as Mohanlal , is a National Award-winning Indian actor, producer, singer and writer who is well known for his versatile and natural acting in Indian cinema & hence widely known as the Universal Star...

, I.V. Sasi, Seema
Seema (actress)
Seema is an Indian actress. She has performed in approximately 250 films in Malayalam, nine in Tamil, seven in Telugu, three in Kannada and one in Hindi. Seema is still active in the movie industry.She began her career in Tamil film at fourteen as a dancer...

 and Century Kochumon. The production house produced commercially successful films such as Nadodikkattu
Nadodikkattu
Nadodikattu is a 1987 Malayalam comedy film directed by Sathyan Anthikkad and written by Sreenivasan. The story revolves around two impecunious young Malayali men, Ramdas aka Dasan and Vijayan who not being able to find any job in Kerala, plan to go to Dubai to make their fortunes, but get...

, Gandhi Nagar 2nd Street, Adiyozhukkukal and Karimpin Poovinakkare.

He formed a television production company
Production company
A production company provides the physical basis for works in the realms of the performing arts, new media art, film, television, radio, and video.- Tasks and functions :...

, Megabytes, which produced television serials
Serial (radio and television)
Serials are series of television programs and radio programs that rely on a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode by episode fashion. Serials typically follow main story arcs that span entire television seasons or even the full run of the series, which distinguishes them from...

, the first being Jwalayay in the late 1990s, which was also his first project as a producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...

. He also owns a distribution company named Mammootty Technotainment. The company distributed his Tamil film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...

 Karmegham in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

.

Other activities

Mammootty was appointed as the Global Brand ambassador
Brand ambassador
A Brand Ambassador is a person employed by a company to be the sales rep and physical representative of the company with respect to sales and marketing. The Brand Ambassador is meant to embody the corporate image in appearance, demeanor, values, and ethics....

 of the Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

-based South Indian Bank on 16 October 2006. He was also featured as the brand ambassador for Kerala Volleyball League.

Mammootty and Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...

-based businessman MA Yousuf Ali
M A Yousuf Ali
M. A. Yousuf Ali is a Non-resident Indian businessman hailing from Nattika in Thrissur district of Kerala. He is the Managing Director of Abu Dhabi-headquartered EMKE Group of Companies which owns the LuLu Hypermarket chain in Middle East...

 met with the officials of the Dubai Internet City
Dubai Internet City
Dubai Internet City is an information technology park created by the government of Dubai as a free economic zone and a strategic base for companies targeting regional emerging markets. The economic rules of DIC allow companies to avail themselves of a number of ownership, taxation and custom...

 (DIC) to lobby for the proposed Smart City
SmartCity, Kochi
SmartCity Kochi is a planned IT township to be constructed in Kochi, Kerala in India. Smart City Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. is a joint venture company formed to develop the Kochi Smart City project. Government of Kerala , TECOM Investments , a subsidiary of Dubai Holding are the main investors of...

 project at Kochi
Kochi
-Places:* Kochi, a city in the state of Kerala, India, formerly known as Cochin* Kingdom of Cochin, a former feudal city-state on Malabar Coast, India** Fort Kochi, one of the three main urban components which constitute the present day city of Kochi, Kerala, India...

.

Mammootty wrote his first book Kazhchapadu (roughly translated as "Perspective", a compilation of short essays he has written in various publications over the years).

Mammootty owns the distrubution company Playhouse Entertainments. Some films distributed by the company are Chattambinadu
Chattambinadu
Chattambinaadu is a Malayalam film released in 2009. The film was directed by Shafi and written by Benny P. Nayarambalam, and stars Mammootty, Lakshmi Rai, Siddique, Manoj K. Jayan, Vinu Mohan, and Suraj Venjarammoodu...

, Three Kings
Three Kings (2011 film)
Three Kings is a 2011 Malayalam–language caper film directed by V. K. Prakash and starring Jayasurya, Indrajith, Kunchacko Boban, Sandhya, Ann Augustine and Samvrutha Sunil...

, Living Together
Living Together (film)
-Box office:The film received negative reception from critics and viewers, and it's turning out as one of the biggest box office disasters of recent times.-External links:* . The Hindu. Retrieved 2011-02-18....

, Neelathamara, Pranchiyettan & the Saint
Pranchiyettan & the Saint
Pranchiyettan & the Saint is a 2010 Malayalam satirical film written, directed, and produced by Ranjith. The film centres on the fictitious conversation between the Thrissur based rice merchant C.E. Francis aka Pranchiyettan and St. Francis of Assisi...

, and The King and the Commissioner.

Awards, honours and recognitions

Mammootty has won three National Film Awards
National Film Awards
The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it is administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.Every year, a national panel...

, seven Kerala State Film Awards, eleven Filmfare Awards
Filmfare Awards South
Filmfare Awards South is the South Indian segment of the annual Filmfare Awards, presented by The Times Group to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the South Indian film industry. The awards are separately given for Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films...

, eleven Kerala Film Critics Awards and five Asianet Film Awards
Asianet Film Awards
The Asianet Film Awards is the most prominent award ceremony for Malayalam films presented annually by Asianet, a Malayalam-language television network from the south-Indian state of Kerala. The awards ceremony has been instituted to honour both artistic and technical excellence in the Malayalam...

 (from fourteen nominations). In 1998, Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...

 honored Mammootty, with its fourth highest civilian award, Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...

, awarded for his national service, including his contribution to the Indian film industry. He was conferred with Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.-Commonwealth:...

 degree by University of Calicut
University of Calicut
The University of Calicut is an affiliating university in the southern state of Kerala in India. It is situated in Thenjipalam, in the district of Malappuram with a number of off-campus centres in neighbouring districts. The University conducts courses and examinations for the students of the...

 and University of Kerala in 2010.

External links


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Filmfare Awards South
Filmfare Awards South is the South Indian segment of the annual Filmfare Awards, presented by The Times Group to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the South Indian film industry. The awards are separately given for Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films...


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