When the news broke that Mammootty had won his fourth National Award for Best Actor, his response was as understated as the man himself.
“Thanks Team #Bramayugam and Rahul Sadasivan for entrusting me with Kodumon Potty,” he wrote on social media.
There were no grand celebrations. No long speeches. Just a simple note of gratitude.
At 74, Mammootty has little left to prove. Yet, the award carries special meaning. It comes after a wait of 28 years and places him alongside Amitabh Bachchan as the only actors to have won the Best Actor National Award four times.
His journey, however, has been anything but easy.
Mammootty made his screen debut in 1971. But recognition did not come overnight. He had to wait until 1980 for his first credited role. From there, he built his career brick by brick, film after film. Today, he stands tall with a body of work of more than 400 films in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada and English.
Success has never changed the man behind the star.
To many, Mammootty appears stern. His measured words and dignified presence often create the image of a tough man. Those who know him say the opposite is true. Behind that serious face is a warm and gentle person who values friendships and simple pleasures.
He has a well-known passion for cars and electronic gadgets. Yet, despite owning some of the finest vehicles, Mammootty prefers to drive himself. Long drives are his escape. It is during these journeys that he catches up with friends, often talking for hours without interruption.
His charitable work is even less visible.
Those close to him say he believes charity should never seek attention. Guided by the teachings of both the Quran and the Bible, he has quietly supported many causes over the years. One of Kerala’s leading palliative care centres received a major boost after Mammootty became associated with it many years ago. His only request was that his name should never be used for publicity.
Friends say two events deeply changed his outlook on life. The first was the Covid-19 pandemic. The second came after he spent eight months in Chennai undergoing treatment for a health issue before returning to his Kochi home in October last year.
Perhaps that explains the quiet confidence that defines Mammootty today.
Even after more than five decades in cinema, awards have not made him bigger. They have only reminded the country why Malayalam cinema’s biggest icon remains, above all else, its gentlest giant.
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