Mammootty turns 70 today, appeared onscreen in 1971

Mammootty- The actor first appeared onscreen in the 1971 Malayalam classic Anubhavangal Paalichakal
It was a kind of ‘you blink’ type role and miss you. Mammootty had to wait another decade for Malayalam cinema to start giving her enough screen time. The early 1980s saw him rise as an actor with exceptional talent, breathtaking beauty and a beautiful voice.

A complete package like no other before him in Malayalam cinema, Mammootty has become one of the rarities of Indian cinema – a superstar who could be counted among the best actors in the country. Scripts began to be written for him, in both main and side streams.
The most talented and established directors were ready to wait. They still are.

He will be 70 this Tuesday. It might be a cliché, but to say that Mammootty is 70 years old wouldn’t be an exaggeration. Not only does he look young enough to play the hero, but he has retained his passion for acting.

When it comes to the pure passion for acting and a constant desire to be a part of quality films, it doesn’t have many equals in Indian cinema. He is constantly on the lookout for challenging roles.

If a potentially good movie didn’t come to him, it would go to him. More than one director would vouch for it.

He is rightly proud of having been able to star in a surprisingly large number of great films. He had said it once to this writer in an interview.

It is no coincidence that some of our most artistic filmmakers like directors like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, K.G. George and T.V. Chandran have chosen him in several films. He was, of course, equally at home in the commercial cinema of directors such as Joshiy and I.V. Sasi. He has found the right balance between box office success and creative satisfaction.

Now that Malayalam Cinema has resumed filming after restrictions imposed by COVID-19, several new films starring Mammootty are expected to take off.

It might be some time before the cinemas open in Kerala, but thanks to the internet you can still rewind some of his memorable movies like Yavanika, Askharangal, Yathra, Arappetta Kettiya Gramathil, New Delhi, Thaniyavarthanam, Oru CBI Dairyakurippu, Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, Vidheyan, Ponthan Mada, Ore Kadal, Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathira Kolapathakathinte Katha, Pathemari, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Thalapthi and Kandukondain Kandukondain.