A few days ago I wrote a similar article on superstar Mohanlal, see here, to which some of my friends, who read the same, happened to ask me to do a similar one on the ever young Malayalam Megastar Mammooty. In Mr Mohanlal's own words, Mr Mammooty is a "a disciplined actor having a very high level of versatility along with the desire to do justice to his roles ". Infact, every malayali would agree to this, in addition to the fact that he doesn't age. When you see him on screen, you don't see him as a person but as a personality; his ability to bring out superlative performances along with his majestic voice modulation and the envious ability to do multiple dialects of the malayalam language is simply brilliant. So, its totally unfair that some of his masterclass performances are under appreciated which made up my mind to write an article on ten such performances which I feel demands further appreciation by critics and fans alike. As a matter of fact, you won't necessarily find any of the movies he did with the great Adoor Gopalakrishan nor movies like Soorya Manasam or Bhoothakannadi or any of his modern classics like Pathemari or Peranbu in this list. So without further adieu, lets get into the topic.
PS: The movies are not ranked in any order
1. Dany aka Daniel Thompson in Dany (2001)
Story and Direction: T.V. Chandran
The lead character Dany played by Mammootty is a multitude- the plot, the witness, and the victim of the ever changing political and social reforms of our state. This character portrays the life of an ordinary being who finds relief only in his better half- a saxophone. The movie introduces Dany as a good man's spirit who has no aims or ambitions, need or wants other than the companion of his musical instrument which he uses as the medium to connect to his emotions. Though, he initially gets caught in the changes that occupy his life, especially the one that comes in the form of a marriage to a rich man's daughter, he realises the old saying that "Not everything that shines is gold" as he becomes another victim of the upper class chauvinism , where his self esteem is crushed, wishes ignored, and emotions often undervalued. Director TV Chandran made a wonderful effort in drawing a strong contrast between the character Dany and the changing Keralian landscape, that faced similar highs and lows, showcasing Dany as a perfect representative for the same. Mammooty has easily managed to dwell into the enigma of the society's ignored section; by enacting his role of a person who lived a life of silence and solitude; a person who relied on his saxophone for chewing up all his emotions and frustrations.In the final scene of the movie, a young girl on seeing his mortal remains would enquire who he is, to which his undying spirit would respond " Dany, Daniel Thompson"-A nobody, perhaps a gentle soul, but a witness of the corrupted humanity, who loved the comfort of a saxophone that expected nothing in return. Though the movie was a masterpiece, Mammooty's performance as Daniel Thompson did not receive the applause it deserved; the movie itself was a victim of the larger than life movies and characters that stole the attention of the local folks.
2. Ravishankar in Sukrutham (1994)
Story: M.T. Vasudevan Nair
Direction: Hari Kumar
Much like Mohanlal's Kireedom/Chenkol , this is one of those movies that viewers find it a bit uneasy to watch .With that being said, there is nothing wrong with the movie nor any of the performances, but people generally avoid movies having highly upsetting content. Mammootty amazes the viewer in the role of Ravishankar, a blood cancer patient who is survived by his wife and close relatives. In the movie, hope acts as a fictitious character that carries both positive and negative shades. The movie depicts just how life can turn into a series of nightmares, based on how we value hope, and that giving up on life and dreams can create irreparable damages to one's existence. The mere thought of nothing's gonna stay the same prompts Ravishankar to ask his loved ones to 'get over him' forever, a step that costs him his life. However, when he regains his composure and save himself from the clutches of the deadly disease, he is taught the hardest lesson that life may sometimes deprive you of a second chance and that its always important to not lose the one that mattered the most-hope.
3. Murugan in Karutha Pakshikal(2006)
4. Bala Gopalan in Thaniyavarthanam(1987)
Story: A. K. Lohithadas
Direction: Sibi Malayil
Thaniyavarthanam talks about the tragedy of Bala Gopan, a simple school teacher, who becomes the victim of the evil superstitious beliefs and ignorant mindset of our society. A normal man who is pressurized and forced into becoming this new unstable person, only for committing the sin of being born as the nephew to a mentally disturbed being. Mammootty treats the character to a mix of emotions ranging from anguish to annoyance and finally grief as the world around him put him under the microscope deeming his every word, actions and reactions. Morever, the actor has effortlessly made the viewer ponder whether Bala Gopan indeed has really transformed into this new delusional being. The prejudice of the people, that once loved Bala Gopalan; takes him to a new reality, where relationships didn't exist, truth never mattered and insanity took its toll on him. The feeling of being a burden for himself leads his depressed mother to decide his final curtain call. A must watch for malayalam movie fans.
5. Chandradas in Paadheyam(1993)
Story: A.K. Lohithadas
Direction: Bharathan
Mammootty plays the character of a famous poet, Chandradas, who once, a man too salty and arrogant wouldn't forgive Anita, the woman of his life who had committed a mistake that would tarnish his professional esteem. His conceit gets the best of him as he would put her and their daughter's life in line to satisfy his ego, as he deserts them to their agony. However, later on his conscience feels the remorse of his past actions and this becomes evident when the the movie takes a turn towards the phrase "Blood is thicker than water", as Chandradas becomes restless on seeing his grown up daughter years later during her performance of one of his works. This unplanned meeting puts him out of his usual self; prompting him to bond with his own flesh, blood and bones. When his daughter Haritha, played by veteren actress Chippy, learns of Chandradas' motives, she tries to walk away from the sad reality;however ,the more she does that, the more she longs for his fatherly presence. Not long could she contain the reality of leaving Harikumara Menon, the man who stepped into her life when it had hit rock bottom; a man who was more than a step father and a loving partner to his mother. Chandradas, initially hesitant towards the thought of leaving her daughter, realises the unsettled fire that spoke of the affection she had with her step father. Chandradas learn his lessons and for the better, evolves from being the arrogant, egoistic and selfish person, he once was to a person who valued human emotions, as he would happily return his daughter to her "real" father.
6. Balachandran in Sagaram Sakshi (1994)
Story : A.K. Lohithadas
Direction: Sibi Malayil
Balachandran, a self made businessman gets to marry the daughter of another rich tycoon, as he was the most sought after bachelor in the entrepreneur circle. Once he is blessed with the aforementioned, and after having accomplished the good life status thanks to his immediate family, he is mercilessly tested by the sadistic circumstances that leads to the death of his reputation & professional status. Mammootty has done a marvel of a performance as a man, whose complex negates his acceptance of failure, thus falling into a state of galloping despair that eats him alive. He succumbs to his inhibitions, and embraces the destructive path, for which he pays the price with his personal life. The uncontainable emotions expressed by Balanchandran during the scene where he is thrown on his face the 'thali' that his wife once proudly wore is quite possibly the one that stands out the most in this movie, prompting the filmmakers to make a movie poster out of the same. Further, when loneliness clings on his inner self, and his efforts to reclaim his life gone to dust, he is forced to confine to the learned helplessness. However, when he succumbs to his fate and starts a life of solitude and self respect, he gets haunted by the love, which was always kept intact by the woman of his life. He gets his only chance to make things right, as he finally relieves himself of the diseases that caught him off guard in his past life.
7. A.S. Johny Varghese in Johnnie Walker (1992)
Story: Renjith
Direction: Jayaraj
Many would be surprised to find this movie in this very list. The movie has achieved a cult status years after its original release, but unfortunately did share the fate of movies that failed to connect with its audience at the time of release. The movie was a trailblazer, inspired by Hollywood themes, and Mammootty played the title character, A.S. Johny Varghese, a man who hid his true self and emotions to the enjoyment of his only family that was left, his brother. Jayaraj introduced malayalis to fresh concepts as he made a character whose swag was off the charts, a personality so cool and confident. However, the actor didn't fail to present a visual treat to the viewers as he shined in the segment, where Johnnie Walker loses the one person that ever mattered to him, and as the latter is tragically put to rest by the evil cult, the former displays a perfect 10 performance, as Johny weeps onto his brother's cold body.
8. Captain Thomas in Koodevide(1983)
Story and Direction: Padmarajan
Mammootty has a special talent when it comes to playing the shrewd, evil, and the egoistical being. In Koodevide, Captain Thomas,a military personnel is disturbed by a school student, who happens to develop an innocent relationship with his teacher, the lady love of the agitated soldier. His narrow mindedness turns away the sincerity of his lady love, as he cannot comprehend with the moral bond she shared with her student. The director impressed the viewers by creating a character who turns from a restricted person to a cold individual; who proceeds to mark the X spot on the innocent student to let off his frustrations. However, when his evil side gets the best of him, he forgets the humane, embracing the madness that fed on his ego, and proceeds to do the unthinkable.
9. V. Sukumaran in Nayam Vekthamakunu(1991)
Story and Direction: Balachandra Menon
One of the most underrated and less talked about movies of Mammootty, where he played the role of a politician who leads a simple life with his wife and their only son. a man devoid of greed and the desire to rule the ordinary. Mammootty, as V. Sukumaran ,did a wonderful job in being a person who gets immersed in the glory of attaining the unexpected where he becomes a new form, other than what he really is. He has managed to enact a person who becomes a little less stable as he is not able to function in his life, where he falls into a void, that steers his life into depression until he lets himself of the new found power and puts him back to his true self in the company of his wife and son. A good family classic by Mr Balachandra Menon.
10.Murikkinkunnath Ahmed Haaji, Haridas Ahmed and Khalid Ahmed in Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathira Kolapathakathinte Kadha(2009)
Story: T.P. Rajeevan
Direction: Ranjith
As mentioned in his recent blockbuster "Madhura Raja", he has actually pulled off a 'triple strong' performance in Paleri Manikyan, where he has nailed not one but all three of his characters. As Murikkinkunnath Ahmed Haaji, he has played the role of a sinister feudal lord devoid of any remorse, selfish and having no boundaries for his desires. Mammootty made a mockery of all the negative performances that we have seen in most movies through his portrayal of Ahmed haji, as the unrivaled sadistic and power hungry dictator. The second character, Haris Ahmed, his forgotten son- the polar opposite of his father , investigates the death of a girl named Manikyam, rumoured to be murdered by his own predecessor. Haridas, a man of honour, but possessed by the staggering desire and determination of his biological father finds the authenticity of the aforementioned rumour. This leads him to the royal heir of Ahmed Haaji, a man that shares all the traits of his father, but a man who always maintained a status so clean before everyone; yet couldn't hide the same before his own conscience. When Haridas proves to Khalid that the latter is indeed the true evil heir of their sinister father, he runs away from the truth that resurfaced on his him, thus giving up on his own life.
Do you agree with this list. Drop your comments below.
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