PremiumMammootty and the art of reinvention – Here’s why the Kannur Squad actor’s post-Covid filmography is nothing but epic
Mammootty has been impressing the cine-goers with back-to-back impressive projects, lately. Here’s an analysis on the megastar’s filmography post the pandemic
Last Updated: 11.22 PM, Jan 08, 2024
Mammootty, the megastar of Malayalam cinema, has been receiving immense love from the audiences lately, for his impeccable performances and daring film choices. As his Kaathal The Core co-star Jyotika said in a recent interview, the veteran actor is now busy giving back to the cinema as both an actor and producer, in every capacity. The cine-goers and fans are equally raving about the way Mammootty rediscovered himself post the pandemic.
While almost the entire film industry was struggling to choose between theatres and OTT screens, the Kannur Squad actor started making some of the most daring choices of his acting career, that too after entering his 70s. Mammootty is now going through the most exciting phase of his acting career so far, thanks to his willingness to grow, learn, and experiment.
Mammootty and the art of reinvention
The National Award-winning actor is one of those rare actors who made a massive comeback to film industry multiple times, despite going through extremely low phases. Mammootty’s extraordinary comeback in 1987 with Joshiy’s New Delhi after a long list of flops, still remains one of the Malayalam cinema’s favourite comeback stories. But nothing can beat the megastar’s reinvention post-Covid.
After a long list of forgettable outings that had nothing to offer, Mammootty took the first long break of his career in decades, during the pandemic. However, the megastar decided that it is the right time for a reinvention. Mammootty made a massive comeback to big screens with one of the biggest blockbusters of his acting career, Bheeshma Parvam. The veteran actor stunned the audiences with his transformation as Michael Anjootti aka Michael Appan, the aging patriarch of a Kochi-based Christian family in the Amal Neerad directorial.
What followed later, was a bunch of extraordinary films that no other “superstar” of commercial Indian cinema front would dare to do. From playing a caste-obsessed, abusive man in Puzhu and the revenge-driven man in Rorschach, Mammootty proved that he is all in for experiments. The post-pandemic era was spectacular for Mammootty, barring the lukewarm outings CBI 5: The Brain and Christopher.
As a producer, he made the most daring choice by launching his home banner Mammootty Kampany with the experimental film Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam. The actor, played James who transforms into Sundaram after an afternoon nap, won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for his performance. But what followed next was nothing but epic. Kannur Squad, the cop thriller which is bankrolled by Mammootty and directed by Roby Varghese Raj, emerged as one of the biggest blockbusters of the year.
Later, the megastar took the biggest risk of his acting career, by opting to play a closet homosexual in Kaathal The Core. As always, the megastar delivered an impeccable performance as Mathew Devassy on screen, and earned immense love for his performance. Mammootty even went the extra mile for the Jeo Baby directorial, by deciding to produce the film himself. Despite dealing with a ‘risky’ theme, Kaathal The Core also emerged as a notable box office success.
Now, at the age of 72, the megastar of Malayalam cinema is proving yet again that his passion for cinema is never-ending. With the antagonist role in Bramayugam, the stylish action thriller Bazooka, and yet another ‘Achayan’ character in Turbo, Mammootty is now busy giving back to the cinema. Well, the list of the megastar's upcoming projects is now longer than that of anyone else, and we can't wait to see what the legend has in store for us.