Rajat Kamal for Mammootty: a stamp of approval for an iconic actor who continues to reinvent himself
The Rajat Kamal for Best Actor won by the legendary actor Mammootty—a record-equalling fourth that now places him alongside veteran Amitabh Bachchan—for his chilling potrayal
The Rajat Kamal for Best Actor won by the legendary actor Mammootty—a record-equalling fourth that now places him alongside veteran Amitabh Bachchan—for his chilling potrayal of Kodumon Potty in the horror thriller Bramayugam,reads almost like a heroic comeback scripted for the screen. Just a year ago, the versatile actor was staring down the biggest crisis of his glittering career spanning over five decades. Diagnosed with a major health scare, the 74-year-old veteran was forced into an eight-month hiatus—the first such break in his chequered career. It would have been unbearable for an actor who loved to be in front of the camera, so much so that between 1983 and 1986, he averaged a near-impossible 30 films a year.
He was away from the limelight. In a rare show of restraint, the media respected his family’s request for privacy while he underwent treatment. That deference itself is a measure of the stature and respect he has built over the last 50 years. His return in October last year, after what was undoubtedly a traumatic time for his family and loved ones, marked the beginning of a remarkable purple patch. It began with his seventh Kerala State Award for Best Actor for Bramayugam itself,which is directed by Rahul Sadasivan. Barely had the celebrations subsided when the Padma Bhushan was conferred on him.
And now, the Award for Best Actor at the 72nd Film Awards for the same film completes a hat-trick of honours since his return to the big screen. The applause that greeted the announcement of his name by jury chairman and filmmaker Jayaraj was testimony to his soaring popularity. “The jury was unanimous in recognising his exceptional performance,” said Mr. Jayaraj. In recent years, Mammootty has won admiration across Indian cinema for his bold choices as seen in his outstanding performances in movies like Rorschach, Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam, Kaathal - The Core, and Kalamkaval.
For Malayalam cinema, it remains another moment to cherish gifted by an iconic actor. He had last won the Rajat Kamal in 1999 for his exceptional performance in Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. He had won the award in 1989 for two films, Mathilukal and Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha. In 1994, he won it again for Vidheyan and Ponthan Mada.
The BriefWire