Mammootty unveils new film Mela, celebrates milestone with fans and surprise announcement

The megastar unveiled the title and first-look poster of his new film Mela, directed by Nithish Sahadev, as fans gathered at his Kochi residence to mark the milestone.

Dressed in a black dhoti and shirt with a cropped beard, Mammootty's character poster teases an action-packed thriller produced by his own Mammootty Kampany. The film shares its title with K.G. George's critically acclaimed 1980 movie that featured one of Mammootty's memorable early-career roles.

A surprise before the celebrations, Mammootty released his character poster from the eagerly awaited Om: Chapter 1, directed by Rajkumar Periasamy and starring actor Dhanush.

Fans gather to celebrate

Scores of admirers assembled at his Kochi home on Sunday night, distributing cakes and wishing him good health. The actor, who was in Chennai, thanked them via video call.

A career of reinvention

Filmmaker Sibi Malayil, who directed Mammootty in Thaniyavarthanam and Mudra, said the legendary actor has moved seamlessly through generations by portraying diverse characters with passion and artistry. "He is inventing himself with every movie and looking out for new challenges in his creative pursuit," Malayil noted.

Actor and MLA Ramesh Pisharody, who joined the Chennai celebrations, said Mammootty has always surprised him by adapting to changing times. "He has moved generations through the varied roles he had played in his chequered career," Pisharody added.

Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan extended birthday wishes, calling "the pride of Malayalam" a creator of magic on screen over five decades whose dedication will remain an inspiration for Indian cinema. Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan praised the versatile actor for exploring the immense possibilities of acting through his characters.

Record-equalling National Award

The year 2026 has been landmark for Mammootty, who won his fourth Rajat Kamal for Best Actor, matching veteran Amitabh Bachchan's tally, for his chilling portrayal of Kodumon Potty in the horror thriller Bramayugam directed by Rahul Sadasivan. He last won the honour in 1999 for Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, and previously in 1989 for Mathilukal and Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, and in 1994 for Vidheyan and Ponthan Mada.

Since his debut in a brief appearance in K.S. Sethumadhavan's Anubhavangal Paalichakal in 1971, Mammootty has captivated audiences across languages in a filmography spanning over 400 movies. His upcoming projects include Padayaatra helmed by acclaimed filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Mattancherry Mafia directed by Khalid Rahman.

Source: The Hindu