Mammootty
The Malayalam film star with over 400 films, three National Awards and ten Kerala State awards for best actor, honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2026.
Over five decades, Mammootty has become one of the most celebrated actors in Indian cinema. In 2026 he was named for the Padma Bhushan in the field of art, from Kerala [1].
From law to film
Mohammed Kutty Panaparambil Ismail, known as Mammootty, was born on 7 September 1951 [2]. His father was a farmer [2]. He grew up in Vaikom, Kottayam district, and the family later moved to Ernakulam district [2]. He graduated from Government Law College, Ernakulam, and practised law in Kerala before turning to acting [2].
Five decades on screen
He has acted in more than 400 films, mostly in Malayalam, as well as in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and English [2]. In 2013 Forbes India listed his role in Mathilukal among the 25 greatest acting performances in Indian cinema [2].
His film Bramayugam earned him his tenth Kerala State Film Award, and it was screened in 2026 at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles in a series on folklore films [2].
He has won three National Film Awards for best actor and fifteen Filmfare Awards South [2]. He also supports charities and campaigns against child labour [2].
He received the Padma Shri in 1998 [2].
Sources
- [1] Padma Awards 2026: list of awardees — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accessed 11 October 2026.
- [2] Padma Awards 2026 investiture ceremony brochure: citation for Mammootty — Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Accessed 12 October 2026.
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