Four and counting: Mammootty's Bramayugam' triumph adds to his legend

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 18 (PTI) Malayalam superstar Mammootty scaled another peak, clinching his fourth National Film Award for Best Actor for a riveting performance in ‘Bramayugam’ widely regarded as among the finest of his illustrious five-decade run in cinema.

The 72nd National Film Awards were announced on Saturday by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Directed by Rahul Sadasivan of ‘Bhoothakaalam’-fame, the film departed sharply from mainstream storytelling, drawing on the southern state’s folklore and supernatural beliefs.

At its centre stood Mammootty’s enigmatic Kodumon Potti, a character whose quiet authority and unsettling presence dominated the narrative from beginning to end.

Eschewing dramatic dialogue and exaggerated

mannerisms, Mammootty brought the character to life through remarkable restraint, nuanced expressions and carefully timed pauses, allowing his commanding screen presence to hint at the darkness lurking beneath a calm exterior.

The role had earlier won Mammootty the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor, with critics hailing it as fresh proof of his willingness to push creative boundaries even after decades at the top of the industry.

The latest honour places him in the rare company of actors who have won the National Award for Best Actor four times.

His earlier wins came for ‘Mathilukal’ and ‘Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha’ in 1989, ‘Ponthan Mada’ and ‘Vidheyan’ in 1993, and ‘Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’ in 1998.

Far from slowing down, Mammootty has, in recent years, gravitated increasingly towards unconventional cinema, favouring complex, character-driven roles over formulaic star vehicles.

Films such as ‘Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam’, ‘Kaathal The Core’ and ‘Bramayugam’ bear testimony to his continuing appetite for experimentation.

The award caps an eventful phase in the actor’s career, coming close on the heels of the Padma Bhushan and a string of critically acclaimed performances.

Mammootty shared this year’s Best Actor honour with Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan.

The veteran actor, in a Facebook post, congratulated the co-winners of the National Awards and thanked Bramayugam director for giving him the character of Kodumon Potty.

“Heartfelt congratulations to Dhanush, Vaikom Vijayalakshmi, Shehnad Jalal, Rajkumar Periyasamy, Team Feminichi Fathima, Team Bhadra Kali Natakam, and all the winners of the coveted National Awards. Truly well deserved! Thanks Team #Bramayugam and Rahul Sadasivan, for entrusting me with Kodumon Potty,” Mammootty said.

National Film Awards jury chairperson Jayaraj said Mammootty’s performance in ‘Bramayugam’ stood out among this year’s contenders and that the film was the favourite of all the jury members.

There was strong competition in the Best Actor category, but Mammootty’s performance remained the clear frontrunner, he told reporters in New Delhi after announcing the awards.

“Mammootty is still ever youthful and has many more films ahead of him,” Jayaraj said.

He noted that ‘Bramayugam’ was the film most admired by the jury, adding that while several aspects of the film deserved recognition, it was not possible to confer multiple awards on a single film.

According to the makers, the film, presented by Night Shift Studios and YNOT Studios, is “a rooted story set in the dark ages of Kerala.” The cast also includes Arjun Ashokan, Sidharth Bharathan and Amalda Liz in pivotal roles. Shehnad Jalal handled the cinematography, Shafique Mohammed Ali the editing and Christo Xavier composed the music. PTI LGK ADB