Dr Mammootty Again! Malayalam Superstar Receives Third Doctorate

Malayalam

cinema icon Mammootty has been conferred with an honorary doctorate by Mahatma Gandhi University in Kottayam. The actor was awarded the Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) degree in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema spanning over five decades. Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar presented the honour during the university’s graduation ceremony attended by ministers, academic council members and dignitaries. This marks the third honorary doctorate for Mammootty, who had earlier received similar honours from the University of Calicut and the University of Kerala in 2010.

Mammootty Becomes ‘Dr’ Once More: Veteran Actor Receives Third Doctorate

Mahatma Gandhi University awarded the actor the prestigious Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) degree during a special graduation ceremony held in Kottayam. The honorary doctorate was presented by Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar in the presence of Pro-Chancellor and Minister Roji M. John, Registrar Bismi Gopalakrishnan, and members of the Senate, Syndicate and Academic Council.

The university honoured Mammootty for his immense contribution to Indian cinema across multiple languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and English. With a career spanning more than five decades, the actor has appeared in over 400 films and remains one of the most celebrated stars in the industry.Apart from Mammootty, renowned Nadaswara artiste Thiruvizha Jayashankar was also awarded the D.Litt degree, while vascular surgeon N Radhakrishnan received the Doctor of Science (D.Sc) honour. Following the ceremony, Jayashankar performed a special Nadaswara concert at the Senate Hall.

Third Doctorate Honour For Mammootty

This is not the first time Mammootty has received an honorary doctorate. In 2010, both the University of Calicut and the University of Kerala honoured him with Doctor of Letters degrees.

At the time, the citation described Mammootty as the “star of all stars” and praised the versatility he displayed through iconic performances ranging from Ponthanmada to his portrayal of Dr BR Ambedkar. The citation also read that the actor was once a student of the university.

About Mammootty's Honours

Born Muhammad Kutty Panaparambil Ismail, Mammootty is among India’s most decorated actors. He has won several prestigious honours including three National Film Awards, multiple Kerala State Film Awards. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1998 and later received the Padma Bhushan for his contributions to Indian cinema.

The actor was recently seen in Patriot, directed by Mahesh Narayanan and featuring an ensemble cast including Mohanlal, Fahadh Faasil and Nayanthara. Acclaimed filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Mammootty have reunited for an upcoming Malayalam film titled Padayaatra. The film marks a significant milestone, bringing the legendary actor-director duo together once again after a gap of 32 years.