Muhammad Kutty Panaparambil Ismail known simply as Mammootty, is an iconic Malayalam actor and producer, born on September 7, 1951, in Chandiroor, Kerala. Mammootty has appeared in 400 plus films in four decades. He was married t his wife Sulfath in 1979, and they have a daughter Surumi and a son Dulquer Salmann, who is a popular young actor. Mammootty’s debut was in ‘Anubhavangal Paalichakal’ in 1971, but he wasn’t seen in a starring role until ‘Mela’ in 1980. In 1981, Mammootty received his first of seven Kerala State Film Awards, this one was for Best Supporting Actor in ‘Ahimsa’. Other Kerala State Film Awards were won for Best Actor in ‘Adiyozhukkukal’ (1984), ‘Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha’ and ‘Mrigaya Mahayanam’ (1989), ‘Vidheyan’, ‘Ponthanmada’, and ‘Valtsalyam’ in (1993), ‘Kazhcha’ (2004), ‘Paleri Manikyam’ and ‘Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha’ (2009). He has also won three National Film Award for Best Actor for ‘Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’ (1999), ‘Vidheyan’ and ‘Ponthan Mada’ (1994), and ‘Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha’ and ‘Mathilukal’ in (1989). He has also won thirteen Filmfare Awards, eleven Kerala Film Critics’ Awards, and five Asianet Film Awards. In 1998, Mammootty was presented the Padma Shri by the Indian government. He has worked in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and English films and many of his movies have been dubbed into other languages. At the age of 69, he still makes several films in a year. He is the Chairman of Malayalam Communications which runs several tv channels, and he also has a television production company and a distribution company. Mammootty has been involved with several charities over the years such as the Pain and Palliative Care Society for those suffering from cancer, the Street India Movement which works to eliminate child begging and labor, eye care and treatment, etc.
