Premium50 years of Mammootty: The megastar’s best films from the 90s on Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hotstar
Alfred Francis
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Together, the two M’s of Mollywood, Mammootty and Mohanlal, have always been a force to be reckoned with. The 90s was probably the decade that saw both the superstars bring out their best, vying with each other to prove who is the reigning king of the box office.
For Mammootty, 90s saw him try a variety of characters that also resulted in multiple National Awards for the Best Actor for movies such as Ponthan Mada, Vidheyan and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. With action films like Inspector Balram and Dhruvam to family entertainers such as Hitler and Azhakiya Ravanan, the actor proved he can master any role.
As Mammootty celebrates 50 years in the industry, here’s a list of movies that you can stream from the most-defining decade of his career - the 90s.
1
Samrajyam
The gangster film in Malayalam language by Jomon features Mammootty as Alexander, an underworld don, and the plot follows his rise and fall. The story develops as he faces many trials and troubles while dealing with his policeman father with whom he has an unfriendly relationship. The movie also stars Madhu, Srividya, Ashokan, Captain Raju and Vijayaraghavan.
2
Mathilukal
Mathilukal helmed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan is the adaptation of Malayalam’s classic autobiographical novel of the same name by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. The plot revolves around two lead characters, Basheer and Narayani, who fall in love in a prison, with a wall between them. The film features Mammootty and KPAC Lalitha as central characters, even though she is only voiced as the lead.
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3
Inspector Balram
This is the second instalment in the popular Inspector Balram franchise of IV Sasi. Mammootty once again reprises his role as the hot-headed CI Balram. He is peacefully living with his wife and daughter. His rival resurfaces and kills his wife as retribution. A broken Balram arranges his daughter’s safekeeping with nuns and is out to get blood.
4
Amaram
The Malayalam drama by Mollywood’s classic director Bharathan revolves around the fisherman Achootty (Mammootty) and his only daughter Radha (Maathu). The plot takes a turn when Radha elopes with her childhood friend, a fellow fisherman of her father. The film has won many state awards including Mammootty’s Filmfare Award for Best Actor. The cast of the movie includes Ashokan, K P A C Lalitha, Murali and Balan K Nair.
5
Thalapathi
The Tamil crime drama, written and directed by Mani Ratnam, starred Mammootty, Rajnikanth, Shobana, Arvind Swami and Srividya in lead roles. It is based on the theme of friendship between Karna and Duryodhana, the epic characters from Mahabharata. Under Ilayaraja’s composition, the lyrics were written by poet Vaali.
6
Soorya Manasam
The movie tanked at the box office and was labeled a disaster only to gain cult following in the later years because of Mammootty’s performance alone. Mammootty plays a mentally-challenged Putturumees who lives in a village with his mother. He is often mistreated, abused and insulted by the villagers who play cruel pranks on him. The only people who has sympathy for him are his mother, Mooppan and Mooppan’s daughter. The movie is still considered one of the most underrated of Mammootty’s performances.
7
Pappayude Swantham Appoos
In this Fazil directorial, Mammootty plays the role of a single father, Balachandran, who is still reeling from the death of his wife. He is distant from his son and busies himself with business. Appu, his son befriends their nanny Meenakshi and she helps him mend their relationship. But the happiness is short-lived when Meenakshi gets kidnapped.
8
Kalikaalam
An action thriller uncharacteristic of director Sathyan Anthikkad casting Mammootty as a master con man. Mammootty plays Sankar, along with several other names. He is pitted against CI Shekharan (Murali), a police officer in pursuit of him. But rather than seeing Shekhar as an enemy Sankar views him as a rival and respects Shekhar’s sincerity and commitment to the job. So, Shankar takes it upon himself to prove Shekhar’s innocence when the latter gets falsely implicated in a murder case. Unlike Shekhar who is bound by law, Sankar is free and will go to any length.
9
Vatsalyam
In this family drama, directed by Cochin Haneefa and written by Lohitadas, Mammootty plays Meledathu Raghavan Nair, a devoted son, brother and father. He is a simple-minded man who takes care of his family and doesn’t care much for etiquettes and sophisticated customs. But his happiness is shattered as he comes to clash with his sister-in-law, who is educated and rude to his family. Although the movie came under scrutiny for political correctness recently, it undoubtedly remains as one of the finest performances of Mammootty.
10
Dhruvam
Joshiy’s Malayalam action thriller starring Mammootty, Jayaram and Vikram in lead roles is about the cat-and-mouse-game played by the villian to escape Narasimha Mannadiar (Mammootty), who decides to avenge his brother’s death. The movie also features Suresh Gopi, Gauthami, Tiger Prabhakar and Shammi Thilakan in pivotal roles.
11
Ponthan Mada
Ponthan Mada (Mammootty) is a low-caste man who comes to work in the estate of Sheema Thampuran (Naseeruddin Shah), who was exiled from his homeland, England, suspected of treason. Away from the warmth of his family and homesick, Sheema Thampuran begins an unlikely friendship with Ponthan Mada that transcends caste restrictions, untouchability and traditions.
12
Vidheyan
Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s directorial is the screen adaptation of Paul Zacharia’s novella Bhaskarapattelarum Ente Jeevithavum. The movie is about the master-slave concept, set in Southern Karnataka. The plot revolves around Thommy (M R Gopakumar) who is a loyal servant of Bhaskara (Mammootty), and how his loyalty makes him obey his aggressive master unconditionally, even leads him to kill Bhaskara's wife.
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13
The King
A political thriller by the hitmaker combo director Shaji Kailas and penned by Ranji Paniker. Mammootty plays the fiery Joseph Alex Thevalliparambil and is pitted against Murali’s demonic character, MP Jayakrishnan. Joseph Alex is in pursuit of terrorists and nothing will stop this man who “has an extra bone”.
14
Mazhayethum Munpe
Nandakumar Varma (Mammootty) is a college professor working to pay expenses for the medical treatment of his fiance Uma (Shobhana) back in the village. Shruthi (Annie), his student, falls for him and forces Uma to leave him and makes him marry her. Reluctant and heartbroken Nandakumar agrees but is shocked when he finds the truth that he was fooled by Shruthi. He leaves her and runs away and lives a life of depression dependent on alcohol.
15
Hitler
The Malayalam comedy-drama by Siddique revolves around Madhavankutty (Mammootty) who is known as Hitler for his tough attitude and rage, and his five sisters. The plot takes a twist when his sisters turn against him and blame him for his unexpressed love and domineering personality. The story then develops as some of his rivals take advantage of the situation and try to bring him down through his sisters The movie also stars Mukesh, Shobana, Vani Viswanath, Chippy, Innocent, and Jagadish in vital roles.
16
Azhakiya Ravanan
Boisterous and arrogant Shankar Das (Mammootty) returns to his village after years of exile. His only objective is to marry his childhood sweetheart Anuradha (Bhanupriya). But Anuradha has long moved on and is in love with an aspiring director. So, Shankar hires him as a director for a movie to get closer to Anuradha but this plan backfires.
17
Bhoothakkannadi
Vidhyadharan, a widower, is living with his daughter and is hoping to reunite with his ex-lover Sarojini. Sarojini’s daughter is killed and Vidhyadharan, who loved her as his own daughter avenges her. Now in jail, Vidhyadharan is more afraid for his daughter’s safety and reassures Sarojini that they will escape somewhere when he gets released. But his hopeful life turns upside down when he starts watching a blind family with a daughter outside the jail and he sees sme constables harassing them and ogling the women.
18
Oru Maravathoor Kanavu
The Malayalam comedy musical drama is a Lal Jose directorial which revolves around Chandy (Mammootty), his brother Michael (Biju Menon) and their family who buy a farm which is coveted by a rich man. Things take a turn when the rich man Palanichamy (Nedumudi Venu) starts to block the smooth functioning of the farm in order to make the family leave the place. The movie also features Mohini, Divya Unni, Sreenivasan, Kalabhavan Mani and Sukumari.
19
Harikrishnans
An investigative comedy directed by Fazil has Mammootty, Mohanlal and Juhi Chawla. The film beat all collection records till then showcasing Mammootty’s performance as an advocate once more, this time playing Hari in the Harikrishnans duo. Hari and Krishan (Mohanlal) are best friends and advocates who gets embroiled in a murder case. Their only clues are that the victim spent a night with a girl called Meera (Juhi Chawla) and he also has an unknown secret lover.
