Kalamkaval is Mammootty at peak villainism | 5 Films that prove no other actor can pull off serial killer Stanley Das as megastar

The Malayalam film Kalamkaval shows Malayalam megastar Mammootty as a menacing serial killer, preying upon innocent women. Though the Jithin K Jose film is garnering mixed reviews, netizens have been hailing Mammootty’s performance as peak villainism. The megastar fully transforms into the venomous avatar, even though the makers have avoided claiming it to be based on the real-life criminal Cyanide Mohan. His illustrious filmography has several negative or grey-shaded roles that prove why there are not many actors who can pull off Stanley Das like the way he did. From the vile Vidheyan to the award-winning Bramayugam, here are Mammootty movies where he explored the negative, grey roles and the in-betweens.

Mammootty in negative, grey roles

Vidheyan (YouTube)

Auteur filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Vidheyan released over three decades ago. But there has seldom been another lead as brutal as Bhaskara Pattelar, the feudal landlord who relentlessly chases after beautiful women, assaulting them. Mammootty simply evokes a sense of revulsion in the viewers for the sheer high-handedness and barbaric nature of Pattelar. MR Gopakumar plays the other key role of Thommy in the hard-hitting film, which would leave most viewers with an uneasy feeling.

Bramayugam (SonyLiv via OTTplay Premium)

Yet another film that explores the master-slave bond, but with a horror touch. Mammootty appears as an ageing patriarch in this black-and-white period folk-horror film, offering shelter to the singer Thevan. But he soon shows his real colours, trapping Thevan inside his dilapidated mansion. The riveting performance as Kodumon Potti fetched Mammootty his seventh Kerala State Award for Best Actor, the only Malayalam artiste to win this many awards.

Also read: Kalamkaval review: Mammootty’s venomous turn drives this slow-burn study of a serial killer's mind and method

Rorschach (JioHotstar via OTTplay Premium)

Mammootty plays an NRI, Luke Anthony, seeking revenge for his wife Sofiya’s murder. Luke reaches the village of her murdrer Dileep, only to learn that he died in an accident some months ago. But even the news of his death does not give solace to Luke who then marries Dileep’s wife. It is difficult to side with or oppose Luke and his actions. A twisted tale of revenge, Rorschach has more morally ambiguous characters played by a brilliant Bindu Panicker as the shrewd mother of Dileep and Jagadish as the greedy cop.

Puzhu (SonyLiv via OTTplay Premium)

Puzhu means worm in Malayalam, and there is a sense of something crawling through your skin while watching the film. And most of it is credited to Mammootty’s creepy performance as the senior police officer Kuttan who brings up even his school-going son under strict discipline. His fraught relationship with his younger sister (Parvathy Thiruvothu) is explored in the film after she marries a man from a lower caste but moves into the same apartment as Kuttan’s. PT Ratheena’s debut film was lauded by critics for its unflinching gaze at caste prejudices.

Paleri Manikyam (Sun NXT via OTTplay Premium)

Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha translates to the tale of a murder at midnight. Manikyam is the young woman from the village Paleri whose murder is at the centre of this 2009 film. Mammootty is once again seen as a cunning feudal landlord, named Murikkinunnath Ahamed Haji. The probe into the murder is held by Haridas (Mammootty again), while there is also Haji's son (yet another Mamootty role) who is also crucial to the incident. It is interesting to see how the same actor is playing three different roles - as the perpetrators of the crime and the investigator.

Kalamkaval FAQs

Q. Is Mammootty a villain in Kalamkaval?

A. Mammootty is the villain in Kalamkaval. He plays a cunning serial killer, while actor Vinayakan is seen as a cop.

Q. Who is the hero of the movie Kalamkaval?

A. Mammootty had called Vinayakan, who plays a cop, the hero of the movie Kalamkaval. The megastar is playing the villainous role.

Q. Is Dulquer in Kalamkaval?

A. Dulquer Salmaan does not appear in Kalamkaval, starring Mammootty. But the actor had earlier said that the first collaboration between him and his father Mammootty would be in the Lokah franchise.