Mammootty on if he had done Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha now: 'Would have toned down...'

Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, starring Mammootty, is a 1989 iconic film that has valiantly stood the test of time. Mammootty won a National Award for his performance as Chandu in the film, which was scripted by MT Vasudevan Nair. More than 35 years after Chandu first turned up on the Malayalam screen, Mammootty was asked if he would play the iconic character any differently if the film was made now. Read on to know what the Malayalam megastar said...

Mammootty on Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha

Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha is definitely a standout film in Mammootty’s illustrious filmography. The film re-released in theatres on February 7, 2025. 

In a recent conversation, Ramesh Pisharody asked Mammootty how would he portray Chandu now, considering the vast amount of experience and skills he has gained over the decades? 

“This is Chandu. Beyond that... Maybe, Chandu could benefit more from our experience now,” Mammootty said before adding with a chuckle that “maybe would have toned down acting a little for this era.” 

He also listed out the factors of sound and modulation but insisted that it is not possible to fiddle with those aspects, especially for an MT’s character. “We cannot modulate MT’s dialogue in any other way,” pointed out Mammootty, who has brought to screen several characters penned by the legendary Malayalam writer. 

Also read - 'Chandu is an absolute loser': Mammootty on his iconic role in Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha 

Most of the scenes are also about addressing a group of people or angry dialogues, none of which can be changed, the megastar explained. 

Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha re-release

The cult classic film Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha returned to cinema halls in Kerala on February 7, 2025, in a remastered 4K version. Some of the viewers who watched Mammootty-MT's iconic film in the theatres shared their excitement on Twitter. One fan wrote, “"An unforgettable experience! MT’s brilliance, Hariharan’s vision & Mammootty’s iconic performance make this a timeless classic.” 

Also read - Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha re-release: Mammootty played Chathiyan Chandu only because it was MT Vasudevan Nair’s script  

Several evergreen Malayalam movies were re-released last year with some enjoying a successful run at the box office also. Mammootty-Shaji Kailas’ Valliettan and Mohanlal-Sibi Malayil’s Devadoothan were among the films that re-released.