How did Mohammed Kutty become Mammootty? The actor introduced the friend who named him
At a recent event in Kerala, Mammootty publicly introduced his friend Sasidharan as the person who gave him the name, which made him a household name, thereby clarifying long-standing speculations about the origin of his stage name.
Malayalam superstar Mammootty surprised the audience by revealing the identity of his friend who named him Mammootty during the opening of a programme, ending years of public speculation about the origin of his famous name. The actor, who was in good spirits, thanked the crowd for their support, prayers and reflected on his college memories before making the announcement that enthralled the attendees.
In the program organized by ManoramaHe started by recalling a story from his college days. The actor had told everyone in college that his name was Omar Sharif, a famous Egyptian actor. One day his ID card accidentally fell, then the secret was revealed. Mammootty said, “A friend of mine immediately asked me. ‘You are not Sharif, your name is Mammootty.'” The crowd listened attentively, anticipating what would happen next.
Continuing, Mammootty pointed towards the audience and introduced the person who named him. With a subtle sense of excitement, he announced, “The friend who named me Mammootty is here. His name is Sasidharan.”
All eyes were fixed on a thin man in a closed shirt and trousers, who was identified as Sasidharan. The audience responded with enthusiastic slogans of ‘Shasi’ Jai Chetan,’ acknowledging the unexpected revelation.
Mammootty addressed the ongoing debate over his name, saying, “Many people have taken credit for my name, even written about it in the papers. But this was the same man,” he said, referring to Sasidharan.
He emphasized that he had kept Sasidharan’s identity private until now, saying, “I have protected him like a secret, kept him back like a surprise for so many years.”
The moment resonated with the crowd, with many recognizing the similarities to scenes from Mammootty’s own films, where characters publicly honor old friends. This revelation resolved a long-standing question among fans and the public.
The session concluded with an acknowledgment of Mammootty’s friendship and gratitude, a memorable occasion that highlighted the lasting impact of personal relationships in his life.