27 September,2026 03:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mammootty (Pic/Instagram)
Mammootty recently found himself at the centre of social media criticism after a video from the National Film Awards ceremony showed him receiving a traditional welcome with a tilak. While several fans congratulated the actor on his win, some questioned the gesture because of his faith. Filmmaker-actor Harisree Yousuf has now defended Mammootty, calling out the criticism.
In a video shared by the Statue of Unity page, Mammootty is seen dressed in a white shirt and cream-coloured pants. He is welcomed with a bouquet, after which a woman applies a tilak on his forehead and drapes a tricolour shoulder cloth around his neck. While several comments congratulated the actor on his win, some criticised him for allowing a tilak to be applied despite being a Muslim.
Filmmaker-actor Harisree Yousuf defended him. Yousuf referenced Mammootty's viral video and the criticism it received on Instagram, noting that while most Malayalis celebrated the actor, some objected to the tilak on his forehead. He also referred to one such commenter as a "frog in a well".
Yousuf pointed out that people in India have different ways of worshipping the same God. "You draw a cross, apply a tilak, or bow down and pray; it is all directed towards God. It shows love for our Creator," he said, adding that a tilak can also be a traditional way of welcoming guests.
He criticised those who use religion to abuse others online, stressing that faith should not be used to create divisions but should instead encourage people to become better human beings. Reacting to the criticism directed at Mammootty, Yousuf warned that such attitudes could contribute to communal divisions. "India is a great country. It is people like you who create communal division. Don't do anything like this again," he said.
Malayalam cinema legend Mammootty, who was honoured with the National Film Award for Best Actor for his work in Bramayugam, received a standing ovation at the recently concluded ceremony. In 2026, the Government of India also awarded him the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to the arts. The actor shared the National Award for Best Actor with Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan, who was feted for his work in the sports biopic Chandu Champion.
