Mammootty introduces college friend who gave him his name in a heartwarming moment — watch

Mammootty with his friend

In a 1994 interview with Doordarshan, Malayalam superstar Mammootty revealed the story behind how he got his iconic stage name. For those unaware, Mammootty's real name is Mohammad Kutty - a name he said he wasn't particularly proud of. He had credited a college friend for giving him the name that went on to create history in Indian cinema. During the interview, the actor also said he didn't know where that friend was. Now, more than 30 years later, the two have reunited, and the star introduced him to everyone at a grand event.

Mammootty introduces college friend

In the Doordarshan interview, he shared that he wasn't fond of his real name and adopted a new one when he began college. "I would tell everyone who asked my name that it was Omar Sharif. However, when my college identity card fell out of my pocket, someone saw it and asked me, ‘Is your name Mammootty?' That was how I got the name." Back then, he had also mentioned the friend's name - Sasidharan - while admitting he didn't know his whereabouts.

Now, at a recent event in Kerala, Mammootty recalled the story behind his name's origin. This time, he introduced his friend Sasidharan, who was seated in the audience. Upon being called, Sasidharan stood up and waved to everyone. The superstar then invited him on stage and proudly introduced him.

While calling Sasidharan on stage, Mammootty told the cheering audience, "Many asked me about him, but I have been keeping him hidden all this while. I wanted to introduce him publicly one day and am delighted to do it at this stage." The actor also revealed that over the years, many people falsely claimed to be his friend Sasidharan.

This heartwarming moment reminded fans of the climax of Mammootty and Vineeth Sreenivasan's film Katha Parayumbol. In the film, Mammootty's superstar character reminisces about his old friend Balan, who helped shape his journey, and eventually recognises him in the crowd.

Mammootty's work front

Mammootty will next be seen on the big screen in just a week. His next titled Kalamkaval directed by Jithin K Jose will be released in theatres worldwide on December 5. The actor also has Mahesh Narayan's Patriot in the pipeline which reunites him with Mohanlal.