Why Mammootty’s health update felt like Onam came early for Malayalis worldwide

Dubai: It’s official. Onam, Kerala’s grand harvest festival that celebrates the homecoming of the mythical King Mahabali, came early this year—not because of payasam [creamy desert] overload or floral carpets, but because one man—the man—bounced back to good health.

Word on the street was that Mammootty was battling something sinister, whispers of the Big C included. His camp shot that down faster than a Mohanlal punchline, but when the doctors confirmed he was in the clear, Kerala heaved a collective sigh of relief.

What followed was not polite applause—it was a full-blown festival yesterday. This was roaring, unadulterated, “our man is back” joy.

Singer G. Venugopal got all teary on Instagram, declaring, “I have not heard any news in recent times that could take away all the worries weighing on my mind and fill me with such positive energy and joy.”

Producers Anto Joseph and George, men who’ve stood in the trenches with Mammookka, chimed in with pure delight. And then came the fraternity: Prithviraj posting a picture of him with the legend on his Instagram, and Mohanlal trekking up Sabarimala, offering prayers for his Muslim bestie. That’s not camaraderie—that’s devotion. Show me another industry where a rival camp breaks into childlike jubilation at a competitor’s good health. You can’t.

But that’s Mammootty for you. A paradox on two legs. In public, he’s reticent, occasionally bordering on arrogant, giving interviews with all the warmth of a customs officer on duty. He’s no charmer like our Lalettan, the cheekier half of the Big Two.

And yet, roll camera, and the transformation is surgical. From the Thrissur businessman in Pranchiyettan and the Saint, so desperate for a Padma Shri he tries to buy one, to the raw vulnerability of Thaniyavarthanam’s mentally unravelling man, Mammookka doesn’t act—he inhabits. His consistency is maddening. Faultless, timeless, peerless.

And let's not forget, this is also the man who doubled up as the stylish gangster, in Big B.

Decade after decade, Mammootty has been Malayalam cinema’s safety net and rocket launcher, a paradoxical blend of gravitas and stardom.

That’s why his recovery wasn’t just “good news.” It was cultural insurance. Venugopal nailed it when he wrote, “We still have to laugh, cry, and be proud with Mammookka.” Exactly. Because when Mammootty is fine, Kerala is fine. He isn’t just an actor anymore—he’s a living artery of Malayali identity.

So yes, Onam came early this year. Forget the pookkalams and banana chips. Kerala already got its feast: Mammookka, alive, kicking, and striding back into the frame.