Mammootty delivers emotional speech while accepting 15th trophy at Filmfare Awards South 2024, says his heart goes out to Wayanad landslide victims

Mammootty, besides an illustrious career spanning over five decades, has been winning hearts nationwide and dominating the Malayalam box office since last year with his unique film choices and outstanding performances. This is evidenced by cinematic gems such as Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam, Kaathal – The Core and Bramayugam and superhits like Christopher, Kannur Squad and Turbo. At the 69th Filmfare Awards South, held recently in Hyderabad to honour the best in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam cinema of 2023, Mammootty won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam for his role in director Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam.

Although he attended the ceremony to accept the award, the Malayalam megastar was not entirely happy with the win, despite it making him the only Indian actor to earn the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in each of the five decades since the 1980s. In his speech, an emotional Mammootty expressed his sorrow for those who lost their lives, loved ones and belongings in the recent landslides that affected the Wayanad district in Kerala.

Watch Mammootty’s speech at Filmfare Awards South 2024 venue here:

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“This is supposed to be a very happy moment for me, but I am not very happy. I am sad for the suffering of my people in Wayanad. Those who lost their lives, belongings, and beloveds, I remember them at this moment. I wish for you to support them and help them regain their lives,” he said while sharing the stage with actors Vikram (Ponniyin Selvan: II) and Siddharth (Chithha), who won the awards for Best Actor and Critics Best Actor, respectively. This was the 15th time Mammootty received the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.

The Malayalam megastar and his son, actor Dulquer Salmaan, had earlier donated Rs 25 lakh and Rs 15 lakh, respectively, to the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF) to aid the victims. The death toll from the landslides in Wayanad district, which occurred in the early hours of July 30, rose to 221 on Sunday. Around 200 people remain missing since the disaster.