Mammootty recalls receiving sacks full of letters at Woodlands Hotel: ‘Sreenivasan would read them to me during our downtime’

At the Rekhachithram success meet, Mammootty fondly recalled moments from his career, some of which were fictionalised by Rekhachithram's makers and woven into its narrative.

By: Entertainment Desk

Kochi | January 13, 2025 04:19 PM IST

4 min read

At the Rekhachithram success meet, Mammootty fondly recalled moments from his career, some of which were fictionalised by Rekhachithram's makers and woven into its narrative.

Malayalam megastar Mammootty with actor-filmmaker Sreenivasan. (Mazhavil Manorama/YT)

Asif Ali and Anaswara Rajan have kicked off 2025 in style as their latest movie Rekhachithram is already showing strong potential to become a box-office success — possibly marking the first major hit for Malayalam cinema this year. Directed by Jofin T Chacko, Rekhachithram is an alternate history mystery thriller centred around a fictional young woman (Anaswara), who mysteriously disappeared from the sets of director Bharathan’s Mammootty-starrer Kathodu Kathoram, and a police officer (Asif) who embarks on a mission to uncover the truth behind her disappearance 39 years later. The film also features an AI-generated version of Mammootty, appearing in scenes set in the Kathodu Kathoram locations.

Recently, Mammootty joined the Rekhachithram team to celebrate the movie’s success. At the event, he fondly recalled moments from his career, some of which were fictionalised by writers John Manthrickal and Ramu Sunil, along with director Jofin, and woven into Rekhachithram’s narrative. In the movie, Anaswara’s character Rekha is depicted as a diehard Mammootty fan who frequently sent him letters at the Woodland Hotel, where he often stayed during film shoots in Chennai.

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“When I started my career, back in the days of Nana magazine, I used to give the address of Woodlands Hotel. That was when fan mail became a thing. After shoots, I’d return to my room to find sacks full of letters. Sreenivasan (actor-filmmaker), who was always around in those days, would read them to me during our downtime. One of the letters started with ‘Dear Mammootty Chettan.’ That little anecdote found its way into Mutharamkunnu PO (a 1985 romantic comedy film directed by debutant Sibi Malayil), thanks to Sreenivasan,” Mammootty said.

“But Rekhachithram is something else. Here, the story brings back a fan from that era — a connection to those handwritten letters of the past. That’s what drew me to this project. It felt meaningful in a way I couldn’t ignore. And, as always, I owe it to the audience. They’ve turned this film into a success. It’s my privilege to thank them for their unwavering support. I hope this movie continues to reach new heights,” the superstar added.

During the success meet of his Rorschach, Mammootty had gifted Asif Ali — who played a key role in the movie albeit his face was never revealed — a Rolex watch, fulfilling Asif’s wish, mirroring Kamal Haasan’s gift of a Rolex watch to Suriya for his role in Vikram. Recalling this, Asif mentioned to Mammootty during the Rekhachithram celebration that many people were asking what gift he planned to give in return. Mammootty immediately asked for a kiss on the cheek and an overjoyed Asif leaned in with a smile, sharing a heartwarming moment that delighted all.

On the occasion, Anaswara Rajan too received a special gift from Mammootty. In the film, Rekha’s greatest wish was to have a signed photo from the megastar. Staying true to that, Anaswara asked Mammootty for his autograph on a photo of the two of them and he gladly obliged, making the occasion even more memorable.

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