Prithviraj on mother Mallika’s life: ‘Her first marriage failed… then, Malayalam cinema’s biggest star fell in love with her’

Actor Prithviraj recently expressed admiration for his mother Mallika Sukumaran, attributing the blessings and opportunities he and his brother Indrajith received to her strength.

By: Entertainment Desk

Kochi | March 22, 2024 03:33 PM IST

3 min read

Prithviraj Sukumaran recently expressed admiration for his mother Mallika Sukumaran, attributing the blessings and opportunities he and his brother Indrajith Sukumaran received to her strength that she showed after their father Sukumaran's demise

Prithviraj and brother Indrajith with their mother Mallika Sukumaran; (right) Mallika and her husband, late Malayalam superstar Sukumaran. (Images: Prithviraj Sukumaran/Instagram)

Actors Prithviraj Sukumaran and Indrajith Sukumaran have been captivating the hearts of Malayalam cinema viewers ever since their film debut in 2002. As a dynamic sibling duo, they have risen to prominence over the past two decades, showcasing unparalleled talent and enthralling viewers.

Nevertheless, their family has a rich history in show business preceding their own. Both their parents, Sukumaran and Mallika Sukumaran, were established actors. In fact, their father Sukumaran was part of Malayalam cinema’s superstar trio in the 80s, predating the era of Mammootty and Mohanlal. Tragically, Sukumaran passed away at 49 in 1997 after a sudden heart attack. Later, Prithviraj and Indrajith have often credited their mother’s resilience for guiding the family through adversity.

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Recently, Prithviraj expressed admiration for his mother, attributing the blessings and opportunities they’ve received to her strength. “I believe my mother’s life story is remarkable. It’s natural for children to see it that way, isn’t it? She faced numerous challenges. Her first marriage failed. And yet, she faced difficulties in returning home… Difficulties in presenting this matter to the family,” he said while addressing the media recently. Mallika was initially married to actor Jagathy Sreekumar. The duo parted ways after three years.

“During that time, like a fairy tale, Malayalam cinema’s biggest star (Sukumaran) fell in love with Amma. Knowing my father’s nature, I believe he drove to my mother’s house one night and asked, ‘Hello, could you marry your daughter to me?’ Thus, she navigated through a new life, remarried, settled down, and enjoyed 23 years of marital bliss,” he recalled.

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“But my father’s sudden passing caught us all off guard. None of us expected that he would leave so soon. One day he was there, and the next day he wasn’t. Overnight, I saw a woman, who had spent 23 years as a devoted mother and wife, taking control of everything.”

“I was just starting Class 10, and my brother was about to enter engineering college. If my mother had faltered, perhaps my brother and I wouldn’t be where we are today,” he emphasised.

Prithviraj Sukumaran is currently gearing up for the release of his highly anticipated survival drama Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life), helmed by Blessy. The film, featuring music by Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman, will hit the screens on March 28.

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