What: Having featured in more than 400 films, Mammootty has frequently taken on the role of police officers, with his most recent portrayal being in Roby Varghese Raj’s crime drama Kannur Squad, which hit theatres recently.
Examining Mammootty’s police roles not only offers a glimpse into the actor’s career progression but also a comprehensive view of how police characters have been depicted in Malayalam cinema and how this has evolved over time.
Furthermore: In contrast to typical police officer characters in Malayalam, who either made sporadic appearances or were portrayed as purely villainous, Mammootty’s first-ever cop avatar, in KG George’s classic mystery thriller Yavanika (1982), exhibited a remarkable level of professionalism and astuteness. Although he played a central role, Mammootty’s CI Jacob Eeraly was depicted in a restrained manner, with a focus solely on his duties.
We heard: The budding actor portrayed the character with remarkable precision, adhering closely to the filmmaker’s vision. However, such sharp and professional cops were rarely seen in movies later, as even crime dramas and thrillers primarily celebrated male heroes and often embellished them with superhuman qualities, either morally or physically superior to others.
