Mammootty turned what could have been a routine acceptance speech into one of the most talked-about moments at the 70th Filmfare Awards South. After being announced Best Actor in the Malayalam category for Bramayugam, the veteran star walked on stage to warm applause. Rather than keeping the spotlight to himself, Mammootty chose to share it with fellow nominees Asif Ali and Basil Joseph.
In a speech that blended humour with humility, he made it clear that he did not see himself as superior to the younger actors. He remarked that they were just as deserving, and that perhaps the award had simply “chosen” him this time. Then, in his characteristically informal style, he called out to them to come up. Asif and Basil hurried to the stage amid loud cheers, and the three stood together, smiling, turning an individual honour into a collective moment. There was laughter, too. Referring to the trophy in a playful tone, Mammootty said that although the others were young and handsome, “she” had decided to stand with him.
The award recognised his performance as Kodumon Potti in Rahul Sadasivan’s black and white horror period drama Bramayugam. As the enigmatic, ageing figure with formidable power, Mammootty delivered a performance that many critics have described as one of the most layered of his career.
This latest win further strengthens an already unmatched record. Mammootty has won a total of 17 Filmfare Awards, including one Honorary Award. Of those 17 Filmfare Awards, 16 have come in the Best Actor Malayalam category. This is the highest number of wins by any actor in the Malayalam section of the Filmfare Awards South. As of 2026, Mammootty holds the record for the most Best Actor wins in Malayalam, and he also has the highest number of nominations in this category. He also remains the only actor to have won Best Actor in Malayalam across five separate decades, from the 1980s through to the 2020s.
The night also celebrated other major achievements. Manjummel Boys won Best Film. Rahul Sadasivan was named Best Director for Bramayugam. Urvashi won Best Actress for Ullozhukku, which shared the Critics’ Award for Best Film with Kishkindha Kaandam. Prithviraj received the Critics’ Best Actor award for Aadujeevitham, while Asif Ali was honoured in the same category for Kishkindha Kaandam. Zarin Shihab won the Critics’ Best Actress award for Aattam.