A touching gesture from Mammootty has added joy to a life-changing medical milestone for a four-year-old boy from Kerala’s Idukki district, who heard human speech for the first time after undergoing cochlear implant treatment. Young Angelo, the son of Jason and Ansha from Chemmannar, had lived in silence since birth because of profound hearing loss. His world changed after a successful procedure carried out under the ‘Kathodu Kathoram’ initiative, a charitable programme supported by Mammootty’s Care and Share International Foundation in association with Rajagiri Hospital.
During the emotional switch-on ceremony, when the implant device was activated, Angelo began responding to surrounding sounds for the first time. The special occasion became even more memorable when the child was greeted with a warm recorded message from Mammootty. “My dear Angelo, I am Mammootty. Mammookka, who you see acting in films and appearing on television. You must study well and grow up to be a clever boy...” the veteran actor said warmly, welcoming the child into a new world of sound.
Doctors and family members said Angelo reacted with surprise and curiosity as he listened to a human voice for the first time in his life. For Angelo’s parents, the treatment would have been financially out of reach, with the procedure and associated equipment costing around ₹12 lakh. Learning about the initiative through relatives brought much-needed hope to the family.
Medical experts at Rajagiri Hospital successfully performed the surgery, while specialists will now guide Angelo through months of speech therapy and rehabilitation designed to help him develop spoken language and sound recognition. Cochlear implants can significantly improve the quality of life for children born with severe hearing impairment, particularly when treatment is carried out early. It can help them build communication skills, improve learning opportunities and integrate more easily into mainstream schooling.
Mammootty will next be seen in Mahesh Narayanan's spy thriller Patriot, slated to hit theatres on May 1. The film, which reunites the veteran actor with Mohanlal after a long gap, also features Fahadh Faasil, Kunchacko Boban and Nayanthara.
