Mammootty with 'Govardhan Travels'

Superstar Mammootty who has not been able to deliver a hit in the recent past has been quite busy with the shooting of his magnum opus 'Pazhassi Raja'. Now, there is a grapevine making rounds that he could play the leading role in a new movie that is being made on the book 'Govardhan's Travels' written by the famous Malayalam writer Anand. This is still in the budding stages and nothing concrete has been worked out yet but then those who have heard this say that this could be a highlight venture of Mammootty's career if it really works out.

Oscar winner wants to direct Big B

Oscar winning sound engineer Resul Pookutty is directing a film with Mammootty in the lead. Resul said that the film will be based on the famous novel Goa Travels. Speaking to the reporters, Resul said that every director will have an ambition to direct their favorite star. Likewise, he also nurses the ambition to direct Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan.

The Oscar winner said that after winning the coveted award he is being flooded with international offers from all quarters. Resul revealed that he is getting an average of about three such offers every week but he is picking and choosing the right ones.

Daddy Cool postponed to August 15

Super star Mammootty's forthcoming family thriller Daddy Cool, scripted and directed by debutante Ashique Abu, ex-assistant to veteran director Kamal, has been postponed to August 15, as Mammootty's other much-anticipated film Ee Pattanathil Bhootham is set to grace theatres by the last week of June.

Daddy Cool has already completed shooting. It narrates the story of a cricket-loving police officer Antony Simon (Mammootty) and his son. Richa Pallod of Shahjahan fame is the heroine.

Richa appears as Annie, wife of Mammootty. Indrajith and Kalabhavan Mani play key roles in this film, produced by Alvin Antony and Khader Mayyazhi under the banner of Wall Green Productions.

Songs, penned by Anil Panachooran, have been set to tune by Bijibal. Sameer Thahir, who had earlier cranked the camera for Big B, handles the camera. Mammootty is presently in America and will be back by the end of the week to complete his movies in the pipeline: Gireesh's Handsome, Jayaraj's Loudspeaker and Renjith's Palery Maanikyam.

Pattanathil Bhootham confirmed on June 25

Director Johnny Antony has confirmed that his most ambitious film Pattanathil Bhootham will release on June 25, after the monsoon season ends in Kerala.

The film which was originally scheduled to release on April 30 as Mammootty�s big summer film got delayed due to the graphic work and DI. Remember Mammooka is playing a dual role in the film as a circus bike jumper and a friendly ghost.

Kavya Madhavan who acted with Mammootty as a child artist in Azhagiya Ravanan, is playing is heroine for the first time. The others in the cast are Thilakan, Innocent, Sooraj Venjaranmoodu, new girl Sajita Betty etc.

It has potential to attract children and the family audiences. The music of the film is by Shaan Rahman, the music director of Vineeth Sreenivasan�s video album Coffee @ M.G Road . The story and screenplay is written by Sibi-Udayakrishnan team, who made a name for themselves with Twenty:20.

The film will be Mammootty's widest ever release as Kutty Krishnan of Devaki Films the producer and distributor is planning to release it in 111 screens in Kerala on June 25.

I have nothing against them

MALAYALAM MEGASTAR MAMMOOTTY TALKS ABOUT NEW YORK AIRPORT DELAY

Malayalam superstar Mammootty (pictured left) says he has no ill-feelings towards immigration officials at the JFK Airport in New York for delaying his clearance as they were just doing their job.

"It became news here because it was me and do you know there were 30 others whose clearance was delayed because the officials were checking their papers too. I had no issues at all and they treated me properly and I have nothing against them," said Mammootty, who returned to Kerala on Saturday after a nearly month-long visit to the US.

The veteran actor's exit from the airport last month was delayed because his name in his passport appears as Mohammad Kutty Ismail.

"I said who I am and when I told them that my website reveals everything, they were convinced after they checked it," Mammootty told IANS.

He said he was in the US as part of a fund-raising campaign for his close friend, attorney Stanley Kalathara, who is contesting the election for the New York City Council from District 25, which includes Jackson Heights and Corona.

Mammootty added that his trip went off well.

"The final election there takes place in September and ahead of that there are other programmes and I chipped in my bit for my friend," he explained.

The superstar, who was away for a month, got busy with work as soon as he arrived in Kochi and is now dubbing for his latest film "Daddy Cool".

"My next film 'Patanthil Bhootham' is being released next month and will be followed by 'Loud Speaker' directed by Jayaraj," said Mammootty.

Mammootty and Jayaraj are teaming up for "Loud Speaker" after the blockbuster "Johnny Walker" released 17 years back.

Mega Star Mammootty's upcoming films

Mammootty's much-anticipated Vande Mataram which was planned for release has been re-scheduled to Pongal 2009. The film is simultaneously being produced in Tamil as Aruvadai with Arjun and Sneha in the cast.
As there are so many movies lined up for release including Pattanathil Bhootham, Pazhassi Raja, Pokkiri Raja, Kutty Srank and Yugapurushan Mammooty will take a break after completing the last schedule of Daddy Cool which is shooting in Malaysia.
After his break in June he will complete Paleri Manikkyam a crime thriller directed by Renjith, he will join Handsome which is said to be a hi-tech thriller directed by Girish a former assistant of Shyamaprasad. Also in the news that he has a film with Jayaraj named Loudspeaker.

Mammootty may complete Hello Mayavi with super star Mohanlal as his Christmas movie. Mallanum Mathevanum is on hold at this moment.

In Production
1) Pattanathil Bhootham directed by Johny Antony is expected to hit theatres soon.
2) Vande Maatharam is a multi lingual film starring Arjun with the Mega Star and will be released in June or July
3) Pazhassi Raja- Scheduled to release on August 15.
4) Daddy Cool- Mammootty�s portion is almost complete.
5) Kutty Srank- Shooting is scheduled.
6) Yuga Purushan- The twenty-20 in realistic category is in production stage.
7) Paleri Manikyam- Started shooting Abroad.

Pre Production
8) Pokkiri Raja
9) Handsome
10) Film with actor Jagadeesh as director
11) Loud Speaker

Planned
12) Unnamed (A film based on The Godfather)
13) Mallanum Mathevanum
14) Hello Mayavi
15) A Kannada film

In Discussion
16) Sardarji by B. Unnikrishnan
17) Sequel to Uppukandam Brothers
18) Film with Sibi Malayil
19) SON OF ALEXANDER

Jagadheesh turns director

Few know that comic hero and supporting actor Jagadheesh is one of the best script writers in Malayalam today! Besides acting in nearly 150 films in a career spanning more than 25 years, Jagadheesh has scripted nine super hit films so far: Ganamela (1991), Minda Poochakku Kalyanam (1990), Adhipan (1989), News (1989), Manivatharile Aayiram Sivarathrikal (1987), Nandi Veendum Varika (1986), Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu (1986), Akkare Ninnoru Maran (1985), and Mutharamkunnu P.O. (1985).

Now we hear that this talented actor is all set to direct his first film with superstar Mammootty in the lead role. Ajaychandran Nair, maker of Anandhabhadram and Chotta Mumbai, will produce Jagadheesh's yet-to-be-titled film, which will be a total hilarious entertainer with commercial elements.

The initial works, including the scripting, is on at the capital city. Jagadheesh himself handles the script. According to sources, Jagadheesh's directorial venture will be one of the prestigious projects of Mammootty in the first half of 2010.

Pazhassi Raja postponed to Ramzan

This is a bad day for all Mammootty fans eagerly waiting for the release of their superstar's magnum opus historical film Pazhassi Raja on August 15! Scripted by legendary M.T. Vasudevan Nair and directed by Hariharan, Pazhassi Raja has been postponed once again and will grace theatres only during Ramzan (September).

Pazhassi Raja was rescheduled as Mammootty's two other releases Ee Pattanathil Bhootham and Daddy Cool are set to release in June and July respectively. The makers feel that they need at least two months gap between Mammootty's earlier releases to receive a great opening for Pazhassi Raja, a big budget film produced and distributed by Gokulam Gopalam under the banner of Gokulam Films.

To be simultaneously released in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi, Pazhassi Raja tells the story of legendary ruler and warrior Pazhassi Raja, popularly known as the Lion of Kerala, who took on the British in the forests of Malabar in the 18th century. Mammootty, the hero in Hariharan's previous historical venture Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989), plays the title role, while Suman plays the villain Pazhaiveetan Chandu.

Tamil actor Sarathkumar plays Edachena Kunkan, the chief lieutenant of Pazhassi Raja. Others in the cast include Padmapriya, Kanihaa, Manoj K. Jayan, Thilakan, Jagathi Sreekumar, Suresh Krishna and Kalabhavan Mani.

Mammootty is Daddy Cool!

In debutant director Aashiq Abu's Malayalam film Daddy Cool, Mammootty plays a cop, who prefers to spend time with his eight-year-old son than doing his official chores.
He is Antony Simon, a crime branch circle inspector, who had joined the service after being fascinated by its prospects. However, after the birth of his son, Antony's attention shifts to his kid, who he spends most of time with. Richa Pallod plays Mammootty's wife.

A chance meeting with a Malayali cricketer called Sreekanth, change their lives forever.

When Mammootty became a suspect in New York

Though the special check at New York's John Fitzgerald Kennedy airport was a clear case of racial profiling, award-winning Malayalam superstar Mammootty does not take it personally.
Mammootty had taken a British Airways flight on April 29 to attend a series of fundraising events for his friend, attorney Stanley Kalathara, who is contesting the election for the New York City Council from District 25, which includes Jackson Heights and Corona.

At JFK airport, immigration officials delayed Mammootty's exit for almost two hours. The reason? Mammootty's real name, which appears in his passport as Muhammad Kutty Ismail.

When the immigration official saw the last name Ismail, he sent the actor to a separate room for questioning.

Mammootty has visited the US 22 times, once after the 9/11 attacks. But this was the first time he was questioned.

"Every country has its laws and systems. We too have it. We should obey those laws. I did not feel discriminated or harrassed when I was questioned at the airport," he told rediff India Abroad.

"This is not something that happened to me alone. So there is no point taking it seriously," he added. Even US Senator Edward Kennedy has been stopped at airports, the star pointed out.

Kennedy was stopped and questioned at airports five times in March 2004 because his name appeared on the Bush government's secret 'no-fly' list. One was Boston, Massachusetts, a state he has represented in the US Senate for over 40 years.

Kalathara, upset over the delay, informed the Indian consulate. But before consular officials could step in, Mammootty asked the New York immigration officials to check his Web site, which includes information and photographs of the more than 300 films he has acted in.

"Once a person is marked for questioning, it seems they need confirmation from their Washington office (before releasing them). The officials themselves forwarded details from the Web site to the Washington office and his name was immediately cleared," Kalathara said.

"It was a routine thing. Mammootty did not take it seriously. The official apologised profusely and even accompanied him outside," Kalathara said.

Whatever the actor felt, it became another instance of profiling of people with Muslim names. Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan [Images] suffered a similar experience in Canada [Images] because his last name appeared to be Muslim -- although he is a Hindu.

Immediately after 9/11, Malayalam actress Samyukta Verma and her team were detained for some time because during their flight into New York one of her associates pointed out high-rise buildings in the city. A fellow traveller, who felt threatened, alerted the pilot. Three UA Air Force fighter jets escorted Verma's flight to JFK and the incident made news in India and the US.