MAMMOOTY OR MOHANLAL

Who is the best actor? (Mammooty Vs Mohan Lal)

Friends, this is just an open discussion and anyone can express their own views. Who is the best actor in Malayalam? Mammootty or Mohan Lal? Let us have some analysis.

Mohanlal is a high talented versatile energetic actor. He can do any role with ease. He has got great supporters and fans in Kerala. Without any doubt, we can say Mohanlal is one of the top actors in Malayalam cinema today. What are all his capacities? He can do any role effortlessly. He is very good in Comedy (Nadodikaattu, Pattana Pravesham, San manassullavarkku samaadanam, Vellanakalude Nadu, Yodha, Kilukkam, Chitram-Which is not a comedy movie but a classic, Boeing Boeing, Then Mavin Kombathu, Thalavattam). Most of his comedy movies are classics as well. He is very good in action movies also (Rajavinte Makan, Manthrikam, Spadikam, Keerthi Chakra). He has got some classics such as Chitram, Devasuram, Aaram Thampuran, His Highness Abdullah, Bharatham, Kireedam, Udayananu Tharam, Vanaprastham, Iruvar).

He has got a very flexible body language which is his plus point. He is so natural in his roles. So what are all his strengths?

1. Very good in comedy and very good in timing.
2. Very good combination with Jagathy and Sreenivasan
3. Good in dancing compared to other super stars of kerala
4. Effortless acting
5. You can feel the power of his acting as Feudal king in Devasuram and Aaram Thamburan kind of movies
6. Heart touching style in family movies.

Mohanlal is not so handsome and does not have the looks of a chocolate actor as in the bollywood movies. But he won the hearts of keralites only because of his talents.


Now about Mammootty! Who is mammooty for malayalis? Many are having the opinion that Mammootty is not a born actor. He developed his own style of acting.

He also faces many criticisms

1. Not good in dancing
2. Not good in fighting as compared to Mohan Lal
3. Not good in comedy

I was not a keen observer of Mammootty in the past. But recently I started analyzing his talents; How can an actor shine as a superstar for 25 years if he is not good in all these essential things mentioned above. So definitely he must have some capabilities which others do not have.

Let us compare

Comedy - Of course Mohan Lal. Mammootty score negative marks in Comedy.

Fighting - Of course Mohan Lal. In some movies Mammootty also did good fighting scenes. But still Mohan Lal is good.

Running - Moahnlal (His running style in Chitram, Vandanam etc are examples)

Romance – Mohanlal (100’s of movies)

Classic songs - Mohanlal (His Highness Abdulla, Bharatham etc, Mammooty – Rakkuyilin Raga Sadassu)

Kadakali and classic dances - Mohanlal (Vana Prastham, Kamala Dalam etc)

Karachil (Crying scenes - I thought Mohanlal. But now I realized it is mammooty. (Valsalyam, Pappayude swantham Appoose, Kathodu Kathoram, Poo Mukha Padiyil Ninneyum Kathu, Yathra, Mathilukal, Karutha Pakshikal, Palunku and 100’s of other family subjects which he did in 80’s)

Vadakkan Paattu character - Mammootty (Compare Vadakkan Veeragatha and Thacholi Ambu. Padayottam and Ilavankodu Desham)

Sanyasi (Saint) – Both Equal (Raja Shilpi, Aham, Adarvam of Mammootty)

Fisher man - Mammootty (Just compare Amaram and Mahasamudram and Thoovana Thumpikal)

Husband roles - Mammootty (Both stars played many husband roles. But Mammootty is the best in husband roles. 100’s of his movies in 80’s are examples)

Lawyer - Mammootty (Several characters – Nyaya Vidhi, Adikkurippu, Abhibhashakante Case Diary, Mounam Sammatham, Thantram, Itha innu muthal)

Politician - Mammootty (Nayam Vyakthamakkunnu and several other movies)

College Lecturer/Teacher - Mammootty (Mazhayethum Mumpe, Snehamulla Simham, Sandhyakkenthinu Sindhooram)

Old man - Both are equal (Danny, Dada Sahib, Parampara Mohanlal - Ravanaprabhu, and Udayon. Mohan Lal will get a plus point when Paradeshi releases)

Rowdy - Both are equal.

Karanavar/Valiyettan roles - Mammooty (Just compare Valsalyam, Valyettan, Hitler, Mohanlal - Balettan, Pavithram).

Father of kids - Mammootty (Just compare Pappayude Swantham Appoose, Kazhcha, Palunku and other 100’s of old mammooty movies in 80’s. Mohanlal – Thanmatra, Soorya Gayathri)

Police - Mammootty (Inspector Balram, Aug 01, Pranamam, Rakshasa Rajavu, Aavanazhi, Aattu Vanchi Ulanjappol, Idavelakku Shesham, Vetta, Yavanika and many more)

Doctor - Mammootty (Sandarbham, Manivathoorile Aayiram Sivarathrikal, Aalorungi Arangorungi)

IAS/IPS officer - Mammootty (The King, Mukthi etc)

Military officer - Mammootty (Compare movies Nair Sab, Sainyam. Mohanlal - Keerthi Chakra)

Poet - Mammootty (Aksharangal, Padheyam, Mohanlal - Ayal Kadha Ezhuthukayanu)
Villager - Mammooty (Just analysis Kazhcha, Palunku and 100’s of his movies in the 80’s)

Investigating officer - Mammootty (Oru CBI Diary Kuruppu series. No way you can compare Mohanlal with Mammooty in this category)

Dialogue delivery - Mammooty. He has got the best sound in Malayalam film industry.

English Dialogue delivery - Mammootty. Mohanlal’s English dialogue delivery is so pathetic as compared to Mammooty.

Ability to change the style of dialogue delivery in different movies - Mammootty (Mrigaya, Soorya Manasam, Vidheyan, Mathilukal, Sethu Ramayaar CBI, Karutha Pakshikal, Ponthan Maada, Raja Manikyam, Ambedkar, Dalapathy, Amaram, Bus conductor and many more)

Prisoner - Mammootty (Yatra, Mathilukal)

Achayan roles - Mammooty (Kottayam Kunjachan, Sangham, Pothan Vava, Palunku and many more)

Horse riding scenes - Mammooty (Vadakkan Veeraghada, Jackpot, Neelagiri, The King etc)

Adolokha Nayakan (Don) - Both are equal. Just analysis Aaram Thampuran, Samrajyam, New Delhi)

Hindu Karanavar - Mammootty (Valsalyam, Viswa Thulasi, Aanandam and many more in the 80’s)

Muslim Character - Mammootty Dada Sahib, 1921, Visa. Mohanlal is a failure in this category.

Simple roles - Mohanlal (So many films and you will feel like Lal is someone whom you know for many years)

Villain roles - Compared to Mammootty Mohanlal is the best in this category.

Patient - Mammootty (Analyse Sukrutham and Thanmatra)

Motor Bike riding scenes – Mammooty (Mammootty’s style in Black gives him an additional point)

Different Hair styles - Mammootty

Different looks - Mammootty

Appearance in Pants - Mammootty

Appearance in suit - Mammootty

Appearance in mundu (Veshti) – Mammootty

These are quite a few. There are so many unique characters played by both.
Some of the best Mammootty Movies

1. Rajamanikyam
2. Thommanum Makkalum
3. Mazhayethum Mumpe
4. Amaram
5. Vadakkan Veera Gadha
6. Valyettan
7. Inspector Balram
8. New Delhi
9. The King
10. Valsalyam
11. Pappayude Swantham Appoose
12. Nair Sab
13. Hitler
14. Chronic Bachelor
15. Maravathoor Kanavu
16. Dada Sahib
17. Iyer The Great
18. Oru CBI Diary Kurippu
19. Thaniyavarthanam
20. Aavanazhi
21. Kottayam Kunjachan
22. Sangham
23. Aug 01
24. Vartha
25. Kathodu Kathoram
26. Koodevide
27. Yathra
28. Nirakoottu
29. Adiyozhukkukal
30. Kaanamarayathu
31. Sannarbham
32. Yavanika
33. Mrigaya
34. Soorya Manasam
35. 1921
36. Vartha
37. Adikurippu
38. Nalkavala
39. Manivathoorile Aayiram Sivarathrikal
40. Veendum
41. Artham
42. Kalikkalam
43. Kuttettan
44. Azhakiya Ravanan
45. Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennnal
46. Snehamulla Simham
47. Poomuka Padiyil Ninneyum Kathu
48. Athirathram
49. Aa Rathri
50. Mahayanam

Mammotty’s family subjects in the 80’s which made him the star of the families. Ladies went to theaters to see only Mammootty. He acted many Manorama / Mangalam kind of family subjects which made him the all time favorite of ladies.

There are so many movies of this kind. But to name a few

1. Poovinnu Puthiya Poonthennal
2. Moonnu Masangalkku Munpu
3. Adukkan Entheluppam
4. Prathyekam Sradhikuka
5. Kshamichu Ennoru Vakku
6. Kariyila Kattu Pole
7. Aalorungi Arangorungi
8. Ithile Iniyum Varu
9. Shyama
10. Oru Katha Oru Nunnakkatha
11. Kandu Kandarinju
12. Karimbin Poovinakkare
13. Aa Neram Alppa Dooram
14. Vilichu Vilikettu
15. Iniyum Katha Thudarum
16. Puzhayozhukum Vazhi
17. Angadikkappurath
18. Oru Nokku Kanan
19. Onningu Vannengil
20. Katha Ithu Vare
21. Ee Sabdam Innathe Sabdam
22. Anubandham
23. Makan Ente Makan
24. Thammil Thammil
25. Avidathepole Ivideyum
26. Ee Thanalil Ithiri Neram
27. Muhurtham Pathnonnu Muppathinu
28. Parayanumvayya Parayathirikkanumvayya
29. Thinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam
30. Kodathi
31. Aalkkodttathil Thaniye
32. Aarorumariyathe
33. Aattuvanchi Ulanjappol
34. Ariyatha Veethikal
35. Chakkarayumma
36. Edavelakku Sesham
37. Ithiri Poove Chuvannapoove
38. Mangalam Nerunnu
39. Onnanu Nammal
40. Oru Kochukatha Aarum Parayatha Katha
41. Sandhyakenthinu Sindooram
42. Thirakil Alppam Samayam
43. Veendum Chalikkunna Chakram
44. Chakravalam Chuvannappol
45. Coolie
46. Maniyara
47. Mansoru Maha Samudram
48. Marakkillorikkalum
49. Nanayam
50. Oru Mukham Pala Mukham
51. Sandhyakku Virinja Poovu
52. Sesham Kazhchayil
53. Theeram Thedunna Thira
54. Visa
55. Innalenkil Nale
56. Ee Nadu
57. Enthino Pookunna Pookal
58. Oru Thira Pinneyum Thira
59. Pooviriyum Pulari
60. Sara Varsham
61. Sindoora Sandhyakku Mounam
62. Thadakom
63. Vidhichathum Kothichathum
64. Ahimsa
65. Oothikachiya Ponnu
66. Thrishna
67. Sphodanam

Best of Mammooty Art Movies (Some are not pure Art Movies)

1. Kazhcha
2. Palunku
3. Danny
4. Sukrutham
5. Aksharangal
6. Mathilukal
7. Kaiyoppu
8. Karutha Pakshikal
9. Vidheyan
10. Ponthan Mada
11. Ormakal Undayirikkanam
12. Ambedkar (English)
13. Bhootha Kannadi
14. Aksharangal

Some of the best Mohanlal Movies

1. Devasuram
2. Aaram Thampuran
3. Bharatham
4. His Highness abdulla
5. Yodha
6. Chitram
7. Kilukkam
8. Nadodikkattu
9. Pattana Pravesham
10. Then Mavin Kompathu
11. Udayananu Tharam
12. Naran
13. Rasathantram
14. Balettan
15. Ravana Prabhu
16. Kireedam
17. Vellanakalude nadu
18. Rajavinte Makan
19. Irupatham Noottandu
20. Narasimham
21. Kanmadam
22. Spadikam
23. Manichitra Thazhu
24. Vietnam Colony
25. Kamala Dalam
26. Maya Mayuram
27. Abhimanyu
28. Aye Auto
29. Adhipan
30. Dasaratham
31. Naduvazhikal
32. Varavelppu
33. Aryan
34. Vellanakalude Nadu
35. Bhoomiyile Rajkakkanmar
36. January Oru Orma
37. Thoovana Thumpikal
38. Thalavattam
39. sarvakalasala
40. Gandhinagar Second Street (It is my personal Favourite)
41. Vartha
42. Namukku parkkan munthiri thoppukal
43. Sanmanassullavarkku Samadanam
44. T.P. Balagopalan M.A.
45. Yuvajanolsavam
46. Boeing Boeing
47. Poochakkoru Mookuthi
48. Ente Mamatti kutti Ammakku
49. Kattathe Kilikoodu
50. Manjil Virinja Pookkal


Best of Mohanlal’s Art Movies (Some are not pure Art Movies)

1. Thanmatra
2. Vanaprastham
3. Vasthuhara
4. Panchagni

Again, Both Mammootty and Mohanlal are versatile actors. Actually there is no point in comparing them. Both of them have already proved that they are the best.

One thing that sets Mammootty apart from his contemporaries is the fact that from the beginning itself, he has been able to treat both art-house cinema and commercial potboilers with ease. He made his mark during the early period of his career itself by enacting roles in films of stalwarts like M. T. Vasudevan Nair, K.G. George, Padmarajan, P.N. Menon, and Bharathan. Later on his talent was utilised by internationally renowned directors like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, T. V. Chandran, and Pavithran. He was a regular in movies of Harikumar, Mohan, etc. The movies by M.T. Vasudevan Nair and Padmarajan, arguably among the best of Malayalam writer-directors, widened Mammootty's acting horizon. It may be mentioned that two of M.T. Vasudevan's movies which bear his autobiographical elements were enacted by Mammootty - Aksharangal (I.V. Sasi) and Sukrutham (Harikumar).

Mohanlal may have flexibility in dancing, running and in Summer Salting scenes. But the real flexibility according to Lohithadas is the ability to change from one character to another. And for him Mammotty is the most flexible actor in the industry. I.e. From a fisher man to district collector, from a police officer to a Pandi Murukan, From an advocate to a person who searches for shit (In Ponthanmada), From a Glamorous Photographer (Aparichithan) to a Mentally retarded person (Soorya Manasam). He is the real actor. He is the star.

Though he has been criticized as unable to portray comic roles, his latest movies Rajamanikyam, Thommanum Makkalum, and Thuruppugulan gave a fitting reply to critics. Mammootty, though a hugely popular star, is an exception in Indian films where dancing skills have to be a necessary part of an actor's repertoire. But the emotion and the depth that he lends to his characters makes him a well revered actor and makes up for his shortcomings.

Mammootty is the only second star after Prem Nazir to complete 300 films as the hero in Malayalam. Mammootty reached this feat as he completed his latest film with Renjith titled Kaiyoppu. Mammootty also holds the rare distinction of appearing as hero in an astonishing 35 movies released in a single year, 1986, a feat exceeded only by Prem Nazir who acted in 39 movies as hero released during 1979. "Mathilukal has been shown in almost 40 international film festivals beginning with Venice. Among my films, it is Mathilukal which has invited the maximum number of international honours. The sincere co-operation by Mammootty, the actor has played a major role in the success of the movie" - Adoor Gopalakrishnan.

I am living with a people of mixed nationalities. Especially among North Indians. For them all our stars are useless (In terms of physical appearance). Here Mammooty and Suresh Gopi are exceptional cases. Acting wise Mohanlal is a Genius, Look wise Suresh Gopi can compete anyone from other movie industries. BUT LOOKWISE, SOUNDWISE, ACTING WISE …NO DOUBT MAMMOOTTY IS THE BEST AMONG ALL THE STARS. HE IS AN ASSET TO ALL KERALITES. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF HIM.