Malayalam cinema icon Mammootty has expressed gratitude after receiving the National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in Bramayugam, saying the honour is one he will cherish for a lifetime.
Mammootty received the award from President Droupadi Murmu at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony held in Kevadia, Gujarat. His appearance on stage was met with a standing ovation.
Taking to X after the ceremony, the veteran actor thanked audiences and supporters who have been part of his journey over the years.
“Receiving the National Award for Best Actor at the 72nd National Film Awards is an honour I will cherish for a lifetime,” Mammootty wrote.
He added that the recognition belonged as much to those who had watched, supported and celebrated his work as it did to him.
Mammootty shared the Best Actor honour with Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan, who was recognised for his performance in the sports biopic Chandu Champion.
Directed by Rahul Sadasivan, Bramayugam is a period horror film set in 17th-century Kerala. It follows Thevan, a young folk singer who seeks shelter at an isolated mansion and becomes trapped in a sinister world controlled by the mysterious Kodumon Potti, played by Mammootty.
Arjun Ashokan and Siddharth Bharathan also feature in pivotal roles in the film, which was shot entirely in black and white. The movie received critical acclaim and performed strongly at the box office.
With a career spanning more than four decades, Mammootty is among Indian cinema’s most celebrated actors. He made his acting debut with Anubhavangal Paalichakal and has since received several major honours, including the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to the arts.