Mammootty draws thousands of fans to Sharjah celebration

Malayalam cinema icon Mammootty received a huge welcome in Sharjah as thousands of fans gathered to celebrate his extraordinary five-decade career in Indian cinema.

The 75-year-old actor appeared at Rajakeeyam – Celebrate with Legends at Expo Centre Sharjah, where the evening brought together cinema, music, dance and some of the best-known names from the Malayalam entertainment industry.

For the UAE’s large Malayali community, the event became much more than a celebrity appearance — it was a celebration of an actor whose career has spanned more than 50 years and over 400 films.

Thousands welcome Mammootty in Sharjah

Fans began arriving well before the programme started, creating a festive atmosphere around Expo Centre Sharjah.

When Mammootty finally appeared, he was greeted with some of the loudest cheers of the evening.

The scale of the turnout highlighted the actor’s enduring popularity in the UAE, where Malayalam cinema has a particularly strong following among the Indian expatriate community.

Mammootty remains one of the most decorated performers in Indian cinema.

He has won four National Film Awards and 11 Kerala State Film Awards, and in 2026 he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan.

Despite more than five decades in the industry, he continues to take on new roles and projects rather than treating his career as a finished legacy.

A special reunion after 32 years

One of the biggest moments of the Sharjah event was Mammootty’s appearance alongside legendary filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan.

The pair are preparing to work together again on Padayatra, their first film together in 32 years.

Their previous collaboration, Vidheyan, became one of the most acclaimed films associated with both men.

The new project is particularly significant because it also marks Adoor’s return to filmmaking after around a decade away from directing.

Seeing Mammootty and Adoor together on stage therefore brought an additional sense of nostalgia to an evening already focused heavily on the history of Malayalam cinema.

Malayalam stars join the celebration

Mammootty was not the only major name at the event.

Actors Siddique, Remya Nambeesan and Anu Sithara were among those taking part in the programme.

The musical lineup included pianist and composer Stephen Devassy, together with singers Madhu Balakrishnan, Anusree, Nithya Mammen, Aravind Venugopal and Jyotsna Radhakrishnan.

Entertainers Ramesh Pisharody and Mithun Ramesh also joined the celebration.

Live music, performances and appearances from familiar faces kept the programme moving throughout the evening, but Mammootty remained the clear centre of attention.

More than five decades on screen

Few Indian actors have maintained Mammootty’s level of relevance across so many generations.

His career has included more than 400 films, with roles ranging from commercial blockbusters to character-driven dramas and acclaimed auteur cinema.

That willingness to constantly reinvent himself has helped him remain one of Malayalam cinema’s defining figures long after many of his contemporaries stepped away from leading roles.

At 75, he continues to attract new audiences while maintaining the loyalty of fans who have followed him for decades.

The Sharjah celebration made that generational appeal particularly visible, with fans gathering not only to look back at his career but also to see what comes next.

‘Padayatra’ begins another chapter

Attention now turns towards Padayatra, which reunites Mammootty and Adoor Gopalakrishnan after more than three decades.

The collaboration adds another important project to an already extraordinary career and represents a rare reunion between two figures who have played major roles in shaping Malayalam cinema.

For Mammootty’s fans in the UAE, the Sharjah event offered the chance to celebrate both sides of that story.

It honoured more than 50 years of films, awards and memorable characters — while also showing that one of Indian cinema’s most enduring stars is still moving forward.

With thousands of people filling Expo Centre Sharjah, Mammootty’s latest UAE appearance became another reminder of just how far his influence extends beyond the screen and beyond India itself.