Stories
Mammootty Questioned for Accepting Tilak at National Awards; Harisree Yousuf Reacts
- •Mammootty received the Best Actor award for Bramayugam at the National Film Awards in Gujarat, where a video of him accepting a tilak as part of a traditional welcome went viral.
- •Some social media users questioned Mammootty, a Muslim, for allowing the tilak to be applied, sparking criticism.
- •Filmmaker-actor Harisree Yousuf defended Mammootty, stating that the tilak was likely a traditional welcome and criticizing those who use religion to create division.
- •Yousuf emphasized that different expressions of faith, like a cross or a tilak, can share the same sentiment of devotion to a Creator.
- •He also highlighted Mammootty's significant contributions to society through charity and healthcare organizations, urging against communal division.
Key Questions Answered
Mammootty faced criticism from some online users because a woman applied a tilak on his forehead and placed a tri-colour thorthu around his neck during his welcome in Gujarat, with critics questioning why he allowed it given that he is Muslim.
Harisree Yousuf defended Mammootty in an Instagram post by stating that expressions of faith are directed toward God and that the tilak was simply part of a traditional welcome. He criticized those attempting to use the incident to create communal divisions and highlighted Mammootty's extensive history of social contributions and charity.
Mammootty received his fourth National Film Award in the Best Actor category for his performance as the mysterious character Kodumon Potti in the Malayalam period horror film Bramayugam.
