A clip of Mammootty’s dance practice has been doing the rounds on social media with disgusting comments to accompany it as if an actor's worth is to be judged by his ability to shake a leg. The great actor needn't prove a point to anyone with dance as he has unambiguously proved that someone can be a superstar and still an actor. Mammootty has been mocked many times, but he had faced it with a smile as he knows well dance and acting are different skills, though dance is a popular element typical to Indian films.
Mammootty’s willingness to shake a leg with youngsters at a rehearsal camp is inspiring, especially since he has been in the industry for about 35 years. His job is to act, not dance, though he might have to dance as part of it. I adore Mammootty, a veteran of more than 350 movies, for trying out dancing instead of refusing to cooperate. Nobody can force him to dance. He showed his love for his trade when he tried to dance, though he knew that the video would be watched by many.
When P K Sreemathi danced to the tunes of a folk song at the CPM state conference, the other leaders including Pinarayi Vijyan just stood there watching. No one went after Pinarayi for not dancing. No one said Sreemathi was a bad dancer. Because being a dancer was not a qualification to be a CPM member.
The mega star is being mocked by our own people who can’t even let loose at a private function, whereas ordinary mortals in north Indian can dance for three or four days and nights at a stretch.
Mammootty has become our pride. I have known him for over 20 years and he has never asked me to write a positive review for his actor-son Dulquer Salmaan. How many fathers have that confidence? Many fathers in the cinema industry are toiling to promote their children. Not many people have given so much opportunity to youngsters. I have seen him giving offers to many people to write.
His efforts to learn something new should be appreciated rather than laughed at.
