Over the weekend, Malayalam cinema’s top stars, Mammootty and Mohanlal, made appearances hinting at political inclinations. Mammootty was seen at a public event honoring Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan in Kochi, while Mohanlal attended a function in Paravoor, Satheesan’s hometown. In politically attentive Kerala, these appearances quickly became topics of discussion.
Both Mammootty and Mohanlal have traditionally maintained a politically neutral stance, despite public speculation about their affiliations. Mammootty’s association with a CPI(M)-backed TV channel and Mohanlal’s interactions with the previous Left government have fueled such speculations.
While Mammootty has been linked with the Left due to his TV channel connections, Mohanlal’s support for the previous government was evident. Mohanlal’s interviews with the former Chief Minister before the elections were perceived as favorable to the government’s image. The recent political shift in Kerala, with the Left Democratic Front’s reduced seats, has brought Satheesan into the spotlight.
Both Mammootty and Mohanlal, who reside in Kochi with homes in Chennai, have been part of political discussions in Kerala. Mammootty’s name had surfaced for a possible CPI(M) nomination to the Rajya Sabha, but with the Left’s diminished strength, this seems unlikely now. The recent joint appearances of the superstars with the state’s new political figure have sparked discussions in political and cinema circles.
