Bramayugam: Why Mammootty's National Award-winning performance was not a surprise

When the winners of the 72nd National Film Awards were announced, Mammootty's Best Actor win for Bramayugam immediately became one of the biggest talking points. His portrayal of the enigmatic Kodumon Potti earned him yet another National Award, reaffirming why the veteran continues to reinvent himself even after five decades in cinema.

For those who had watched Bramayugam when it released in February 2024, however, the honour felt less like a surprise and more like a long-awaited recognition. The signs had been there all along.

Months before the National Awards, Bramayugam had emerged as one of the biggest winners at the 55th Kerala State Film Awards, taking home four major honours: Best Actor for Mammootty, Best Character Actor for Sidharth Bharathan, Best Background Score for Christo Xavier and Best Makeup Artist for Ronex Xavier.

It wasn't just rewarding individual brilliance. It was recognising a film in which every creative department worked in perfect harmony.

So, what made Bramayugam such an awards favourite?

Horror film that refused easy scares

Indian horror has often leaned on jump scares, loud background music and supernatural spectacle. Rahul Sadasivan's Bramayugam chose a completely different path.

The film is unsettling not because something suddenly appears on screen, but because it slowly builds an atmosphere where every silence feels threatening and every shadow seems to hide a secret. Fear isn't manufactured through shocks—it grows naturally from the world the film creates.

That confidence is what separates Bramayugam from conventional horror cinema.

Black and white was more than an aesthetic choice

One of the film's boldest decisions was to be shot entirely in black and white. In an era where Indian cinema increasingly relies on visual extravagance, Bramayugam stripped everything back. The monochrome cinematography isn't a stylistic gimmick; it becomes part of the storytelling. Light and darkness replace colour, giving the film a timeless quality while amplifying its sense of mystery and dread.

The result is a visual experience that feels both ancient and surprisingly modern.

Kerala's folklore becomes universal horror

Set in the 17th century, the film draws deeply from Kerala's folklore, feudal history and oral traditions. Yet Bramayugam is never interested in mythology for mythology's sake. Beneath its supernatural surface lies a story about power, caste, greed and domination. The horror comes as much from human nature as from anything paranormal.

Rahul Sadasivan, who had already explored psychological horror in Bhoothakaalam, expands that vision here into something far more ambitious, proving that stories rooted in local culture can speak to audiences far beyond Kerala.

One of Mammootty's finest performances

At the centre of everything is Mammootty's unforgettable portrayal of Kodumon Potti. It's a performance built on restraint. There are no dramatic monologues or larger-than-life heroics. Instead, Mammootty creates unease through stillness, measured dialogue and an almost unreadable expression that constantly keeps the audience guessing.

Kodumon Potti is terrifying precisely because he never appears to be trying. For an actor celebrated for iconic heroic roles over several decades, embracing such an enigmatic and morally complex character demonstrated yet again why Mammootty continues to evolve when many of his contemporaries remain confined by familiar screen images.

Every Department Elevated the Film

The Kerala State Awards reflected what viewers had already recognised. Sidharth Bharathan delivered one of the strongest supporting performances of the year, earning the Best Character Actor award. Christo Xavier's haunting background score became an invisible storyteller, creating tension without overwhelming the narrative. Ronex Xavier's award-winning makeup subtly transformed the film's characters, adding authenticity without drawing attention to itself.

Few films succeed because of a single performance. Bramayugam succeeded because every artistic choice served the same vision.

From Kerala to the World

The appreciation wasn't limited to award juries. Bramayugam was selected for the Indian Panorama section at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), screened at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), and later travelled to international festivals, including the Göteborg Film Festival in Sweden.

One of its most significant milestones came when it was chosen for a special screening at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles as part of the "Where the Forest Meets the Sea" programme, becoming the only Indian film featured in the showcase.

The film also found an enthusiastic global audience through platforms like Letterboxd, where it emerged as one of the highest-rated Indian horror films of the year, reflecting how its distinctly Malayalam identity resonated with cinephiles across the world.

National Award that vompleted the journey

The National Film Award has undoubtedly brought Bramayugam back into public conversation. But the film's legacy was never built on a single trophy. The Kerala State Awards recognised its artistic excellence. Festival selections celebrated the cinematic ambition. Audiences embraced its uncompromising storytelling. Critics praised its craft. The National Award simply became the latest acknowledgement of what had been evident since the film's release.

More than a celebrated horror film, Bramayugam stands as proof that Malayalam cinema continues to redefine what Indian genre filmmaking can achieve. Rooted deeply in Kerala's culture yet universal in its themes, it remains one of the most distinctive Indian films of recent years—and Mammootty's latest National Award serves as a fitting reminder of that achievement.