Ahead of Mammootty’s 75th birthday, Kodumon Potti takes shape in wood

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With slippers on his feet, a long towel draped over his shoulder and a stick in his hand, a wooden sculpture of Kodumon Potti from Bhraamayugam captures the same intensity that Mammootty brought to the character.

The four-and-a-half-foot-tall sculpture was carved by K.S. Sajeevan, a native of Kannambathur in Puthukkad, Thrissur, using a gamhar wood log. The sculpture depicts Potti standing in a neatly folded mundu, wearing a rudraksha chain and ear studs.

A die-hard Mammootty fan, Sajeevan decided to give sculptural form to the distinctive character. The precision with which he carved Potti’s long strands of hair and chest hair sets the work apart. The hands and the stick were carved separately, while the rest of the figure was made from a single piece of wood.

Sajeevan, a carpenter by profession, worked on the sculpture for two to three hours after finishing his regular work. It took him two years to complete the piece.

He has also created wooden sculptures of some of Kerala’s well-known elephants, including Thechikottukavu Ramachandran, Pampady Rajan and Sivansundar. The elephant sculptures were carved from rain tree wood.

Sajeevan lives with his mother Ammini, wife Shilpa and children Aadidev and Ninav.

Mohanlal’s appreciation

In 2022, Sajeevan carved a wooden sculpture of Mohanlal’s character from Lucifer. Mohanlal appreciated the work over the phone. That sculpture, too, was made from gamhar wood.

The largest sculpture he has made recently was a depiction of the Last Supper.

Mammootty turns 75 on Monday

Malayalam cinema’s beloved star Mammootty will turn 75 on Monday. He is expected to be at the location of his ongoing film shoot in Tamil Nadu on his birthday.

The birthday comes after he won his fourth National Award for his performance in Bhraamayugam. He is currently acting in an untitled film directed by Nithish Sahadev, which is being shot in Karaikudi. Mammootty plays the role of a gang leader in the film and is also its producer.

The crew has decided to celebrate his birthday at the shooting location. Mammootty is known for celebrating his birthdays simply, without extravagance.

Mammootty, whose real name is Muhammad Kutty Panaparambil Ismail, was born on September 7, 1951, at Chempu near Vaikom in Kottayam district. As he completes another year of his five-decade-long acting career, fans and well-wishers have begun extending birthday greetings to the veteran actor.