Mamukkoya, The Actor Who Popularized The Dialect Of Malabar 

Mamukoya (76), a comedian and character actor in Malayalam cinema, has passed away. He felt unwell while inaugurating the Malappuram Poongode Sevens Football Tournament and was admitted to a private hospital in Malappuram's Wandoor on Monday due to a heart attack. Then shifted to a hospital in Kozhikode. He died at 1.05 p.m. while undergoing treatment there. In addition to the heart attack, his health condition worsened when he suffered a brain haemorrhage.

Mamukkoya was a native of Kozhikode. A brilliant artist who spoke the dialect of Kozhikode or the Malabar region and popularised it through his characters in movies. He came to cinema through drama and performed well in comedy roles and character roles. He was active in the cultural associations in Kozhikode.

Mamukoya's life views had the depth of seeing, hearing, and experiencing the literary and cultural life of Kozhikode in an era. He had very close friendships with legendary cultural figures like Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, S. K. Pottekkatt, M.S. Baburaj, and others. Mamukoya's role in real life was not that of a comic character like in the films but of a serious social observer who carefully assesses contemporary developments and has precise and clear views on them. He never hesitated to voice his social, religious, and political opinions and differences.

He was born on July 5, 1946, as the son of Mammad and Impichi Ayesha, in Pallikandi, Kozhikode. His wife is Suhra. Children: Muhammad Nisar, Shahida, Nadia, and Abdul Rasheed.

After his primary education at Pallikandi Elementary School, Kutchira Higher Secondary School, and Kozhikode MM School, he became a timber measurer at Kallai Lumber Mill. He acted in plays during his school days. Also acted in several amateur plays. Work in the lumber mill during the day and theatre at night, and so on, for a long time.

He entered cinema in 1962 with the film "Anyarude Bhoomi," directed by Nilambur Balan. Mamukoya played a negative role in that film. The black-and-white film was not well received. After five years, he acted in the movie 'Suruma itta Kannukal" on the recommendation of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer.

Mamukkoya got a notable role for the first time in the movie "Doore Doore Oru Koodu Kootaam," directed by Sibi Malayil. The screenplay of the film was written by Srinivasan. Mamukkoya played the role of an Arabic teacher in a primary school. A character with only two or three scenes in the script. But Mamukkoya's performance in those scenes was amazing, and the director added more scenes for the character. Thus, he became one of the main characters in that movie. His Malabar dialect in the movie got the appreciation of the audience, and thus Mamukkoya's acting and dialect became a staple of popular Malayalam cinema.