Maniyanpilla Raju About Mammootty: 'In The Industry, Only Two Are Allowed To Enter His Room Without Knocking'

Maniyanpilla Raju On His Friendship With Mammootty: Maniyanpilla Raju is the favourite actor of Malayalis. He has proven his ability as an actor and producer. The actor entered cinema at a young age and later became one of the leading stars of Malayalam cinema.

Maniyanpilla Raju entered the cinema in 1976 with the film Mohiniyattam. His real name is Sudheer Kumar. His stage name, Maniyanpilla Raju, was derived from the character he played in the 1981 film Maniyanpilla Adhava Maniyanpilla, his breakthrough role.

He has excelled in important acting roles as well as as a comedian and villain. He was the first to cast Mohanlal in a school play. Maniyanpilla Raju, who has acted with all the superstars of Malayalam, has many friendships in the film.

Maniyanpilla Raju maintains a close relationship with megastar Mammootty in film and personal life. Maniyanpilla Raju had once talked about his friendship with Mammootty in an interview with Kaumudi. Apart from Mammootty, he also talked about actors, including the late Nedumudi Venu.

Now, that interview is gaining attention again. Maniyanpilla Raju also talks about two people who are free to enter Mammootty's room without knocking.

"Venu Chettan has acted in four hundred films, of which 350 are good roles. He will also help his co-actors. He helps new actors by giving them instructions. Both of us have acted in almost eighty films together. There are many films where Venu has given a great performance."

'If you ask South Indian actors of other languages about their favourite actor in Malayalam, they will mention Nedumudi Venu's name. You should see the respect and honour Sivaji Ganesan gave to Venu when he was acting with him in the movie Oru Yathramozhi. He would call him to sit beside him, and they would chit chat,' Maniyanpilla Raju said about Nedumudi Venu.

Only Two People Can Enter Mammootty's Room Without Knocking

"There is no other person as pure and good as Mammootty. He is like the Big Brother of Malayalam cinema. We are all his brothers. That kind of freedom and love he gives to everyone is not a pretence. He doesn't think that he himself is a big superstar."

During the shooting, in the rooms of other actors, there will be many discussions going on with big businessmen, producers, and other luminaries. In Mammootty's room, he will be alone, and sometimes he will be watching movies. There are only two people who can enter his room without knocking. One is me, and the other is Kunchan,' Maniyanpilla Raju said.