Mammootty Brings Real-Life ‘Katha Parayumbol’ Moment To Manorama Hortus, Reveals Origin Of His Name
Malayalam cinema legend Mammootty left the audience deeply moved at the Manorama Hortus 2025 inaugural ceremony in Subhash Park, Kochi, on Thursday, when he shared the emotional story behind how he received the name that the world knows today.
The moment reminded many of his unforgettable speech from Katha Parayumbol, where he spoke about friendship, identity, and gratitude.
During his address, Mammootty said that he did not choose the name Mammootty, nor did it emerge out of any grand plan. Instead, it came from a simple moment during his college days at Maharaja’s College.
He recalled that he was once known by the name Omar Shareef among his friends. One day, while walking with a group of friends, his wallet accidentally slipped out of his pocket.
A friend picked it up, looked at the ID card, and called out, “Oh… your name is Mammootty (short form of Muhammed Kutty), not Omar!” That small moment became a turning point, as the name soon caught on among his friends, eventually becoming the name embraced by millions.
What made the moment at Hortus even more special was Mammootty calling out that very friend, Sashidharan, who was present in the audience.
Also, read| Mammootty’s Kalamkaval Pushes Release To 2026?
He invited him to stand, proudly telling the crowd, “This is Shashidharan… the friend who gave me the beloved name Mammootty. I wanted everyone to see him.” The audience responded with warm applause, making it one of the most heartfelt moments of the event.
Manorama Hortus, Kerala’s celebrated art and literature festival, is being held at Subhash Park, Kochi, from November 27 to 30, 2025.
The festival brings together authors, artists, musicians, filmmakers, and cultural thinkers for four days of conversations, performances, book launches, workshops, and creative celebrations.
Visitors can enjoy author sessions, musical evenings, panel discussions, celebrity interactions, live art performances, and curated cultural showcases.
Registrations are open for all events, inviting the public to be part of Kochi’s most colourful cultural gathering of the year.
