In the political and cinematic landscape of Kerala, Mammootty, a 75-year-old actor of towering influence, has been a consistent figure. Known not only as a cultural icon but also an ally of the Left, his ideological leanings have long been in the open. However, recently, Mammootty has found himself under cyberattack from left-leaning social media handles, a surprising turn of events for someone once staunchly defended by the same group.
The latest flashpoint was Mammootty's visit to the home of BJP state vice-president B Gopalakrishnan following his daughter's wedding. The visit sparked a wave of online hostility. Despite initially promising to attend the wedding on November 1, Mammootty had to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances. He later made good on his promise, visiting Gopalakrishnan's home on November 7 to meet the newlyweds and their family. Photos and videos of the warm interaction were shared by Gopalakrishnan on social media, which led to a scathing attack from left-leaning handles. They accused Mammootty of political betrayal for posing with a prominent BJP leader and compromising his secular and Left-leaning credentials.
The backlash was intense enough for Gopalakrishnan himself to intervene, appealing to people not to politicize his daughter's wedding and personal ties. Some argue that Mammootty's visit could help "communal and fringe leaders" gain wider social acceptance, a concern fueled by Gopalakrishnan's past anti-Muslim remarks.
However, the online hostility towards Mammootty didn't start with this visit. It can be traced back to March 2026 when Mammootty visited survivors of a landslide in Wayanad. During the visit, CPI(M) Wayanad district secretary K Rafeeq accompanied him throughout. In a brief conversation captured on video, Mammootty expressed his discomfort with Rafeeq standing next to him, fearing it would seem like he came for political reasons rather than the victims. This was perceived as disrespect by the Left cyber brigade, leading to a torrent of criticism.
The resentment from Wayanad lingered, resurfacing in October when Mammootty hosted a group of left-wing youth and student leaders at his home. Critics pointed to what they described as an apparent contradiction - if Mammootty did not want his association with the Left to be interpreted politically, why should his association with a BJP leader be treated as merely personal? The online backlash against Mammootty appears to have been selective, as other political figures were also present at the wedding.