South Indian matinee idol Mammootty beat Mohanlal and Resul Pookutty to clinch the Most Popular Malayali title in a world-wide gallop poll.
The poll conducted by Asian Television Awards 2010, which were held on Friday, sought to recognise talent from the Malayalam television industry but the real star of the evening turned out to be Mammootty.
“This award proves that it has not affected the Malayalis’ judgment,” Mammootty said while receiving the award and referring to the recent controversy that established stars such as the actor himself were discouraging new talent in the Malayalam movie industry.
“It proves that the allegations were set aside and I am proud of that Malayali. This award proves that no outside force was able to displace the icons in their mind,” Mammootty said.
The 56-year-old cinematic icon has worked in more than 300 films and has been a recipient of many accolades including national, state and popular awards in India. He is also the chairman of Malayalam Communications, which runs Malayalam TV channels Kairali TV, People TV and WE TV.
“I am incredibly happy and thankful to all those Malayalis who chose me as their dearest star and I am proud of each and every Malayali in the Gulf, Kerala and the world over,” the actor said. UAE-based business tycoon M.A. Yousuf Ali was awarded the Most Popular NRI award. Acclaimed film director Sreekumaran Thampi received the Life Time Achievement award.
***
Douglas not to sign plea for Polanski
London: Michael Douglas has refused to sign a star-studded petition calling for shamed filmmaker Roman Polanski to escape extradition insisting it would be “unfair” to support “somebody who did break the law.”
The Oscar-winning filmmaker is currently under house arrest in Switzerland following his arrest in Zurich in September last year, Contactmusic reported.
US lawmakers want Polanski returned to America so he can be handed his punishment for having unlawful sex with a minor in 1977. He fled the country on the eve of his sentencing.
Last week, several movie makers showed their support for Polanski by signing a petition at the Cannes Film Festival in France, with stars including Jean-Luc Godard, Agnes Varda, Bertrand Tavernier and Olivier Assayas calling on Swiss officials to reject pressure from US to extradite Polanski. —PTI