Mammootty opens up about sensory loss at Kathodu Kathoram launch, says ‘Hearing is a blessing, have lost sense of smell’

Mammootty talks about loosing sensory loss

• Mammootty revealed he lost his sense of smell for a while
• He launched a charity for free cochlear implant surgeries
• His film Bramayugam was screened at the Academy Museum in LA

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There was a rare softness in Mammootty’s voice as he spoke about something he had carried quietly for some time.

For a while, he lost his sense of smell,  a faculty so woven into daily life that most of us barely notice it until it disappears. It was not a dramatic illness, nor something visible to the world, but it altered his experience of life in ways only he could fully understand.

He chose to speak about it during the inauguration of Kathodu Kathoram, a new charitable initiative launched by his foundation to provide free cochlear implant surgeries to those who cannot afford them.

The moment felt deeply personal. Mammootty was not merely fulfilling a ceremonial duty; he was opening up about vulnerability, about what it means to lose a part of one’s sensory connection to the world.

As quoted by Simply Mollywood, he said, "Sight, hearing, and smell are what humans need the most. For a while, I didn't have any of this. Now, it has started to improve a bit," he revealed.

Mammootty also shared a memory that has clearly stayed with him over the years. During a film shoot, he once bought a hearing aid for a man who had never heard sound before. The result was unexpected and heartbreaking. "He wore it for a while, then threw it away. Because he had never experienced sound—it felt terrifying to him. He never used it again."

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At the same event, Mammootty gently reminded everyone, "Hearing is a blessing. There are many who have been deprived of it. This project is for them."

Even as he navigates his own health challenges, Mammootty continues to immerse himself in work.

He is currently filming Padayatra, directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan, marking their reunion after classics such as Mathilukal and Vidheyan.

Also Read: Mammootty shares his reaction after Padma Bhushan honour, watch video

Meanwhile, Malayalam cinema recently celebrated a historic milestone when Mammootty’s Bramayugam became the first Indian film to be screened at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.

The near-full auditorium, the applause, and the pride shared across social media,  where he was hailed as a “Mollywood Legend”.