When Dad was in the hospital, I still remember what Mammukka said to the doctor: Shobi Thilakan

Thilakan is one of the greatest actors Malayalam cinema has ever seen. No actor has been able to replace him in character roles, even today. However, during Thilakan’s later years, there were media reports of conflicts between Thilakan and the leading stars of Malayalam cinema, Mammootty and Mohanlal. Shobi Thilakan, Thilakan’s son, recently addressed these reports.

Shobi Thilakan shared that when Thilakan was critically ill at MIMS Hospital, Mammootty and Dulquer Salmaan visited to see him. However, they couldn’t meet him. Shobi added that he vividly remembers Mammootty speaking to the doctor treating Thilakan, saying, “He is someone we care about deeply. Please bring him back to us as he was before.”

Shobi Thilakan clarified that, contrary to media reports, there was no animosity between Mammootty and Thilakan. He emphasized that Mammootty always had respect for Thilakan. He mentioned this during an interview, stating, “Until my father passed away, Mammootty and he were good friends. There was nothing more to it.”

At the same time, Shobi added that his father wasn’t someone who openly appreciated or criticized an artist. Referring to his own experience, Shobi shared, “I received my first award for the film Pazhassi Raja, where my father also acted. In most families, when a son wins an award, it’s celebrated. But in my case, I called to tell my father, and all he said was ‘Oh.’ That was his usual response—not like typical fathers. But that answer was enough for me. My father would never praise us in front of others, fearing it might make us arrogant. However, he would speak about us when we weren’t around.”

Shobi further recounted how his father supported him in his career. For Pazhassi Raja, Shobi dubbed for the character Edachena Kunkan, played by Sarath Kumar. Initially, director Hariharan was unsure, despite a suggestion from lyricist Mankombu Gopalakrishnan. However, Thilakan assured the director, saying, “He’ll do it right.” That trust led to Shobi getting the opportunity and winning an award for it. “For me, that assurance from my father was enough. He didn’t have to say anything more,” Shobi remarked.

This clarification from Shobi comes as a response to recurring social media claims about conflicts between Mammootty, Mohanlal, and Thilakan, putting such rumors to rest.