Jayaram Hails Kantara 1 Success, Reveals Mammootty’s Text

Veteran Malayalam actor Jayaram, who has garnered widespread acclaim for his pivotal role as King Rajashekara in the blockbuster film Kantara: Chapter 1, recently shared his emotional response to the movie’s success, highlighting a personal congratulatory message from superstar Mammootty.

Jayaram revealed that he received a message directly from the ‘Megastar’ after the film’s massive opening, which saw it cross the ₹100-crore mark within a couple of days of release. Sharing his joy with the media, the actor said, “I’m extremely happy. Just a minute ago, I checked my phone and saw a message from Mammukka congratulating me. He said I was excellent in Kantara.”

This commendation from a contemporary and industry titan like Mammootty evidently left Jayaram feeling deeply emotional and validated. He went on to describe the film as a “benchmark film, just like KGF,” and expressed his profound sense of pride, calling the experience a significant and happy moment for a Malayalee actor. “It’s a matter of great pride and happiness for a Malayalee to be part of a [potential] ₹1000-crore movie,” he remarked, underscoring the film’s monumental commercial achievement and cultural reach across South Indian cinema.

Jayaram also took the opportunity to address comments from a section of his Malayalee audience regarding his choice of roles in other language industries. He clarified that while certain roles might appear to have limited screen time in the final cut of major productions, they are often substantial and demanding in terms of performance and depth. He emphasized that his role in Kantara: Chapter 1 was an exception, being a fully-realised character with a remarkable emotional journey, one that director Rishab Shetty personally invited him to portray due to its significance to the prequel’s narrative. The actor praised the dedication and hard work that went into the film, calling it an effort that “deserves to be studied.” His dignified and impactful performance as King Rajashekara has been lauded by both critics and fans, solidifying his successful venture into the Kannada film industry.