‘Could’ve told me atleast...’ Why Mammootty couldn’t stop crying after Cochin Haneefa’s death

Even 16 years after Cochin Haneefa’s death, the bond he shared with Mammootty continues to be remembered as one of Malayalam cinema’s closest friendships.

According to actor-politician Mukesh, Mammootty was devastated by the fact that his friend never revealed how seriously ill he was.

Haneefa, who died in February 2010 at the age of 59 due to liver-related complications, had kept his illness private until his final days. By the time his friends and colleagues learned about his condition, it was too late.

Speaking on a 2023 episode of his podcast Mukesh Speaking, Mukesh recalled Mammootty’s reaction after Haneefa's death.

"When talking about Haneefa, there’s no way one can skip mentioning Mammootty’s name. I can only wonder why they weren’t born as brothers. Mammootty had that much love for Haneefa, and the latter had double the love for him. While Haneefa was expressive, Mammootty wasn’t as much. Yet, his love for Haneefa was always evident," Mukesh said.

He went on to describe the grief he witnessed firsthand.

"That’s why when Haneefa left us, Mammootty burst out crying like a little child. His crying was mostly because... until the very end, until his condition got very bad, Haneefa didn’t tell anyone about his disease or that his condition was serious. He kept it a secret, and only in the final days did people realise it. By then, his condition had reached such a stage that he could no longer be saved. That’s why Mammootty cried," Mukesh recalled.

He added that Mammootty was also expressing regret.

"Those were heart-melting scenes. Mammootty wasn’t just crying; he was scolding Haneefa, saying, ‘Couldn’t he have told me at least? I would have taken him anywhere in the world for treatment.’ Those were the moments that made us realise how innocent he is as a person," Mukesh said.

Following Haneefa’s death, Mammootty paid tribute on social media, writing, "I lost my best friend. My heartfelt tribute to Cochin Haneefa… pray for him."

Haneefa’s career spanned nearly four decades, during which he appeared in more than 300 films across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi cinema. Although he debuted as an actor with ‘Azhimukham’ in 1972 and initially became known for villain roles, he later established himself as one of Malayalam cinema’s most versatile performers.

He also made a mark behind the camera, directing ‘Oru Sandesham Koodi’ (1985) and ‘Moonnu Masangalku Mumbu’ (1986), both starring Mamootty, before going on to helm films including ‘Vatsalyam’ and ‘Bheesmacharya’. His acting credits include beloved films such as ‘Kireedam’, ‘Punjabi House’, ‘Mannar Mathai Speaking’, ‘CID Moosa’, ‘Meesa Madhavan’ and ‘Pulivaal Kalyanam’.

Earlier this week, Haneefa’s family fulfilled one of his long-cherished dreams by moving into their own home named Cochin Haneefa’s AB Manzil, in Vennala, Kochi.