‘Even after four decades, Mammootty remembering my father who lent him voice for his debut film still moves me deeply,’ says TV actor Rekha

Alongside the name Mammootty, the resonant voice has always carried a youthful energy. That profound, grand voice is imbued with subtle emotions and nuances. Yet, Malayalam cinema once hesitated to fully utilise this historic voice. In his debut film, ‘Vilkanundu Swapnangal’ (1980), Mammootty did not speak in his own voice; the voice was dubbed by Ratheesh, an artist whose contribution largely went unnoticed.

Tracing the journey of Ratheesh, a native of Vazhuthakad, Thiruvananthapuram, who followed the dream of cinema for years and quietly vanished from the scene, will now be recorded in history as the voice behind Mammootty’s debut. Until the end of his life, Ratheesh carried this rare honour with pride.

After starring in the films ‘Anubhavangal Paalichakal’ and ‘Kaalachakram’, and the lesser-known ‘Devalokam’, Malayalam cinema eventually ushered in the Mammootty era through M Azad’s ‘Vilkanundu Swapnangal’. A memory note about the character Madhavankutty in the film was sent to Mammootty by actor-singer Krishnachandran, with a curious question: “Who voiced Mammootty in that film?”

Mammootty’s immediate reply: Ratheesh. How could he forget the artist who lent his voice to his debut? He also remembered Anthikad Mani, who dubbed for him in ‘Sphodanam’, and actor Srinivasan, who voiced in films such as ‘Vidhichathum Kothichathum’. It is the combination of these supporting voices that contributed to the great actor’s victorious journey.

In August 2006, dubbing artist Ratheesh passed away. “With pride, my father always recounted his experience lending his voice to Mammootty,” said Rekha Ratheesh, Ratheesh’s daughter and a prominent television actress. “He left Thiruvananthapuram for Chennai at a very young age, driven by an insatiable desire to act. Even though he struggled to establish himself in acting, he eventually shifted to dubbing. The competition was intense, but he treated every opportunity with complete fairness. His fondest memory was dubbing for Mammootty’s debut film—a privilege no one else had.”

Even four decades later, Mammootty continues to remember her father, a fact that moves Rekha deeply. Cinema is a world of forgotten and lost stories. “When I began my acting career, my father tried to dissuade me, recalling the hardships I might face. But from personal experience, I understood that acting requires not just talent but also immense luck. Only after I gained recognition through serials did his perspective change. I remember the last words he whispered to me before passing away: ‘Never give up acting. That is your path’.”

Rekha herself began acting at the age of four, portraying Revathi’s childhood in the Tamil film ‘Unnai Naan Santhithen’. A decade later, she debuted on television through ‘Nirakkoottu’, followed by numerous popular serials and awards. Currently, she stars in ‘Manjil Virinja Poov’ and ‘Bhavana’.

Like her father, Rekha’s mother, P K Radhadevi, was actively involved in cinema as an actress and dubbing artist. When her parents separated, Rekha stayed with her father, who spent his final days in Thiruvananthapuram. “My father has been the most influential person in my life—a man who fought against all odds without giving up,” Rekha shares.

Even after all these years, the man who was destined to stay away from the glamour of cinema is fondly remembered, bringing tears to his daughter’s eyes. The only sorrow is that he isn’t there to share in this joy.