Padma Bhushan Mammootty is set to narrate ‘Panthadikkam’, a five-part documentary that explores Kerala’s deep-rooted relationship with football. The series will premiere exclusively on Malayalam Zee5 on October 1.

Spanning five episodes of around 20 minutes each, ‘Panthadikkam’ looks beyond football as a sport to examine how deeply it is woven into Kerala’s cultural landscape. From local club rivalries and Santosh Trophy memories to the fervour surrounding international teams such as Brazil and Argentina, the documentary traces the many ways the game has become part of everyday life in the state.

The series captures the evolution of football in Kerala, moving from the early days of club football to its contemporary professional landscape. It also turns its lens towards the supporters who have made the sport a shared cultural experience, documenting everything from towering flex boards and football-themed autorickshaws to midnight screenings, heated debates and fans travelling across countries to watch their favourite teams play.

‘Panthadikkam’ also features the story of Vysakh S.R., the pioneering captain of India’s first National Amputee Football Team. His journey adds another dimension to the documentary’s exploration of the passion and resilience that football inspires.

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For Mammootty, the project marks his first stint as the narrator of a sports documentary. Speaking about the series, the actor described football as more than a sport in Kerala, calling it an emotion that brings people together.

“Football is more than just a sport in Kerala; it is an emotion that brings people together,” Mammootty said. He added that the documentary explores the stories, celebrations and memories that shape the state’s unique connection with the game.

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Produced by Dr Sangeetha Janachandran under Stories Social, ‘Panthadikkam’ is directed and scored by Nyx Lopez, with Geetartha AR as the writer. Joe Christo Xavier is the cinematographer and Sajeesh Swaminathan serves as the editor.

The documentary will begin streaming exclusively on Malayalam Zee5 on October 1.