Malayalam actor – comedian Harisree Yousuf responded to a derogatory comment directed at the National Award-winning actor Mammootty. Harisree Yousuf was reacting to a video showing Mammootty being welcomed in Gujarat with a tilak on his forehead.Mammootty had travelled to Gujarat to receive the National Award. A video from his visit showed him being greeted with the traditional welcome gesture. The footage also prompted a comment criticising the actor for accepting the tilak.Harisree Yousuf addressed the comment and spoke about religion, faith and how people respond to cultural practices.
Harisree Yousuf responds to Mammootty comment
In his Facebook video, Harisree Yousuf said Malayalis were proud of Mammootty after his National Award win. He questioned the criticism aimed at the actor over the tilak shown in the video.The actor said, “Malayalis were all very happy that he received the National Award for Best Actor. We applauded for him. But one person posted a comment against him. The person who posted this comment is someone named Abbas.When Mammootty went to receive the award, a tilak was applied to his forehead. He bent down to have the tilak applied. This person felt that it was a huge offence. Son, you are like a frog in a well. Mammootty is an artist. I am also a small-time artist. We artists do not have narrow-minded thinking. We think a little more broadly. So, people like you, who carry only ‘religion’ in their minds, will think like this.
‘Whether you apply a tilak’ or pray
Harisree Yousuf then spoke about the similarities between different forms of religious expression. He said that applying a tilak, making the sign of the cross or offering Muslim prayers all represent devotion to God.He said, “Have you heard the song that says, ‘Whether you apply a tilak, make the sign of the cross or bow down and pray, the one who sees is the same, the one who listens is the same, the merciful God’?” Haven’t you heard that song? Whether you make the sign of the cross, apply a tilak or bow down and pray, everything is directed towards God. It shows love for our Creator.”
He compares the welcome to a hotel reception
Harisree Yousuf also offered an explanation for the welcome Mammootty received. He compared the gesture to the way guests are traditionally welcomed at certain hotels.“Son, when you go to a big hotel, this is one of the ways they welcome guests. When guests arrive, they give them a bouquet and apply a tilak on their forehead before welcoming them inside.”
Harisree Yousuf speaks about religion and charity
Harisree Yousuf pointed to Mammootty’s achievements and the respect he commands among Malayalis.He said, “You abused a person who is respected and admired by Malayalis across the world, a person with so much talent and so many achievements who has brought recognition to our state, and who has won the National Award four times.Abbas, look at the good things that person does for our society. The organisations he supports as a patron conduct so many charitable activities here. He has helped provide free heart surgeries to so many children. Can you ever do at least one thing that benefits this society? No.”He also spoke about the purpose of religion and criticised the use of religious identity to attack others.Continuing his response, Harisree Yousuf said religion should encourage people to become better human beings rather than create divisions.“People like you can come to comment sections, abuse someone’s father, hurl insults, and then bring God into it and invoke religion. That is all you can do. Religion is necessary, but what is religion for? It is not for human beings to fight with each other. Religion is meant to make human beings better.”Harisree Yousuf also criticised what he described as communal thinking and asked the commenter not to repeat such remarks.“Abbas, the country that best suits your way of thinking is Taliban. That is where your mentality belongs. I am not telling you to go there. Because if you go there, they won’t let you in.”“You have to live in India itself because you were born and raised in India. I am not foolish enough to tell you to leave this country. I am only saying that based on your nature and way of thinking. Son, this is the great nation of India. In reality, it is people who think like you who create communalism here. Don’t do anything like this again.”
Who is Harisree Yousuf?
For the unversed, Harisree Yousuf is an actor who has appeared in several Malayalam movies and stage shows. His filmography includes movies such as ‘Meow’, ‘Ini Utharam’ and ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’.
