Mammootty expresses concern over Hyderabad rape incident

At the trailer launch of his upcoming film Mamangam, Malayalam superstar Mammootty reacted to the barbaric gangrape and murder of a veterinary doctor in Hyderabad.

Mumbai: South superstar Mammootty on Tuesday expressed concerns over the recent rape incident from Hyderabad that shook the the nation.

Last week, the 27-year-old veterinary doctor was gangraped and burnt to death allegedly by two truck drivers and two cleaners near a toll plaza on Outer Ring Road (ORR) at Shamshabad on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

The incident has sparked outrage with many celebrities from the Indian film industry including Salman Khan, Shabana Azmi, Farhan Akhtar calling for stringent punishment against the perpetrators.

"Society should be conscious about it. They should ask their conscience, what and why are we doing this. Everybody is concerned what's happening to us, me too," Mammootty told reporters at the trailer launch of his film Mamangam.

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The lavishly-mounted film will see the 67-year-old actor in the role of a warrior. The story is set against a religious festival held once every 12 years at Thirunavaya, on the banks of Bharatapuzha in Kerala.

On the film, Mammootty had earlier said: "What excited me was the role offered to me and the historical importance of the story.

"It happens in the 15th and 16th century in north Kerala... There were braver and bolder people and their sacrifice must be known to the new generation. And my role is also interesting."

Produced by Venu Kunnapilly, the film has been directed by M Padmakumar.

With inputs from PTI