Made in Amdavad: Malayalam superstar

Ahmedabad: Home isn't always the place where you are born — sometimes it is in the warmth of the languages you collect along the way. And who knows it better than Unni Mukundan, the 37-year-old Malayalam superstar whose latest blockbuster Marco entered the Rs 100 crore club. Having spent 22 years of his life in Ahmedabad, he speaks Gujarati as fluently as he does Malayalam.
Speaking to TOI ahead of International Mother Language Day, Unni said that his multicultural upbringing has only enriched his artistic journey. He believes that linguistic dexterity is always an advantage.
International Mother Language Day is celebrated annually on Feb 21. This year marks the silver jubilee of the initiative, with the theme being ‘Languages Matter'.
"As someone who spent almost 22 years in Khokhra, Gujarati comes naturally to me. I can speak Amdavadi Gujarati with aplomb," says Unni, who is in Dubai to promote his upcoming film. "I consider myself as much a Gujarati as any Gujarati. When I look at my childhood, everything was steeped in Gujarati culture. From my social circle to my education to the activities I was involved in, the Gujarati influence was distinctly evident," he adds. He has worked in more than 40 movies with Marco becoming part of Malayalam cinema's Top 10 all-time grossers. Growing up in a Malayali household, he picked up Malayalam from his father whereas his mother and elder sister have good command over four to five languages, Unni says. He finds Gujarat to be an inclusive society that respects multiculturalism, allowing diverse communities to thrive in the state. "I met PM Narendra Modi in Kerala and our interaction was in Gujarati. We spoke about the importance of linguistic exchange. As a child, I regularly watched ‘Gammat Gulal' on DD Gujarati, and Naresh Kanodia used to be my favourite Gujarati actor. I remember his iconic hairstyle and dance numbers," says Unni. Mukundan strongly advocates for teaching South Indian languages in northern India and vice versa, believing it crucial for national integration. He emphasises that knowing one's mother tongue is vital for both language preservation and cultural pride.
"I was born in Kerala, raised in Gujarat, got my first major work in Rajasthan, landed in cinema in Tamil Nadu, then went back to Kerala, and even worked in Telugu movies. These languages have helped me connect to people from diverse backgrounds," he says.
Do his Gujarati friends and fans watch his work in Malayalam? "After the success of Marco, I started receiving support from Gujarat as well. Now, many people know that I am part Gujarati. I hope to continue entertaining audiences and work in as many different languages as possible," he says.