Mammooty's harrowing experience in New York

 
Mammooty, the  Malayalam cinema superstar, was briefly ‘separated for questioning’ by securitymen at the JFK Airport here after part of his official name ‘Muhammadkutty Ismail’ popped up on the computer screen at the immigration counter.

The 56-year-old Mammooty, whose full name is Muhammadkutty Ismail Paniparambil’, was seperated for questioning for more than two hours on April 29 after he arrived here by a British Airways flight, sources said.

He was allowed to leave the airport after the Indian Consulate contacted authorities concerned and explained that he was a popular actor in southern India and has visited the US many times, sources said.

“There was no formal intervention by the mission,” the sources said, adding that the consulate was informed about the incident by the local Malayalee Association members, who had gone to receive the actor.

The superstar of Malayalam cinema was taken to a separate room and was briefly questioned on his purpose of visit to the US and other details.

JFK airport security officials said they took him seperately as they ‘had instructions to check the details of all those passengers with the name — Muhammad Ismail’.