Popular Malayalam actor Mammootty yesterday launched a 'heart to heart' project for indigent people who require heart surgery. The project is jointly promoted by the Mammootty Fans and Welfare Association and the Noorul Islam Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation Medicity, Aralumoodu in Thiruvanathauram, Kerala under which free bypass surgery would be made available to such patients.

Speaking to reporters here, Mammootty, who is the Project Brand Ambassador, said through this project thousands of poor heart patients will be benefited. Selection of the deserving patients will be made by a committee, consisting of members of fans association and hospital concerned, he said.

'In the first six months about 100 deserving cases will be taken up and in due course the number of heart patients to be chosen will be increased,' he said.

Steps will be taken to conduct at least two to three surgeries for poor patients each month under the project, which will be implemented with the message 'a heart to live, a heart to love', he said. All expenses connected with the by-pass surgery including room rent and food will be free of charge. 'It is a never ending process' Mammootty said, adding 'by 2010 we plan to increase the number of surgeries to four or five per month'.

Mammootty said he was also planning to provide free computer literacy to the poor people at the grass root level. 'Talks are going on with a computer firm in this regard,' he said.

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