Malayalam superstar Mammootty confesses that he misses receiving the coveted National Award, which he has already been honoured with three times earlier.

"Isn't it some time now since I have won it? And of late, I am missing it," Mammootty told from the sets of his upcoming film "Big B".

The versatile actor hopes that two of his recent films - "Palunku" and "Kaioppu" - help get some awards.

"Both 'Palunku' and 'Kaioppu', which are currently running in theatres, carry a socially relevant theme. They are doing good business though they might not be drawing huge crowds.

While "Palunku" is directed by Blessy, "Kaioppu" has been made by Ranjith.

"From the feedback I'm getting of these two films, I am hoping that the current year will be good. We will all hope for the best," the 53-year-old actor said.

Mammootty won his first National Award in 1989 for his brilliant performance in "Oru Vadakan Veeragatha" directed by Hariharan and in Adoor Gopalakrishnan's "Mathilugal".

In 1993, he was conferred the prestigious award yet again for his roles in Gopalakrishnan's "Vidhayan" and T.V. Chandran's "Ponthan Mada".

He was third time lucky when he received the honour in 1999 for playing the lead role in Jabbar Patel's film "Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar".

"The response to 'Kaioppu' has been great. The number of calls I've been receiving since its release gives a wonderful feeling and I am happy. So is the case with 'Palunku'," remarked Mammootty.