Malayalam cinema legend Mohanlal is slated to receive the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest cinematic honor. The announcement was made on Saturday by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
This esteemed award for 2023 will be officially presented to Mohanlal during the 71st National Film Awards ceremony on September 23rd. With this recognition, he will become only the second film personality from Kerala, following the acclaimed filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, to receive this distinguished honor.
Throughout a remarkable career spanning nearly five decades, Mohanlal has captivated audiences with his seemingly effortless acting style and his extraordinary capacity to embody the full spectrum of human emotions. He has delivered countless unforgettable performances that have become benchmarks in Malayalam cinema.
While his debut film, Thiranottam (1978), unfortunately never saw a release, Mohanlal’s cinematic journey truly began when director Fazil cast him as the antagonist in his 1980 film, Manjil Virinja Pookkal. His portrayal of the menacing Narendran immediately showcased his unique talent.
From the very beginning of his career, Mohanlal demonstrated incredible versatility, excelling particularly in comedic roles that highlighted his exceptional timing and flair for humor. By the mid-1980s, he endeared himself to the public by portraying relatable, struggling common men in popular films like T.P. Balagopalan MA, Nadodikkattu, and Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam.
His transformation into a formidable action hero and cinematic superstar truly took off with films like Rajavinte Makan (1986), where he commanded the screen as a powerful underworld don.
Remarkably, even in his twenties, Mohanlal took on complex characters such as Balan in Thazhvaram, Doctor Hairdas in Amrutham Gamaya, Sethumadhavan in Kireedam, and Rajiv in Dasharatham. These roles demanded an emotional depth and life experience far beyond his years, which he delivered masterfully.
During the initial two decades of his career, Mohanlal was instrumental in shaping some of Malayalam cinema’s most iconic films. A career highlight arrived in 1999 when he earned the National Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Kathakali artiste Kunjikuttan in Vanaprastham, a role for which he meticulously learned the intricate fundamentals of the classical dance-drama.
His influence wasn’t limited to Malayalam cinema; he also achieved critical acclaim in other Indian film industries, notably with powerful performances in Mani Ratnam’s Iruvar (1997) and Ram Gopal Varma’s Company (2002). While the early 2000s saw a period of less critical success with a series of larger-than-life characterizations, he consistently delivered exceptional work in films such as Thanmathra (2005) and Drishyam (2013). This prestigious national honor arrives as Mohanlal experiences a significant career resurgence, marked by recent box office hits like Thudarum and Hridayapoorvam.