The Kerala government honoured actor Mohanlal, who recently won the country’s highest cinema honour, the Dadasaheb Phalke award, at a star-studded event in the State capital on Saturday evening.
Titled ‘Malayalam Vaanolam, Laal Salam,’ the event drew hundreds of Mohanlal fans to the Central Stadium here.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who felicitated the actor with a ponnada and a memento, said Mohanlal had brought the Dadasaheb Phalke award to Kerala more than two decades after filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan won it in 2004.
Recognition for Malayalam cinema
“The recognition for Mohanlal is a recognition for Malayalam cinema too. It makes every Malayali proud. This award has cemented the artistic value of Malayalam cinema at the national level,” the Chief Minister said.
He pointed out that in three years, Malayalam cinema would turn 100. Of these, Mohanlal had been under the arc lights for nearly five decades. In that time, the characters played by him had left a mark on Malayalam cinema. Love, revenge, dance, music, intoxication… he had depicted all these emotions. “There are not many actors who have influenced the Malayali as much as Mohanlal,” Mr. Vijayan said.
He also referred to the people’s love for him, evidenced by them calling him Lalettan, irrespective of their age.
The Chief Minister also referenced the sheer diversity of roles played by the actor – hero, villain, singer, dancer, funny guy, defeatist, strongman, middle class guy next door. Undoubtedly, Mohanlal films were a visual documentation of the changes in Kerala’s social and cultural life, the Malayali’s emotions, values, and struggles.
He also acted in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada films, giving some of his best performances. He had become one of the most bankable actors in south India. “It is not easy to be a good actor and a popular star at the same time. But Mohanlal’s natural acting makes it easy for him,” the Chief Minister said, wishing the actor more success.
‘More emotional’
Mohanlal, who was greeted with loud cheers by the gathering, in his speech said the felicitation event was more emotional than the Dadasaheb Phalke award function in Delhi as Thiruvananthapuram was where he was born and grew up, where his parents and brother lived, a city whose trees, air, road, and buildings were a part of his memories. The felicitation was being accorded to him by Kerala, which had made him the actor he was and the government elected by them.
He began his career without knowing what a complicated craft it was. Part of a group of friends who wanted to make a movie, he ended up in front of the camera, and the rest was history. He said he could not recall the paths his career had taken. He reflected that his career had highs and lows. Each time he felt he would sink, some talented people from the industry would lift him, besides the fans who stayed with him throughout.
He observed that he had observed many changes in society during his over four-decade-old career – dressing, language, relations, food, dreams, financial situation, cultural perspectives, politics. From watching films with peanuts in hands to lying nearly prone in a multiplex, the change had been vast. Cinema too had changed. He had lived through this change, courtesy to some nameless power, he said.
He revealed that acting was not easy for him, though it was often said that acting came to Mohanlal easily. He said he still prayed before going to stand in front of the camera for another new role. “Acting is my god,” he said.
The Chief Minister also presented Mohanlal with a poetic citation, penned by poet Prabha Varma, and rendered by Lakshmi Das, teacher at NSS College for Women, Neeramankara.
Painting presented
A painting by artist A. Ramachandran was also presented to the actor.
Mr. Gopalakrishnan, Ministers Saji Cherian, K.N. Balagopal, V. Sivankutty, G.R. Anil, and actor Ambika spoke.
Actor Jagathy Sreekumar also attended the event. A cultural programme ‘Ragam Mohanam’ followed.
Published – October 04, 2025 09:17 pm IST
