new delhi, Sept 23
Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, who holds the distinguished title of “The Complete Actor”, was conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award by the President, Droupadi Murmu, at the 71st National Awards ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Tuesday. The Dadasaheb Phalke Selection Committee chose Mohanlal as the recipient of the award for his contribution to Indian cinema.
Mohanlal, who has starred in over 400 films, received a standing ovation from the attendees at the Vigyan Bhawan as he accepted the award. Mohanlal’s wife, Suchitra Mohanlal, was also present at the ceremony.
Conferring the prestigious award to legendary actor, the President said that he has not only showcased his exceptional talent but also upheld India’s cultural ethos through his vast body of work. The President extended her warm congratulations to him, recalling his remarkable journey from theatre to cinema and his outstanding portrayal of India’s cultural heritage in works ranging from Sanskrit one-act play Karnabharam on Mahabharata to his award-winning performance in Vanaprastham. She said his name commands deep respect and has earned a special place in the hearts of audiences across generations.
In his heartfelt acceptance speech, Mohanlal said, “As a representative of the Malayalam film industry, I am deeply humbled to be the youngest recipient and only the second ever from the state to be bestowed with this national recognition. This moment is not mine alone. It belongs to the entire Malayalam cinema fraternity. I see this award as a collective tribute to our industry, legacy, creativity and resilience.”
A short film chronicling the actor’s illustrious career was also screened during the ceremony, capturing his four-decade journey across iconic roles and unforgettable performances. Mohanlal is applauded for his natural, convincing, and often effortless portrayal of diverse characters, from simple men to complex villains, a quality that has solidified his position as one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated figures.
Starting his career with a classic villain role in the movie ‘Manjil Virinja Pookal’, released in the 1970s, Mohanlal has become an outstanding actor in Indian Cinema. Apart from Malayalam, he also acted in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada movies.
Without a doubt, one can say that Mohanlal is one of the best actors that India has ever produced. He is also rated as one of the most talented actors in India. His range of movies is enviable, his comedy roles are incomparable and his unique style of dialogue delivery is effortless.
He is regarded as the biggest crowd pulling Malayalam actor. By virtue of his tremendous crowd pulling capability, he and his movies still remain the mainstay of the Malayalam film industry.
Keerthichakra, released in 2006, proved to be a breakthrough in military movie genre. The influence of the character Major Mahadevan in the movie Keerthichakra made many youngsters pursue a career in the Indian army. Later, the Indian Army honored the actor by giving honorary lieutenant colonel in the Indian Territorial Army.
Mohanlal has received two National Film Awards for best actor, nine Kerala State Awards and international honours. In addition to acting honours, Mohanlal was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2001 and the Padma Bhushan in 2019 for his contribution to the arts.
