Malayalam superstar Mohanlal will be honoured with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his services to cinema, the Government of India announced on Saturday.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting shared on social media, “On the recommendation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee, the Government of India is pleased to announce that Shri. Mohanlal will be conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023. Mohanlal’s remarkable cinematic journey inspires generations! The legendary actor, director, and producer is being honoured for his iconic contribution to Indian Cinema. His unmatched talent, versatility, and relentless hard work have set a golden standard in Indian film history.”
Reacting to the honour, Mohanlal said, “I am deeply humbled and profoundly honored to receive The Dadasaheb Phalke Award. My heartfelt gratitude to Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji for your kind words and blessings, they fill me with encouragement and joy. I remain ever indebted to the art of cinema and to all those whose inspiration and support illuminate my journey. Celebrities across film industries took to social media to congratulate Mohanlal on being honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
Priyadarshan wrote on X, “Heartfelt congratulations to my dearest friend Lal on being honoured with d #DadasahebPhalkeAward. No one deserves this recognition more. Proud2 see the nation celebrate ur extraordinary talent. Grateful to d Jury for recognising n honouring a most deserving legend. @Mohanlal.” Akshay Kumar posted on X, “Heartiest congratulations, @Mohanlal sir, on being honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Every time I’ve had the chance to meet you or observe your work, it’s been like sitting in the front row of the greatest acting school ever. This recognition is so richly deserved. Respect and love.” A tweet by Khushbu Sundar read, “Extremely happy and delighted to see our most amazing, our favorite, our most adorably lovable Shri @Mohanlal Sir being conferred with the most coveted #dadasahebphalke honor. Its an honor bestowed upon the malayalam industry, infact the entire South Industry. Thank you @MIB_India, Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw ji, Thiru @DrLMurugan avl and the jury for this. Heartiest congratulations to you Lalettan.”
Although Mohanlal made his acting debut in Thiranottam (1978) — alongside his childhood friend Priyadarshan, who later became one of India’s most celebrated filmmakers and worked here as an assistant to director V Ashok Kumar — the movie never saw the light of day. Ultimately, Mohanlal made his first on-screen appearance in debutant director Fazil’s Manjil Virinja Pookkal (1980), playing the antagonist.
He has since starred in over 400 films, and was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2001, and the Padma Bhushan in 2019. Mohanlal has won five National Film Awards—two Best Actor, a Special Jury Mention and a Special Jury Award for acting, and an award for Best Feature Film (as producer), also nine Kerala State Film Awards. Some of his notable performances came in Namukku Paarkan Munthirithoppukal, Kireedam, Dasharatham, Bharatham, Vanaprastham, Manichithrathazhu and Thazhvaaram. Mohanlal is still quite active as an actor, with the Onam-release Hrdayapoorvam, in which he plays the lead role, still running in theatres.
(The Indian Express)
