 Mohanlal is one of the Malayalam actors who have greatly contributed to enrich Indian cinema. He is popular for his roles in 1980s and 1990s Malayalam movies. Mani Ratnam while working with him in Iruvar stated, "Hereafter, I will never work with a man of whom I am a fan. I often forgot to say `Cut` in Iruvar." this is the magic that the actor can create with his powerful performances. Mohanlal, till date, is one of the most spontaneous actors that the sub-continent has seen.
Being a committed actor he has never shied away from experimenting with his roles. His cult roles will alleys be an instance to follow for the upcoming actors. Besides several outstanding performances he has also entertained the audience with superhero roles. Aadu Thoma in Spadikam, Jagannadhan in Aaram Thamburan, Induchoodan in Narasimham and Mullankolli Velayudhan in Naran are some of his memorable roles in this particular genre.
It was more an initiative on his friends` part that he entered the filmdom. On their insistence he auditioned for the role and was first seen on the silver screen as an anti hero in Manjil Virinja Pookkal. There was no looking back for Mohanlal after this film. He was flooded with offers. According to industry sources in 1983 he appeared in over 25 feature films. Amongst these films his memorable film would be Uyarangalil that was scripted by M.T.Vasudevan Nair and directed by I. V. Sasi. Priyadarshan`s debut Poochakkoru Mookkuthi gave him the opportunity to experiment with the comic genre.
During the Golden era of Malayalam cinema Mohanlal was offered roles that provide him with the scope to experiment with a variety of roles. Variety, they say, is the spice of life. Truly enough, for Mohanlal was established as one of the undisputed kings of Malayalam films. Sathyan Anthikad`s T.P.Balagopalan M.A, Rajavinte Makansaw, Thalavattom, Sanmanassu Ullavarku Samadhanam, M.T.Vasudevan Nair`s Panchagni, Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal and Gandhi Nagar 2nd Street established him as a versatile actor. He was fortunate enough o work with some of the most talented directors in the entire South India. Mohanlal, from the very beginning of his career, stroke a balance between art films and commercial cinema. Moreover he was successful in exploiting the various genres of commercial cinema as well.
Directors like Sreenivasan and Sathyan Anthikkad cast him in social satires. Nadodikkattu was one such film where he played the role of an unemployed youth and in Varavelpu he was a man who returned from Gulf after years. He was welcomed heartily by his kith and kin only for monetary gain. However movies like Chithram and Kilukkam were hard-core commercial movie, which witnessed him in the conventional roles of an Indian romantic hero. Both these films were directed by Mani Ratnam. Such films also popularised him amongst the teenagers.
After appearing in a host of author backed roles as well as entertainers he set himself apart from the crowd with Priyadarshan`s Kalapani and Kanmadam by Lohithadas. His film Guru was the official entry for Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1997. Apart from the Malayalam films Mohanlal had by then started acting in other languages as well. He teamed up once again with Mani Ratnam and appeared in Iruvar, a Tamil film. He played the role of MGR with perfection.
Mohanlal bagged the Special Jury award at National Awards for the role of Sethu Madhavan in Kireedam. His first National Award in the Best Actor category came with Bharatham where he portrayed the role of an envious classical singer. Vaanaprastham established Mohanlal as one of the finest actors in Indian cinema. Directed by one of the best Malayalam directors, Shaji Karun, the film fetched him a National Award. Here he played the role of a Kathakali dancer, Kunhikuttan, who confuses his real life and stage life. He is unhappy with his marriage and falls in love with Subhadra. He is even more perplexed when he realises that Subhadra is more in love with his stage role than the real person. He faces a lot of trouble for his love life and towards the end of the film he is shown to return to the stage life only to play the negative characters. The film ends with a stunning dance performance by the leading man, Mohanlal.
While speaking of Mohanlal Shaji N Karun once said, "I can only express one word if I have to describe Mohanlal: wonder. I look at him with awe when he transforms himself from a person to an artiste in front of the camera. I don`t know how he transforms himself. It`s inexplicable." His immense histrionic skills fetched him a number of awards:
National Film Awards
| Special Jury Award - Kireedam (1989) |
Best Actor - Bharatham (1991) |
Best Actor and Producer- Vanaprastham (1999) |
Kerala State Film Awards
| Best Actor - T .P. Balagopalan M.A (1986) |
Best Actor – Vaanaprastham (1999) |
| Actor (Special Award) - Padha Mudhra, Chitram, Utsavappittennu, Aryan and Vellanakalude Nadu (1988) |
Best Actor – Thanmatra (2005) |
| Best Actor - Ulladakkam, Kilukkam, Abhimanyu (1991) |
Best Actor – Paradesi (2007) |
| Best Actor - Kalapani, Spadikam (1995) |
|
Filmfare Awards
| Padamudra, 1988 |
Sphadikam, 1995 |
| Devasuram, 1993 |
Vaanaprastham, 1999 |
| Pavitram, 1994 |
Thanmathra, 2005 |
| Iruvar, 1997 |
Paradesi, 2007 |
This veteran actor had been persistently performing for the last 27 years. He has adapted himself well to the changing times and it is one of the reasons why his popularity has not faded with passing time. On the contrary he has, time and again, set high standard of acting both for himself and his contemporaries.
The filmography of Mohanlal is as follows:
Kannada Films 1980
| Manjil Virinja Pookkal |
Kelkkatha Shabdam |
Ente Kadha |
Poochakkoru Mookkuthi |
Idanilangal |
| Sanchari |
Padayottam |
Bhookambam |
Pavam Poornima |
Paththaamudayam |
| Thakilu Kottampuram |
Enikkum Oru Divasam |
Kaliyamardanam |
Lakshmana Rekha |
Rangam |
| Dhanya |
Pooviriyum Pulari |
Kolakkomban |
Aalkkoottathil Thaniye |
Revathikkoru Pavakkutti |
| Attimari |
Aakrosham |
Arabikkadal |
Kattathe Kilikkoodu |
Irupatham Noottandu |
| Thenum Vayambum |
Sree Ayyappanum Vavarum |
Theeram Thedunna Thira |
Uyarangalil |
Ayitham |
| Dhruva Sangamam |
Enthino Pookkunna Pookkal |
Aadhipathyam |
Adiyozhukkukal |
Anuragi |
| Oothikachiya Ponnu |
Sindoora Sandhyakku Mounam |
Iniyengilum |
Onnanam Kunnil Oradi Kunnil |
Aryan |
| Ahimsa |
Ente Mohangal Poovaninju |
Nanayam |
Anubandham |
Moonnam Mura |
| Madrasile Mon |
Njanonnu Parayatte |
Athirathram |
Angadikkappurathu |
Chithram |
| Football |
Aa Divasam |
Unaru |
Boeing Boeing |
Kireedam |
| Jambulingam |
Visa |
Sukumaran |
Karimbin Poovinakkare |
Dasharadham |
1990
| Mukham |
Kalapani |
| Lal Salam |
Oru Yathramozhi |
| Bharatham |
Chandralekha |
| Yodha |
Vanaprastham |
| Adwaitham |
Guru |
| Pakshe |
|
2000
| Sraddha |
Udayon |
| Devadoothan |
Rasathanthram |
| Kakkakuyil |
Mahha Samudram |
| Onnaman |
Hallo |
| Kilichundan Mambazham |
Paradesi |
| Vismayathumbathu |
College Kumaran |
| Udayananu Tharam |
Innathe Chinthavishayam |
Hindi Films
| Dharam Yodha |
Company |
Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag |
Tamil Films
| Gopuravasalile
|
Siraichalai
|
| Ashokan |
Iruvar |
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