Kerala Honors Mohanlal for His Dadasaheb Phalke Award Achievement

Expressing his appreciation, Mohanlal noted that being honored in his home state was even more touching than the ceremony held in New Delhi. “This is the land where I was born and raised. Its air, buildings, and memories are woven into my essence. Such feelings cannot be feigned,” he remarked.

Reflecting on his beginnings, the veteran actor reminisced about relocating to Chennai with friends to work with director Fazil and mentioned how cinema has allowed him to observe societal shifts over the years.

“An actor is like clay molded by directors, writers, and cinematographers. I have encountered both success and criticism, and I embrace them equally,” he added.

Mohanlal dedicated his award to the audience, stating, “Without them, nothing can be accomplished. This recognition rightfully belongs to the viewers,” and acknowledged the steadfast support of his loved ones.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presented the accolade and referred to Mohanlal as “the pride of every Malayali,” lauding his versatility and significant contributions to Indian cinema.

He highlighted Mohanlal’s celebrated performance in ‘Vanaprastham’, showcased at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival, and expressed admiration for the actor’s ability to embody a variety of roles seamlessly.

“In just 1986, he acted in 34 films, while today, actors typically pursue only two or three annually,” Vijayan noted, wishing him further achievements as Malayalam cinema nears its centenary.

Mohanlal received a memento, a scroll, and an artwork by A Ramachandran during the ceremony.

Notable attendees included Ministers V Sivankutty, Saji Cherian, K N Balagopal, and G R Anil, as well as veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, who previously won the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2004; actresses Ambika, Renjini, and Malavika; director Joshiy; CPI state secretary M V Govindan; and MP A A Rahim.