The Kerala government on Saturday felicitated superstar Mohanlal for receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
India’s highest cinema honour, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Indian and Malayalam cinema. The ceremony was held in Thiruvananthapuram, celebrating the actor’s illustrious career.
Mohanlal Honoured in His Home State
Speaking at the event, Mohanlal expressed how receiving the award in Kerala made the moment even more special than the national ceremony in Delhi.
“This is the land where I was born and raised. Its air, its buildings, its memories are part of my soul. Such emotions cannot be acted out,” he said.
Recalling his early days in Chennai under director Fazil, he reflected on how cinema has allowed him to depict societal changes over the decades. He added,
“An actor is like clay shaped by directors, writers, and cameramen. I have faced both success and criticism, and I take them equally.”
Mohanlal dedicated the award to his audience and acknowledged his family and friends for their support.
Chief Minister’s Tribute
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who presented the felicitation, lauded Mohanlal as “the pride of every Malayali,” praising his versatility and depth in portraying diverse characters. He highlighted Mohanlal’s acclaimed performance in Vanaprastham, screened at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival.
“In 1986 alone, he acted in 34 films, whereas today actors take up only two or three films a year,” Vijayan remarked, wishing him continued success as Malayalam cinema nears its centenary.
Ceremony Highlights
During the event, Mohanlal received a memento, a scroll, and a painting by artist A. Ramachandran. Attendees included Ministers V. Sivankutty, Saji Cherian, K.N. Balagopal, G.R. Anil, filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, actresses Ambika, Renjini, Malavika, director Joshiy, CPI state secretary M.V. Govindan, and MP A.A. Rahim.
Mohanlal’s National Award Speech
At the National Film Awards 2025 ceremony in Delhi, Mohanlal expressed gratitude, sharing photos on Instagram with the caption: “Gratitude.” He described the award as a tribute not only to him but to the entire Malayalam film fraternity:
“I see this award as a collective tribute to our industry, creativity, legacy, and resilience… To be honest, I never dreamt of receiving this honour. This is not just a dream come true; it is magical and sacred.”
Concluding, he pledged to continue his cinematic journey with responsibility and dedication.
About Mohanlal
With a career spanning over four decades and more than 340 films across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi cinema, Mohanlal has won five National Film Awards — two for Best Actor, a Special Jury Mention, a Special Jury Award, and one as producer for Best Feature Film. He remains one of India’s most beloved and respected actors.
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