This is Part 16 of Legends of Indian Cinema, our 20-part series on the actors, filmmakers and musicians who shaped Indian films across languages. New here? Start with Part 1: Dadasaheb Phalke, or read the previous part, Part 15: Sridevi.
Malayalam cinema is known for its realism and strong storytelling, and its biggest star is a master of both. Mohanlal, lovingly called "Lalettan", has acted in more than 350 films. Critics and fellow actors often call him "the complete actor". In 2025, he received India's highest film honour, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
Early life
- Born Mohanlal Viswanathan on 21 May 1960 in Elanthoor, Pathanamthitta district, and raised in Thiruvananthapuram.
- He was a state-level wrestling champion in college.
- His official debut was as the villain in Manjil Virinja Pookkal (1980).
Rise to stardom
- Through the 1980s, he moved from villain to hero, working with great directors such as Priyadarshan, Sathyan Anthikad, I.V. Sasi, Padmarajan and Sibi Malayil.
- Rajavinte Makan (1986) made him a superstar, while films such as Nadodikkattu (1987) showed his comic gifts.
- Kireedam (1989), about a gentle young man pushed into violence, remains one of his most celebrated performances.
Range and recognition
- Bharatham (1991): as a classical singer, it won him his first National Award for Best Actor.
- Manichitrathazhu (1993): a psychological thriller, later remade in several languages.
- Vanaprastham (1999): he played a Kathakali artist, and won a second National Award for Best Actor.
- Drishyam (2013): a gripping family thriller, remade in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi, and even in Chinese and Sinhala.
- Pulimurugan (2016) was the first Malayalam film to cross ₹100 crore. L2: Empuraan and Thudarum were major hits in 2025.
Honours
- Padma Shri (2001) and Padma Bhushan (2019).
- In 2009, he became an honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army.
- He received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2023 from President Droupadi Murmu in September 2025. He was only the second Malayalam film personality to receive it, after director Adoor Gopalakrishnan.
Legacy
Mohanlal's acting looks effortless, but he brings deep emotion to the smallest gestures. Together with his contemporary Mammootty, he has carried Malayalam cinema for over four decades, and he remains one of its biggest stars today.
Next in the series: Part 17: Ilaiyaraaja.
