Mohanlal is an Indian actor, producer, distributor, host, and playback singer who has starred in mainstream blockbuster and art-house films. [1] He has made over 350 appearances in feature films during the span of his career, primarily in Malayalam cinema and also in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Kannada films. [2]
Mohanlal began acting at the age of 18 in a brief role in the then-unreleased film Thiranottam (1978), released a quarter century later. He made his cinematic debut in 1980 as an antagonist in the romantic thriller Manjil Virinja Pookkal . [3] His portrayal of Narendran, a sadistic husband, garnered him recognition and the film developed a cult status. [4] [5] He was thereafter cast in several films as villainous characters. Padayottam (1982), the first Malayalam film shot on 70 mm film featured him in his first protagonistic role. [4] The family drama Aattakalasam established him as a leading actor in Malayalam cinema. [6] In 1984 he starred in the screwball comedy Poochakkoru Mookkuthi , whose success generated a trend and popularised the genre in the 1980s. [7] [8] He played an antihero in Uyarangalil (1984), directed by I. V. Sasi receiving critical acclaim for his performance. [9] In the same year, he co-founded Casino Films, [lower-alpha 1] a motion picture production company that later produced his comedy films Gandhinagar 2nd Street (1986) and Nadodikkattu (1987). [10]
His first song as a playback singer was "Sindhoora Megham" for Onnanam Kunnil Oradi Kunnil (1985). [7] He starred in 34 films in 1986. [2] His portrayal of T.P. Balagopalan, a lower-scale employee in the comedy-drama T. P. Balagopalan M.A. (1986) earned him the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor becoming the youngest recipient at the age of 26, [7] a record he held until 2006. [11] The same year he co-founded Cheers Films, his second production company. [lower-alpha 2] Mohanlal's stardom catapulted with the success of the crime drama Rajavinte Makan (1986). [13] In Irupatham Noottandu (1987), he portrayed mobster Sagar Alias Jacky and has become a cult figure since its release. [14] His tragicomedy Chithram (1988) held the record for the longest continuous run at 58 weeks. [15] In 1989, his performance in Kireedam earned him a Special Jury Mention at the 37th National Film Awards. [16]
In 1990, Mohanlal founded his own film production company, Pranavam Arts. [7] It debuted with the musical thriller His Highness Abdullah , garnered critical acclaim and became the year's highest-grossing film. [17] The second film under Pranavam Arts was Bharatham (1991), earned him the National Film Award for Best Actor and Forbes India included it on its list of "25 Greatest Acting Performances in Indian Cinema". [18] His film, the spiritual fantasy, Guru (1997), was the first Malayalam film from India submitted for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. [19] In 1997, he received critical acclaim for the Tamil film Iruvar , directed by Mani Ratnam. [20] Vanaprastham , which was screened at the Un Certain Regard section of the 1999 Cannes Film Festival, earned him the National Film Awards for Best Actor and Best Film (Producer). [15] [21]
In 2000, he starred in the action drama, Narasimham , which became the highest-grossing Malayalam film at the time. His character, Induchoodan has since attracted a cult following. [22] In 2001, he portrayed Karna in the Sanskrit play, Karnabharam, directed by Kavalam Narayana Panicker. [23] In 2003, he won an International Indian Film Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the Hindi film Company . [24] In 2005, he starred in the silent short film Reflections, directed by Bejoy Nambiar . [25] His portrayal of an Alzhiemer patient in Thanmathra (2005) attained critical acclaim and earned him an honorary award from the Indian Medical Association. [26] The Indian Territorial Army bestowed on him the honorary rank of lieutenant colonel for his performance as Major Mahadevan in the war film Keerthi Chakra (2006) and its sequel Kurukshetra (2008). [27] In 2008, he starred in Twenty:20 , a landmark film that featured almost all actors in the guild of Malayalam film actors, AMMA. [28]
Drishyam (2013), in which he portrayed Georgekutty, an ordinary man, became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time. [29] [30] In 2016, he acted in the title role in the action film Pulimurugan which went on to become the highest-grossing Malayalam film ever and was the first Malayalam film to gross over ₹150 crore at the box office. [31] In 2019, he acted in Prithviraj Sukumaran's directorial Lucifer , and the film also became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films setting several box office records. In 2021, he reprised his role of Georgekutty in the critically acclaimed Drishyam 2 , released via Amazon Prime Video. His directorial debut, the 3D film Barroz is in post-production.
† | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | Barroz: Guardian of D'Gama's Treasure | Post-production | [340] |
Year | Title | Production | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
1984 | Adiyozhukkukal | Casino Films | |
1985 | Karimbinpoovinakkare | ||
1986 | Gandhinagar 2nd Street | ||
Adiverukal | Chears Films | ||
1987 | Nadodikkattu | Casino Films | |
Unnikale Oru Kadha Parayam | Chears Films | ||
1988 | Orkkappurathu | ||
Aryan | |||
1990 | His Highness Abdulla | Pranavam Arts International | |
1991 | Bharatham | ||
1992 | Kamaladalam | ||
1993 | Mithunam | ||
1994 | Pingami | ||
1996 | Kaalapani | ||
1998 | Kanmadam | ||
Harikrishnans | |||
1999 | Olympian Anthony Adam | ||
Vaanaprastham | |||
2010 | Kandahar | ||
2024 | Malaikottai Vaaliban | Maxlab Cinemas and Entertainments |
Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
1989 | Season | ||
1990 | Indrajaalam | ||
1998 | Kallu Kondoru Pennu | [341] | |
2002 | Onnaman | Also as lead actor | |
2007 | Chotta Mumbai | Also as lead actor | |
2008 | Swarnam | [342] | |
2009 | Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja | [343] | |
2010 | Janakan | Also as lead actor | |
2012 | The Hit List | [344] | |
Namukku Parkkan | [345] | ||
2014 | Aamayum Muyalum | [346] | |
2015 | Ennum Eppozhum | Also as lead actor | |
Picket 43 | [347] | ||
2017 | C/O Saira Banu | Voice role: Peter George | |
Tiyaan | Voice of "time" | [348] | |
Aakashamittayi | [349] | ||
2018 | Kayamkulam Kochunni | Also actor | |
2019 | Neeyum Njanum | ||
100 Years of Chrysostom | Documentary; entered the Guinness World Records | [350] | |
Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy | Dubbed version | [351] | |
2022 | Pathonpatham Noottandu | ||
2023 | King of Kotha | ||
2024 | KD | Dubbed version |
Year | Play | Role | Language | Premiere | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | Karnabharam | Karna | Sanskrit | Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi | [352] |
2003 | Kadhayattam [lower-alpha 3] | Malayalam | Senete Hall, University of Kerala | [354] | |
2008 | Chayamukhi | Bhima | Malayalam | Lulu International Convention Centre, Thrissur | [355] |
Maya Ravan (Ballet) | Hanuman (voice) | English | Nehru Centre, Mumbai | [356] | |
2009 | The Tempest | Prospero | Malayalam | Jose Thomas Performing Arts Centre | [357] |
2010 | Vikramōrvaśīyam | Pururavas | Sanskrit | Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh | [358] |
2015 | Naga | Narrator | Malayalam | Parish Hall, St. George Church, Kalady | [359] |
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | Reflections | a loner / Main lead role | Silent film | [360] |
2010 | Wilson Pereira |
| Animation film; also narrator (crow) | [361] |
2015 | Punchirikku Parasparam | Himself | Cameo | [362] |
2016 | Lodal Loda Lodalu | Himself | Cameo | [363] |
2017 | Amar Jawan Amar Bharath | Himself | Cameo | |
Happy New Year | Himself | Cameo | [364] | |
2020 | Family | Himself | Short film for Sony | [365] |
Year | Title | Role | Network | Language | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | Sanskrit News | Reporter | Janam TV | Inauguration episode | |
2017–2018 | Lal Salam | Host | Amrita TV | Talk show; co-hosted with Meera Nandan | [366] |
2018 | Bigg Boss (Malayalam season 1) | Host | Asianet | Reality show | [367] |
2019 | Top Singer Season 1 | Judge | Flowers TV | Reality show | [368] |
2020 | Bigg Boss (Malayalam season 2) | Host | Asianet | Reality show | [369] |
First Bell | Host (episode – Project Tiger) | Victers TV | Educational program | ||
Lalonam Nallonam | Host / various roles | Asianet | Onam special show | ||
Utsavam with Lalettan | Various roles | Flowers TV | Christmas special show | ||
2021 | Bigg Boss (Malayalam season 3) | Host | Asianet | Reality show | [370] |
Onavillu | Host | Asianet | Onam special show | ||
Top Singer Season 2 | Judge | Flowers TV | Reality show | ||
2022 | Bigg Boss (Malayalam season 4) | Host | Asianet | Reality show | |
2023 | Bigg Boss (Malayalam season 5) | Host | Asianet | Reality show | [371] |
Mazhavil Entertainment Awards 2023 | Host | Mazhavil Manorama | |||
2024-present | Bigg Boss (Malayalam season 6) | Host | Asianet | Reality show |
Year | Title | Role | Broadcaster | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1987 | Jeevanulla Prathimakal | Unknown | All India Radio | Re-broadcast on 27 September 2010 | [372] |
Mohanlal Viswanathan is an Indian actor, film producer, playback singer, film distributor, and director who predominantly works in Malayalam film industry besides also having sporadically appeared in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Kannada films. Mohanlal has a prolific career spanning over four decades, during which he has acted in more than 400 films. Mohanlal's contributions to the Malayalam cinema have been praised by his contemporaries in the Indian film industry. The Government of India honoured him with Padma Shri in 2001, and Padma Bhushan in 2019, India's fourth and third highest civilian honours, for his contributions to Indian cinema. In 2009, he became the first actor in India to be awarded the honorary rank of lieutenant colonel in the Territorial Army. Mohanlal was named as one of "the men who changed the face of the Indian Cinema" by CNN-News18.
Karthika Menon, better known by her stage name Bhavana, is an Indian actress who predominantly appears in Malayalam and Kannada language films in addition to Tamil and Telugu films. She is the recipient of two Kerala State Film Awards and a Filmfare Award.
Manju Warrier is an Indian actress, who works predominantly in Malayalam cinema.
Aashirvad Cinemas is an Indian film production company based in Kochi, Kerala. It was established in 2000 by Antony Perumbavoor, since then, it has produced over 30 Malayalam films, starring Mohanlal. Since 2009, the company co-operates with the distribution company Maxlab Cinemas and Entertainments co-founded by Mohanlal and Antony Perumbavoor for distributing films. It is one among the most active and leading production houses in the Malayalam film industry.
Asif Ali is an Indian actor and producer, who works in the Malayalam film industry. He started his film career with Shyamaprasad's 2009 film, Ritu.
Ayilya Gopalakrishnan, better known by her stage name Ananya, is an Indian actress who appears predominantly in Malayalam, and Tamil language films as well as in a few, Telugu and Kannada films. She is also a singer and an archer.
Parvati Venugopal Nair is an Indian model and actress who works in the South Indian film industry. Born into a Malayali family in Abu Dhabi, she trained as a software professional from Manipal Institute of Technology. She started modelling at the age of 15.
Karmayodha is a 2012 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film co-produced, written and directed by Major Ravi. It features Mohanlal, Mukesh, Murali Sharma, Sai Kumar, Mukesh, Bineesh Kodiyeri, Rajeev Pillai, Asha Sarath, Aishwarya Devan. The soundtrack was composed by M. G. Sreekumar; the background score was provided by Jeffrey Jonathan. The film deals about the illegal activities happening against women. The film received mixed reviews, and was just an average at the box office.
Lucifer is a 2019 Indian Malayalam-language political action thriller film directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran and written by Murali Gopy. Produced by Antony Perumbavoor through the production house Aashirvad Cinemas, the film marks Prithviraj's directorial debut and features Mohanlal in the title role, alongside an ensemble supporting cast including Vivek Oberoi, Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Indrajith Sukumaran, Saniya Iyappan, Sai Kumar, John Vijay, Sachin Khedekar, Baiju Santhosh, Kalabhavan Shajohn, Fazil, Suresh Chandra Menon and Nyla Usha. Deepak Dev composed the film's music, and the cinematography was handled by Sujith Vaassudev.
Drishyam (transl. Visual) is a 2013 Indian Malayalam-language crime thriller film written and directed by Jeethu Joseph. It stars Mohanlal and Meena, as well as Ansiba Hassan, Esther Anil, Kalabhavan Shajohn, Asha Sharath, Siddique, Roshan Basheer and Neeraj Madhav in supporting roles. The film was produced by Antony Perumbavoor for Aashirvad Cinemas. It is the first installment to the series followed by Drishyam 2. It follows the struggle of Georgekutty and his family, who come under suspicion when Varun Prabhakar, the son of the IG Geetha Prabhakar, goes missing.
Pulimurugan is a 2016 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film directed by Vysakh and produced by Tomichan Mulakuppadam through Mulakuppadam Films and was written by Udayakrishna—half of the duo Udayakrishna and Sibi K. Thomas—in his first independent screenplay. The film stars Mohanlal in the title role, with Jagapati Babu, Kamalinee Mukherjee, Lal, Vinu Mohan, Bala, Noby Marcose and Suraj Venjaramoodu in supporting roles. The film score and soundtrack were composed by Gopi Sundar, while cinematography was handled by Shaji Kumar and edited by Johnkutty.
Manamantha is a 2016 Indian Telugu-language anthology film written and directed by Chandra Sekhar Yeleti and produced by Sai Korrapati. It stars Mohanlal, Gautami, Viswant Duddumpudi, and Raina Rao and also marks the former's Telugu debut after a guest appearance in the 1994 Telugu film Gandeevam. The music was composed by Mahesh Shankar with cinematography by Rahul Shrivatsav and editing by G. V. Chandra Sekhar. The film was partially reshot in Malayalam as Vismayam (transl. Amazement) with a slightly different cast.
Oppam (transl. Along) is a 2016 Indian Malayalam-language crime thriller film written and directed by Priyadarshan from a story by Govind Vijayan. It was produced by Antony Perumbavoor for Aashirvad Cinemas and starred Mohanlal and Samuthirakani. The film contains songs composed by the group 4 Musics, and the score was composed by Ron Ethan Yohann. N. K. Ekambaram was the cinematographer.
Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol is a 2017 Indian Malayalam-language domestic drama film directed by Jibu Jacob and written by M. Sindhuraj. It is loosely based on the Malayalam short story "Pranayopanishath" by V. J. James. Produced and distributed by Sophia Paul through Weekend Blockbusters, the film stars Mohanlal and Meena as panchayat secretary Ulahannan and his wife Annyamma. The soundtrack features songs composed by Bijibal and M. Jayachandran, and a film score by Bijibal. The film is about Ulahannan, a man having a midlife crisis, who rediscovers himself and overcomes boredom in his routine life.
1971: Beyond Borders is a 2017 Indian Malayalam-language war film written and directed by Major Ravi. It is the fourth installment in the Major Mahadevan film series, with Mohanlal reprising his double role as Colonel Mahadevan and a new character, Major Sahadevan. It also features Arunoday Singh and Allu Sirish. The film, set in two time periods, is based on the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and act as both prequel and follow-up to the series. Mohanlal's and Sirish's characters were modeled on Hoshiar Singh Dahiya and Arun Khetarpal, both of whom were awarded the Param Vir Chakra for their roles in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.
Villain is a 2017 Indian Malayalam-language neo-noir action thriller film written and directed by B. Unnikrishnan and produced by Rockline Venkatesh. It stars an ensemble cast including Mohanlal, Vishal, Srikanth, Raashi Khanna, Hansika Motwani, Manju Warrier, Siddique, Chemban Vinod Jose, Renji Panicker, Saikumar and Aju Varghese. Manoj Paramahamsa and N. K. Ekambaram were the cinematographers. The songs were written by 4 Musics and the film score was composed by Sushin Shyam.
Kalyani Priyadarshan is an Indian actress who appears predominantly in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu films. Kalyani is a recipient of one Filmfare Award South and three South Indian International Movie Awards.
Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea is a 2021 Indian Malayalam-language epic historical action film directed by Priyadarshan. Set in the 16th century Calicut, the film is based on the fourth Kunjali Marakkar named Muhammad Ali, the admiral of the fleet of the Zamorin. Priyadarshan scripted the film with Ani Sasi. The film is produced by Antony Perumbavoor's Aashirvad Cinemas. Marakkar features Mohanlal in the titlular role, with ensemble cast including Arjun Sarja, Suniel Shetty, Ashok Selvan, Prabhu, Nedumudi Venu, Mukesh, Siddique, Manju Warrier, Keerthy Suresh, Kalyani Priyadarshan, Suhasini Maniratnam, Innocent, Mamukkoya, Hareesh Peradi, Santhosh Keezhattoor and K. B. Ganesh Kumar. In the film, upon being terrorised by an oppressive Portuguese regime, legendary naval chieftain Kunjali Marakkar IV wages an epic war against the Europeans and their allies. This film was Keerthy Suresh's comeback to Malayalam cinema after a gap of seven years and the Malayalam debut of Ashok Selvan.
Ram is an upcoming Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film written and directed by Jeethu Joseph. It is the first installment of a two-part film series. The film stars Mohanlal in the title role, with an ensemble cast. The film's music was composed by Vishnu Shyam.
Neyyattinkara Gopante Aaraattu or simply Aaraattu, is a 2022 Indian Malayalam-language spoof film co-produced and directed by B. Unnikrishnan and written by Udaykrishna. The film stars Mohanlal with Shraddha Srinath, Ramachandra Raju, Siddique, Vijayaraghavan, Saikumar, and Nedumudi Venu in supporting roles. Rahul Raj composed the film's original songs and background score.