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 325 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 | 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 |
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] |
† | Denotes series that have not yet been released |
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 | Bigg Boss (Malayalam season 6) | Host | Asianet | Reality show | |
2024 | Manorathangal † | Baputty | ZEE5 | Anthology series Episode: "Olavum Theeravum" | [372] [373] |
Year | Title | Role | Broadcaster | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1987 | Jeevanulla Prathimakal | Unknown | All India Radio | Re-broadcast on 27 September 2010 | [374] |
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.
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Maxlab Cinemas and Entertainments is an Indian film distribution and production company established in 2009 by actor-producer Mohanlal, producer Antony Perumbavoor and industrialist K. C. Babu. Since then, it has distributed several films in Malayalam and other Indian languages. The company is a regular distributor of films produced by Aashirvad Cinemas and Tamil films.
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Ajith Kumar is an Indian actor who works mainly in Tamil cinema. Apart from a small role in the 1990 Tamil film En Veedu En Kanavar, his professional career began three years later with his debut as a lead actor in Tamil cinema with Amaravathi (1993). Despite being a moderate success, the film helped him obtain more modelling assignments. He followed it up the same year with Prema Pusthakam, his only Telugu film to date. After Amaravathi's release, Ajith opted against acting, and instead tried pursuing a career in auto racing. While training for an amateur race, he injured his back and underwent three major surgeries, leaving him bed-ridden for a year and a half. After recovering from the injury, he played supporting roles in Paasamalargal (1994) and Pavithra (1994). After this, he co-starred with Vijay in Rajavin Parvaiyile (1995). That same year, he had his breakthrough with the romantic thriller Aasai. His performance earned him critical acclaim and established him as an up-and-coming actor in Tamil cinema.
Shikkar: The Hunt, or simply Shikkar (transl. Hunt/Hunter) is a 2010 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film directed by M. Padmakumar, written by S. Suresh Babu, and produced by K. K. Rajagopal. The film stars Mohanlal, alongside Kalabhavan Mani, Samuthirakani, Sneha, Lalu Alex, Ananya, Mythili, Kailash, Jagathy Sreekumar, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy and Suraj Venjaramood in supporting roles. M. Jayachandran composed the songs, while the score was provided by Ouseppachan.
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.
Isha Talwar is an Indian actress and model who predominantly works in Malayalam and Hindi films, besides appearing in a few Tamil and Telugu films. She started out as a model and appeared in various commercials, and later made her film debut with the 2012 Malayalam film Thattathin Marayathu.
Drishyam (transl. Visual) is a 2013 Indian Malayalam-language crime thriller film written and directed by Jeethu Joseph. It stars Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba Hassan, Esther Anil, Asha Sharath, Siddique, Kalabhavan Shajohn, Roshan Basheer and Neeraj Madhav. The film was produced by Antony Perumbavoor under Aashirvad Cinemas. A sequel titled Drishyam 2 was released in 2021. The film 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 epic action thriller film directed by Vysakh and produced by Tomichan Mulakuppadam through Mulakuppadam Films. The screenplay was written by Udayakrishna —half of the duo Udayakrishna and Sibi K. Thomas —in his first independent screenplay. The film stars Mohanlal in the titlular role, along with a huge ensemble cast including Jagapati Babu, Kamalinee Mukherjee, Lal, Vinu Mohan, Kishore, Bala, Noby Marcose, Siddique, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Nandhu, M. R. Gopakumar, Sudheer Karamana, Hareesh Peradi, Makarand Deshpande and Namitha. The film score and soundtrack were composed by Gopi Sundar, while cinematography and editing was handled by Shaji Kumar and Johnkutty respectively.
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.
Trisha Krishnan is an Indian actress who appears primarily in Tamil and Telugu films. She was first seen in 1999 in a minor supporting role in Jodi, then in the music video of Falguni Pathak's song "Meri Chunar Udd Udd Jaye". The first project she accepted as a lead actress was Priyadarshan's Lesa Lesa, but a delay in the film's release meant that her first appearance in a lead role was in Ameer's directorial debut Mounam Pesiyadhe in 2002, which was a commercial success.
Odiyan (transl. Shapeshifter) is a 2018 Indian Malayalam-language fantasy drama film directed by V. A. Shrikumar Menon in his feature film debut. The film was written by Harikrishnan; it is based on the legend of the Odiyan clan, who in Kerala folklore are men believed to possess shapeshifting abilities and can assume animal forms. Odiyans are said to have inhabited the Malabar region of Kerala before the widespread use of electricity. The film stars Mohanlal in the title role, alongside Prakash Raj and Manju Warrier; it was produced by Antony Perumbavoor through Aashirvad Cinemas.
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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.
Neyyattinkara Gopante Aaraattu or simply Aaraattu, is a 2022 Indian Malayalam-language masala 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.