Mohanlal’s acceptance speech after receiving this year’s prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest honor in cinema, culminated with the heartfelt line: *“Ente athmavinte spandhanam aanu cinema,”* which translates to *“Cinema is the heartbeat of my soul.”* This succinctly represents a man who has lived, breathed, and devoted himself to cinema for nearly five decades.
At 65, the veteran actor is still busy delivering masterclass performances while rewriting box office records—a hallmark of his illustrious career. Mohanlal is a rare superstar who can stir movie halls into frenzy with a casual moustache twirl and, at the same time, deeply move millions with a misty eye, quivering lip, and trembling hands. Some say even his fingers act. When asked about this, Mohanlal would simply chuckle, lower his shoulders even more, and say, “It is all just magic.”
When news broke that Mohanlal had been bestowed with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, social media buzzed with netizens naming some of his best works. Several pointed to *Sadayam* (1992), where he beautifully portrayed extreme paranoia. Others highlighted his anguished Kathakali artist in *Vanaprastham* (1999) as a career-defining role. Many praised his heart-wrenching representation of an Alzheimer’s patient in *Thanmathra* (2005). Equally celebrated were his emotional performances throughout the dramas of the 80s and 90s and his impeccable comic timing in films that have become an intrinsic part of Malayali culture.
But how did Mohanlal manage to deliver such diverse, powerful performances? The truth is—no one really knows. Not even he does. It is unbelievable how this shy, reticent man, who finds it hard to articulate his thoughts, effortlessly transforms into larger-than-life alpha characters or the relatable everyman we recognize in ourselves. Magic, perhaps?
Mohanlal is the first actor from Kerala to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. The last recipient from the state was the legendary filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan. By achieving this honor, Mohanlal has solidified his status as one of the biggest cultural ambassadors of Kerala and its cinematic heritage.
From his humble beginnings in the streets of Thiruvananthapuram to standing tall as a national icon, Mohanlal has had the privilege of sharing the screen with some of the greatest actors. Even amid debates over why he was chosen over other deserving names, his peers—Mammootty, Kamal Haasan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Chiranjeevi—were among the first to celebrate his achievement.
That’s one of Mohanlal’s defining traits: he never brags or wallows in his achievements. Yet, he is universally adored and respected across the film industry. He encapsulates his success, creative process, adulation, and even his fan following with two simple words: *Blessing. Magic.*
There has been some speculation attempting to link the award to Mohanlal’s political affiliations, but his legacy speaks far louder than such noise. His monumental contributions to cinema have earned him multiple National and State film awards, two of India’s highest civilian honors, and the unique distinction of being conferred the title of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army.
There is very little left for him to accomplish. When a reporter asked what’s next for a man who seems to have achieved everything, he simply said, “I hope I get the chance to continue acting.”
Across a career spanning multiple languages and genres, Mohanlal has played nearly every kind of role imaginable—super cops, gangsters, warriors. But perhaps what he does best, and what audiences love most, is his “common man” avatar. He truly personifies the everyday Malayali. Every time he sheds his larger-than-life image to become a *naatinpuram Malayali,* the audience embraces him wholeheartedly.
And what does winning the Dadasaheb Phalke Award mean to a man who has done it all? In the words of Mammootty, his co-architect of a defining era in Malayalam cinema, it is “a truly deserving crown—a *Kireedam* (crown) for Kerala’s slanting wonder.”
https://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2025/Sep/28/mohanlal-crowning-the-magician