As congratulatory messages continue to pour in for Mohanlal on being named the recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan has penned a heartfelt note to his longtime friend and collaborator.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Priyadarshan wrote, “Heartfelt congratulations to my dearest friend Lal on being honoured with the #DadasahebPhalkeAward. No one deserves this recognition more. Proud to see the nation celebrate your extraordinary talent. Grateful to the Jury for recognising and honouring a most deserving legend.”

Priyadarshan and Mohanlal’s association is one of the most celebrated partnerships in Malayalam cinema. Their collaborations from the 1980s and 1990s include several defining blockbusters such as Chithram, Vandanam, Kilukkam, Thenmavin Kombath and Chandralekha. The filmmaker was also assistant director on Thiranottam, the unreleased 1978 film that marked Mohanlal’s first appearance on screen. Over the decades, the duo went on to work together in more than 40 films, most recently the 2021 period drama Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea.

Currently filming Haiwaan, starring Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar, Priyadarshan had earlier shared that his milestone 100th directorial will once again bring him and Mohanlal together.

Mohanlal becomes only the second Malayali after Adoor Gopalakrishnan to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest recognition in cinema. The award will be presented at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony in New Delhi on September 23.