Veteran Malayalam actor Mohanlal has been conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023, India’s highest recognition in cinema. President Droupadi Murmu presented the award to him at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony in New Delhi on Tuesday. Mohanlal, who has acted in more than 400 films across languages in a career spanning over four decades, becomes the youngest recipient of the award and only the second Malayali after filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan to be honoured.
Addressing the gathering at Vigyan Bhawan, the Drishyam actor said he accepted the award not just for himself but for Malayalam cinema as a whole. “As a representative of the Malayalam film industry, I am deeply humbled to be the youngest recipient, and only the second ever from the state, to be bestowed with this national recognition. This moment is not mine alone. It belongs to the entire Malayalam cinema fraternity,” he said.
Mohanlal described the recognition as a responsibility as much as an honour. “To be honest, I never dared to dream of this moment, not even in my wildest dreams. And so, this is not a dream come true. This is something far greater. It is magical. It is sacred. It roots me more deeply in gratitude and responsibility.” The actor paid tribute to his predecessors and the audience. “I dedicate it to the legendary masters of Malayalam cinema, past and present, to the vibrant industry, and to the discerning, intelligent audience of Kerala, who have nurtured our art with love and insight.”
Quoting legendary Malayalam poet, social reformer and philosopher Kumaran Asan, Mohanlal added, “This flower did not merely fall into the dust. It lived a life of beauty. Let this moment be a tribute to all those who bloomed with brilliance and faded with grace, leaving behind a fragrance that continues to inspire.” He closed his speech with a pledge: “Cinema is the heartbeat of my soul. This honour strengthens my resolve and deepens my commitment to continue with sincerity, passion and purpose.”
Earlier in the evening, organisers welcomed Mohanlal with the words: “This evening belongs to legends, and especially to Padma Bhushan Sri Mohanlal, who is honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. For more than four decades, he has been a soldier, poet, neighbour, king on screen, yet, in the hearts of millions, he has always remained Lalettan.”
Mohanlal has previously been honoured with the Padma Shri in 2001 and Padma Bhushan in 2019. On the work front, the actor's multilingual epic Vrusshabha is slated for a Diwali release on October 16. His latest film Hridayapoorvam will have its digital premiere on September 26, and he recently began filming the much-anticipated Drishyam 3 on Monday.
Other major winners at the 71st National Film Awards include Shah Rukh Khan, who bagged his first career Best Actor award for Jawan, sharing the honour with Vikrant Massey for 12th Fail, which is also the Best Feature Film. Rani Mukerji won Best Actress for her performance in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway.
Vijayaraghavan won the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance in Pookkaalam, sharing the honour with MS Bhaskar for Parking. Urvashi secured the Best Supporting Actress award for her role as Leelamma in Christo Tomy’s Ullozhukku, which was also named the Best Malayalam Feature Film.