Malayalam cinema fans were treated to a heartwarming, nostalgic moment in the United States as Mohanlal reunited with actress Asha Jayaram after nearly four decades. The special meeting took place during the Kilukkam 25 stage show in Detroit, where a large gathering of Malayalis witnessed the memorable reunion. For admirers of the 1986 Malayalam classic Onnu Muthal Poojyam Vare, the moment carried deep emotional value. The film remains one of the most cherished poetic dramas in Malayalam cinema and marked Asha’s acting debut. In the film, Asha played Aleena, while Mohanlal appeared in the climax in the memorable role of ‘Telephone Uncle’.
Ahead of meeting Mohanlal on stage, Asha became emotional in a video that later went viral on social media. She was heard saying that after forty years, she was finally going to meet Mohanlal again, adding that she could hardly believe it. When Mohanlal walked onto the stage, the audience erupted in cheers. Fans enthusiastically sang ‘Mundumadakki Lalettan, Meeshapirichu Lalettan...’, turning the venue into a celebration of the superstar. Mohanlal, visibly touched by the reception, shared his own feelings with the crowd and said seeing everyone there made him deeply nostalgic.
Later, Asha shared a carousel post on Instagram featuring photographs and videos from the event. In her caption, she wrote that she was “on cloud nine” after the show and thanked the Detroit Malayalee community for bringing Mohanlal to their city. She also described him as not only a powerhouse talent but a lovely human being, adding that it was fascinating to see how he values colleagues from as far back as forty years ago. She further thanked Mohanlal, Stephen Devassy and team, Manoj K Jayan and Jyotsna Radhakrishnan.
Written and directed by Raghunath Paleri, Onnu Muthal Poojyam Vare continues to hold a special place among Malayalam film lovers for its moving story of a mother and daughter who form an unusual bond with a stranger through telephone conversations. The film is often regarded as one of the notable experimental works of its time. Geetu Mohandas, who is currently helming Yash's Toxic, played the daughter.
After Onnu Muthal Poojyam Vare, Asha went on to appear in films such as Thaniyavarthanam, Isabella, Ottayal Pattalam and Yathrayude Anthyam. She later stepped away from films and settled in the United States. She now works as a Digital Marketing Manager and is also active in the arts, teaching Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam in Southeast Michigan.