Mohanlal
Why is Mohanlal famous?
When did Mohanlal make his on-screen debut?
What rank does Mohanlal hold in the Indian Territorial Army?
What awards has Mohanlal received?
News •
From a tormented kathakali exponent to a man with Alzheimer disease, Indian superstar Mohanlal has lived countless lives on-screen. Described by fans as the “complete actor,” he is celebrated not only for starring in many of Malayalam cinema’s most memorable films but also for his ability to portray a wide range of characters and emotional arcs. Particularly popular in his native Kerala, Mohanlal commands respect across the other southern states and in Bollywood. Affectionately called Lalettan (Malayalam: “Brother Lal”), he has appeared in more than 350 movies in a career spanning more than four decades and continues to dominate the box office. Along with his contemporary Mammootty, he is considered one of the mainstays of Malayalam cinema and is credited with expanding its reach.
Early life
- Birth date: May 21, 1960
- Birthplace: Elanthoor, Kerala, India
- Family: Married Suchitra Balaji in 1988; the couple have two children, Pranav, an actor, and Vismaya.
- Notable films: Nadodikkattu (1987), Kireedam (1989), Bharatham (1991), Manichitrathazhu (1993), Kaalapani (1996), Vanaprastham: The Last Dance (1999), Narasimham (2000), Thanmathra (2005), and Drishyam (2013)
Mohanlal Viswanathan was born to Viswanathan Nair and Santhakumari in present-day Pathanamthitta district, Kerala. His family later moved to Thiruvananthapuram, where he spent most of his childhood and completed his schooling. He received a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Mahatma Gandhi College in the same city.
Debut
Mohanlal made his on-screen debut as a villain in Manjil Virinja Pookkal (1980; “The Flowers That Bloomed in the Snow”), an unconventional start for the man who would become one of Malayalam cinema’s greatest romantic heroes. In the early 1980s Mohanlal was cast in several lead and supporting roles in films such as Sandhyakku Virinja Poovu (1983; “The Flower That Bloomed at Twilight”), Visa (1983), Poochakkoru Mookkuthi (1984; “A Nose Ring for the Cat”), and Boeing Boeing (1985).
Quintessential Mohanlal: Breakthrough and superstardom
The phrase “salt mango tree” may make little sense at first glance, yet it is one of the most iconic pop culture references in Kerala. In the 1986 film Doore Doore Oru Koodu Kootam (“Let’s Build a Nest Far, Far Away”) Mohanlal’s character, who poses as a schoolteacher, panics after a student asks him for the English translation of uppumaavu (also called upma; a popular breakfast in many parts of India). Flustered and unsure, he blurts out “salt mango tree,” a hilariously incorrect translation based on a misunderstanding of the word maavu, which can mean either “flour” or “mango tree” in Malayalam. Mohanlal’s comical rendering of uppumaavu in English—the correct translation is “salted flour”—made the scene an instant hit. The phrase eventually became a pop culture staple, inspiring restaurants and other businesses. There is even a 2015 film titled Salt Mango Tree.
The year 1986 is when Mohanlal established himself as a household name throughout Kerala. He portrayed a formidable and unyielding underworld don named Vincent Gomas in the action thriller Rajavinte Makan (“The King’s Son”), considered his breakthrough. In Doore Doore Oru Koodu Kootam (“Let’s Build a Nest Far, Far Away”) he played a clever drifter who poses as a teacher to earn a living but gradually transforms into an empathetic educator. The movie was a social commentary on the state of education in Kerala’s government-run schools. In fact, many of his films dealt with social issues. For instance, in Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam (“Peace for the Good-Hearted”) Mohanlal played a debt-ridden landlord who gets caught in a bitter but humorous dispute with his tenants. The film tackled the themes of debt burden and housing insecurity, among others. In T.P. Balagopalan M.A. he starred as the titular character, an underpaid youth navigating the pressures of career, family, and love.
In the late 1980s Mohanlal performed in diverse roles that elevated him to superstardom. The 1987 blockbuster Nadodikkattu (“The Wandering Wind”) featured him alongside renowned actor Sreenivasan as Dasan and Vijayan, respectively, two unemployed young men duped by a swindler who promises to ship them to Dubai but instead leaves them stranded on the shores of Chennai. The duo’s misery turns to fortune as they accidentally become detectives following a series of hilarious misadventures. Nadodikkattu became so popular that it spawned two sequels: Pattanapravesham (1988; “Entering the City”) and Akkare Akkare Akkare (1990; “Far, Far Away”). In Irupatham Noottandu (1987; “Twentieth Century”) Mohanlal played a charismatic gangster named Sagar Alias Jacky, a character that achieved cult status among his fans. More than two decades later he reprised the role in Sagar Alias Jacky: Reloaded (2009).
Often cited as one of his greatest films, Kireedam (1989; “Crown”) saw Mohanlal play the tragic character Sethumadhavan, an ordinary man whose dreams of becoming a police officer are torn asunder by fate. What follows is Sethumadhavan’s heart-wrenching, unavoidable descent into despair and violence. Mohanlal’s performance earned him a special mention at the 1990 National Film Awards.
Mohanlal’s creative range extends beyond the screen. He is a trained magician and performed a live magic show in Thiruvananthapuram in 2014. He holds an honorary black belt in tae kwon do, a Korean martial art, and was a wrestling champion during his time at college. In 2009 the Indian Army granted him the honorary title of lieutenant colonel in the Territorial Army.
In the 1990s Mohanlal further cemented his status as an actor who could take on multiple roles. He played a quiet, brooding man seeking to avenge his wife’s murder in Thazhvaram (1990; “The Valley”) and a Carnatic singer in Bharatham (1991), a role for which he won the 1991 National Film Award for best actor and that Forbes India magazine called one of the “25 greatest acting performances in India.” He portrayed a bharatanatyam dancer in Kamaladalam (1992; “Lotus Petal”) and a death row inmate haunted by his past in Sadayam (1992; “Mercifully”), one of his darkest performances. His performance as a psychiatrist in the psychological thriller Manichitrathazhu (1993; “The Ornate Lock”) received wide praise.
Mohanlal has hosted the reality television show Bigg Boss Malayalam since its first season aired in 2018.
In 1996 Mohanlal played a prisoner in the Cellular Jail of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the film Kaalapani (“Black Water”). Set during the Indian Independence Movement, the film featured an ensemble cast, including acclaimed actors such as Prabhu Ganesan, Tabu, and Amrish Puri. The following year Mohanlal and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan starred in the Tamil film Iruvar (“The Duo”), directed by Mani Ratnam; the film was inspired by the lives of the Tamil Nadu chief ministers M.G. Ramachandran and Jayaram Jayalalithaa. In the fantasy thriller Guru (1997; “Teacher”) Mohanlal played a man trapped in a world where everyone except him is blind. This was the first Malayalam film submitted by India for the Academy Award for best international feature film (previously best foreign-language film). In 1999 he delivered a critically acclaimed performance as a “lower caste” kathakali artiste in Vanaprastham: The Last Dance. The movie, which was screened at that year’s Cannes film festival, dealt with the theme of caste-based discrimination in Kerala. Mohanlal won the National Film Award for best actor for his performance.
Action hero and endearing family man
Mohanlal has starred in several non-Malayalam films. Some of the notable ones include:
- Iruvar (1997; “The Duo”): Directed by Mani Ratnam, this Tamil film features Mohanlal and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
- Company (2001): In this Hindi action film, directed by Ram Gopal Varma, Mohanlal stars alongside acclaimed actors Ajay Devgn, Manisha Koirala, and Vivek Oberoi.
- Unnaipol Oruvan (2009; “Someone Like You”): Mohanlal and Kamal Haasan share the screen in this Tamil thriller.
- Janatha Garage (2016; “People’s Garage”): Mohanlal stars in this Telugu drama with N.T. Rama Rao, Jr.
The 2000s and 2010s saw Mohanlal appear in many action thrillers and family dramas. He portrayed calculating gangsters, no-nonsense cops, and larger-than-life heroes in films such as Narasimham (2000; “The Man Lion”), Ravanaprabhu (2001; “Lord Ravana”), Natturajavu (2004; “King of the Land”), Naran (2005; “Man”), Grandmaster (2012), Pulimurugan (2016; “Tiger Murugan”), and Lucifer (2019). Both Pulimurugan and Lucifer broke several box office records, ranking among the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.
Mohanlal also starred in a number of dramas, ranging from lighthearted comedies to films that explored the struggles of ordinary families. Popular films include Balettan (2003; “Brother Balan”), Udayananu Tharam (2005; “Udayan Is the Star”), Chota Mumbai (2007; “Little Mumbai”), Run Baby Run (2012), and Velipadinte Pusthakam (2017; “The Book of Revelation”). In the award-winning Thanmathra (2005; “Molecule”) Mohanlal played Ramesan Nair, a cheerful family man whose world slowly collapses after being diagnosed with Alzheimer disease. In Drishyam (2013; “Visual”) he delivered a powerful performance as Georgekutty, a father who goes to extraordinary lengths to cover up an accidental death to protect his family. The movie was a commercial success and remade in several Indian languages, including Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.
2020s
Amid the rise of a new generation of actors, such as Prithviraj Sukumaran and Fahadh Faasil, and the evolving landscape of Malayalam cinema, Mohanlal has continued to deliver standout performances. One of his most successful films of the decade was Drishyam 2 (2021), which continued Georgekutty’s saga. In 2023 he appeared briefly in the Tamil film Jailer, starring Rajinikanth.
In 2025 Mohanlal starred in the blockbuster L2: Empuraan, the sequel to Lucifer. L2: Empuraan became the highest-grossing Malayalam film at the time. That year he also starred in the thriller Thudarum (“To Be Continued”) and the drama Hridayapoorvam (“Wholeheartedly”), which was also a huge success.
Legacy
There is often an air of excitement across Kerala whenever a new film starring Mohanlal is released. Enthusiastic fans often take to the streets in celebration in many parts of the state, many theaters are decked with huge garlanded cutouts of the actor, and opening-day tickets are often sold out within minutes. He is widely regarded as a cultural ambassador of Malayalam cinema to India and the world.
Mohanlal has received several national and state awards for his roles over the years. He won the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award, in 2001 and the Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian award, in 2019. In 2025 he was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2023, the highest Indian cinematic honor. Accepting the award, Mohanlal said, “Ente atmavinte spandanam aanu cinema” (“Cinema is the heartbeat of my soul”).