Mohanlal is an Indian actor, producer, and singer who has starred in both blockbuster and art house films for independent filmmakers.[1] During his career, he has appeared in more than 320 feature films, primarily in Malayalam cinema but also in other languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.[2] In 1978, when he was 18, he started acting with a minor comedic role in the unreleased film Thiranottam, before making screen debut in 1980 as antagonist in the romance film Manjil Virinja Pookkal.[3] His portrayal of Narendran, a sadistic husband, received recognition and the film developed a cult status in Malayalam cinema.[4][5]Subsequently, Mohanlal was cast as the antagonist in many films. His first positive role was in Padayottam (1982), the first 70 mm film in Malayalam.[4] In 1984 he starred in Poochakkoru Mookkuthi, a comedy film whose success triggered a trend and popularised the genre in the 1980s.[6][7] In an early critically acclaimed performance, Mohanlal played an antihero in the I. V. Sasi-directed thriller Uyarangalil (1984).[8] In the same year, he co-founded Casino Films,[a] a motion picture production company which later produced his popular comedies Gandhinagar 2nd Street (1986) and Nadodikkattu (1987).[9]
As a playback singer, Mohanlal contributed his first song "Sindhoora Megham" to Onnanam Kunnil Oradi Kunnil (1985).[6] In 1986, he established a career record by starring in 34 films in one year.[2] Also in 1986, he became the youngest winner for Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor at age 26 for the comedy drama T. P. Balagopalan M.A.,[6] a record he held until 2006.[10] The same year he co-founded Cheers Films, a second production company.[b] The Indian media named Mohanlal a "superstar" after the success of the crime drama Rajavinte Makan (1986).[12] In Irupatham Noottandu (1987), he portrayed mobster Sagar Alias Jacky — which became a cult figure in crime dramas ever since its release.[13] His tragicomedy Chithram (1988) ran continuously for 58 weeks in one theatre, a record still unbroken in Malayalam cinema.[14] In 1989, his portrayal of Sethumadhavan in Kireedam earned him a Special Jury Mention at the 37th National Film Awards.[15]
In 1990, Mohanlal founded his own film production company, Pranavam Arts.[6] Its debut, musical thriller His Highness Abdullah, garnered critical acclaim and became the year's highest-grossing film.[16] His second production, Bharatham (1991), earned him the National Film Award for Best Actor and Forbes India included it on its list of "25 Greatest Acting Performances in Indian Cinema".[17] His spiritual fantasy, Guru (1997), was the first Malayalam film submitted by India for the American Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.[18] In 1997, he received critical praise for his first leading role in a non-Malayalam film—the Mani Ratnam-directed Tamil film Iruvar.[19]Vanaprastham, which was screened at the Un Certain Regard section in the 1999 Cannes Film Festival, earned him the National Film Awards for Best Actor and Best Film (Producer).[14][20]
In 2000, Mohanlal's action drama, Narasimham, became the highest-grossing Malayalam film at the time. His character Induchoodan has since attracted a cult following.[21]In 2001, he portrayed Karna in his theatrical debut, Karnabharam, directed by Kavalam Narayana Panicker.[22] In 2003, he earned an International Indian Film Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the Bollywood film Company.[23] In 2005, he starred in the Bejoy Nambiar-directed short silent film Reflections.[24] His critically acclaimed portrayal of an Alzhiemers patient in Thanmathra (2005) earned him an honorary award from the Indian Medical Association.[25] The Indian Territorial Army bestowed him with the honorary rank of lieutenant colonel for his performance as Major Mahadevan in the war films Keerthi Chakra (2006) and its sequel Kurukshetra (2008).[26] In 2008, he starred in Twenty:20, a landmark film which starred almost all actors in the guild of Malayalam film actors – AMMA.[27] Drishyam (2013), in which he portrayed an ordinary man, became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time.[28][29] In 2016, he acted in the title role in the action film Pulimurugan, it became the highest-grossing Malayalam film ever and is the first Malayalam film to
Early life[edit]
Mohanlal Viswanathan Nair was born on 21 May 1960 in the Elanthoor village of Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, at his maternal house, as the youngest child of Viswanathan Nair, a former bureaucrat and law secretary with the Kerala Government, and Santhakumari.[12] He grew up at Mudavanmugal, Poojappura, at his paternal house, in Thiruvananthapuram. Mohanlal studied at Model School, Thiruvananthapuram, and graduated with a B.Com. from Mahatma Gandhi College in Thiruvananthapuram.[13][14] Mohanlal acting role was when he was in sixth grade for a stage play called Computer Boy in which he played a ninety-year-old person.[15]
Film career[edit]
Mohanlal has acted in over 320 Malayalam films and produced or co-produced over 35 films. His acting credits also include some Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada films. He has acted in 4 professional plays. He has sung over 30 songs, most of them for the films he acted in.
Early years (1978–85)[edit]
Mohanlal made his acting debut in 1978 with the film Thiranottam which was produced and made by Mohanlal and his friends—Maniyan Pilla Raju, Suresh Kumar, Unni, Priyadarshan, Ravi Kumar and few others. Mohanlal played Kuttappan, a mentally disabled servant. Due to some issues in censorship, the film was not released in time, it took 25 years to release the film.[5]
In 1980, Mohanlal was cast in the lead antagonist role in Manjil Virinja Pookkal – the directorial debut of Fazil. The film became a major success.[17] Mohanlal's friends had sent his application in response to an advertisement released by Navodaya Studio.[18] He was auditioned for the role in front of a panel that included professional directors; displeased with his appearance, two of them gave him poor marks but Fazil and Jijo Appachan gave him 90 and 95 marks out of 100.[19] In an interview with Reader's Digest in 2004, Mohanlal said that his looks as a young man might have fit the villain's image.[20]
By 1983, Mohanlal was credited in more than 25 feature films, most of it had him playing negative roles.[20] Films such as Ente Mohangal Poovaninju, Iniyengilum, Visa, Attakkalasham, Kaliyil Alpam Karyam, Ente Mamattukkuttiyammakku, Engane Nee Marakkum, Unaru, and Sreekrishna Parunthu changed his villain image[vague]. Through Sasikumar's Ivide Thudangunnu, he became a successful hero with a "good heart". Mohanlal played his first comedic lead role in an ensemble cast in the 1984 comedy Poochakkoru Mookkuthi directed by Priyadarshan, as a young man in love with a girl whom he mistakenly believes to be rich.[21] It also marked the beginning of the Mohanlal-Priyadarshan duo who As of 2016 have worked together in 44 films.[22]
In 1985, he recorded a song for the film Onnanam Kunnil Oradi Kunnil.[21] Uyarangalil, Nokketha Doorathu Kannum Nattu, Boeing Boeing, and Aram + Aram = Kinnaram were some of his films in this period.
1986–2000[edit]
During this period, Mohanlal played very different roles in films "made by the great masters" like G. Aravindan, Hariharan, M. T. Vasudevan Nair, Padmarajan, Bharathan, and Lohithadas.[23] Mohanlal, along with the actor and scriptwriter Sreenivasan, who played his sidekick in several films, showcased the angst of unemployed, educated Malayali youth forced to adapt to hostile environments in many realistic social satires,[24] some of which were written by Sreenivasan himself.[25]
In 1986, he starred in T. P. Balagopalan M.A., directed by Sathyan Anthikad, for which he received his first Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor.[26] He portrayed an unemployed young who shoulders the responsibility of his family. His performance in Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam as a harassed house-owner won him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Malayalam) in the same year. Mohanlal was dubbed as the new Malayalam superstar after the box-office success of Rajavinte Makan (1986) in which he played an underworld don, Vincent Gomez. He also starred in the tragedy Thalavattom, playing Vinod, a young man who becomes mentally ill upon witnessing his girlfriend's death. He played the role of Solomon in Padmarajan's Namukku Parkkan Munthirithoppukal. Mohanlal's association with Padmarajan was very well noted, because their films told stories which were well and truly ahead of their times and broke many conventional stereotypes prevailing during that time in Malayalam film industry. In 1986 alone, Mohanlal appeared in 36 Malayalam films.[23]
The following year, Mohanlal starred with Sreenivasan and Shobana in the Sathyan Anthikad comedy, Nadodikkattu, which became a box-office success. Mohanlal and Sreenivasan reprised their roles as the detectives Dasan and Vijayan respectively in its sequels, Pattanapravesham (1988) and Akkare Akkare Akkare (1990). Thoovanathumbikal, directed by Padmarajan, in which he portrayed a person torn between his twin love interests, broke many stereotypes in Indian films,[24][27] such as, the leading man falling in love with a second woman immediately after he is rejected by the first. The romantic comedy, Chithram, released in 1988, played for 366 days in a theatre, becoming the longest running Malayalam film.[21] Mohanlal won a Kerala State Special Jury Award in 1988 for his acting in Padamudra, Aryan, Vellanakalude Nadu, Ulsavapittennu, and Chithram.[26]
In 1989, the combination of writer Lohitha Das and director Sibi Malayil created the character Sethu Madhavan, who dreams of becoming a police officer but ends up as a criminal, in the tragedy Kireedam, the role earned Mohanlal a National Film Special Jury Mention.[21] Mohanlal later recalled that his portrayal of Sethumadhavan's mental agony, commended as a natural performance, was spontaneous and that he "did what Sethumadhavan, my character, would have done in such a situation", adding that acting was "akin to entering another person's body."[23] In the same year, he acted in a film which became a commercial success, Varavelpu, which tells the story of a man who earned money working in Gulf and came back home to enjoy his life with family. He bought a bus, which will eventually gets him into trouble. The former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, mentioned the film as an example for ignorance by Kerala towards global economic changes during the inauguration of Global Investor Meet held at Kochi on 18 January 2003.[28][29] In 1989, he starred in another one of Padmarajan's movies, Season.
In the early 1990s, Mohanlal acted in a number of commercial films, such as His Highness Abdullah, Midhunam, and No.20 Madras Mail. His Highness Abdullah was the first independent production of Mohanlal, under his company, Pranavam Arts International. Mohanlal appeared in Bharathan's Thazhvaram in 1990, as a widower seeking revenge for the murder of his wife by his most trusted friend. His romantic comedy Kilukkam in 1991 won him a State Film Award for Best Actor. The film is considered as one of the greatest comedy films of all time in Malayalam. It also became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the time. In 1991, Mohanlal produced and starred in Bharatham which is interpreted as a modern-day adaptation of the Ramayana from Bharath's perspective. The film was a critical and commercial success, his role as a Carnatic singer who is burdened by a jealous brother earned him the National Film Award - Special Jury Mention for that year.[30][31] His role in Bharatham was listed among the "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian cinema" by Forbes India on the occasion of celebrating 100 years of Indian Cinema.[32] He portrayed a Bharatanatyam dancer in Kamaladalam(1992). He took help from his choreographer and his co-actors and professional dancers Vineeth and Monisha for enacting the dance scenes.[23]Rajashilpi, Sadayam, Yoddha, and Vietnam Colony were the other films released in 1992. The drama Devaasuram (1993), written by Ranjith and directed by I. V. Sasi, was one of Mohanlal's most successful films and is regarded as a cult classic.[30]
In 1994, Mohanlal starred in the lead role as Dr. Sunny Joseph in Fazil directed cult classic Manichitrathazhu, as a psychiatrist. Spadikam was a 1995 work for which he won his third Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor and fifth Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Malayalam) for his portrayal of Thomas "Aadu Thoma" Chacko, a young man who becomes a thug, estranged from his father, upon failing to meet the latter's high expectations. In 1996, Mohanlal starred in Priyadarshan's Kaalapani, an epic film about the prisoners in the Cellular Jail of Port Blair and Lohithadas's Kanmadam (1998). He played the lead role in Guru directed by Rajiv Anchal in 1997. The film was chosen as India's official entry to the Oscars to be considered for nomination in the Best Foreign Language Film category for 1997.
Mohanlal's acted in his first non-Malayalam film in 1997, in the Tamil biographical film Iruvar directed by Mani Ratnam.[33] The film, in which Mohanlal depicted an actor who turns politician (based on the life of M. G. Ramachandran), was a critical success and won many awards including the Best Film award at the Belgrade International Film Festival and two National Film Awards.[34][35] In 1998, he produced and starred in Harikrishnans co-starring Mammootty and Juhi Chawla. The film was a commercial success but was not well received by critics.[36] The film had duel climaxes which were screened in different regions based on whether Mohanlal or Mammootty was more popular there determined by their religion.[37] This, however, became controversial when lawsuits were filed claiming that prints exhibited in Hindu-dominated areas showed Mohanlal marrying the heroine, whereas the ones in Muslim-dominated areas showed Mammootty marrying her. The major case was that the film showed uncensored scenes, the submitted cut of the film to the Central Board of Film Certification was the Mohanlal version. Hence they were forced to remove the Mammootty version from theatres, replacing it with the original. Though in television premieres it still shows both film versions alternatively.[38]
Mohanlal depicted a Kathakali artist whose personal life is a tragedy in the 1999 Indo-French period drama Vanaprastham directed by Shaji N. Karun and produced by Mohanlal. It won him the second National Award for Best Actor and was the first film that got him international recognition by screening in various Film festivals. The film was selected for the competitive section at the Cannes Film Festival and his performance was critically acclaimed. It also earned him his fourth Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor, second National Film Award for Best Actor and sixth Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Malayalam).[20][39][40] Vanaprastham was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the AFI Fest.[41] Vanaprastham was screened in retrospective, during the 2014 International Film Festival of India in the Celebrating Dance in Indian Cinema section.[42]
2000–09[edit]
In 2000, Mohanlal starred in Narasimham, playing a rogue with a good heart.[43] It became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time.[44] In the next two years, Mohanlal was typecasted in similar larger-than-life action hero roles in films such as Ravanaprabhu (2001), Praja (2001), Onnaman (2002), Thandavam (2002), and Chathurangam (2002). Except for Ravanaprabhu, these films were widely criticised for their repetitive plots, lewd dialogues, punch lines and male chauvinistic outlook.[44][45][46] A critic from The New Indian Express wrote, "The Narasimham hangover is terrifically strong and it has, at least for the moment, killed the prospects of good films. I don't see any other reason for the failure of well made female-oriented films like Mazha and Madhuranombarakkattu".[44]
In 2002, Mohanlal played the role of Sreenivasan IPS, a Mumbai police officer,[20] in his first Bollywood film, Company, which introduced him to the Hindi-speaking audience in India and for which he won the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) and Star Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor.[47][48] The film dealt with the real-life story of two underworld dons who ruled Mumbai (played by Ajay Devgn and Vivek Oberoi). Mohanlal's performance was well received. The Hindu noted that the actor is "at his natural best" and "does not look stifled or anxious as other South Indian stars do when they appear in a Hindi movie for the first time".[49] In a 2010 online poll by Hindifilmnews.com, Mohanlal's performance in Company was chosen "The Finest Performance of a Bollywood Actor in the Last Decade (2001–2010)". He was No. 1 in the audiences' list and maintained No. 6 in the critics' list.[50]
The following year, Mohanlal, trying to change his action hero image,[51] returned to comedic roles with Kilichundan Mampazham, Balettan, Hariharan Pillai Happy Aanu and Mr. Brahmachari. Kilichundan Mampazham, promoted as a comeback vehicle for the actor, received good reviews and box-office collection.[52][53] Balettan, directed by V. M. Vinu, was also a commercial success.[54] Mohanlal played the role of Athanipparambil Balachandran, a bank employee always willing to lend a helping hand to others, who is forced to hide many secrets after his father's death leading to his family's mistrust.[55] In 2004, Natturajavu was his only commercial success and Mambazhakkalam became a hit.[56]
Mohanlal appeared in the 2005 black comedy Udayananu Tharam as an aspiring film director. It was well received by critics and performed well even in places where Malayalam films do not run in regular shows, like Vadodara, Rajkot, Pune and Ahmedabad.[25] In the same year, he appeared in director Blessy's second film Thanmathra, a film that tells the story of an individual suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The film received positive reviews and Mohanlal's performance was highly praised by critics.[57]Mohanlal won his fifth Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor and seventh Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his performance; his character does not speak in the second half of the film.[57][58][59]
In 2006, he worked with the director Sathyan Anthikkad in Rasathanthram, a family drama. Mohanlal also acted in Kirtichakra by director Major Ravi, in which he plays the role of an Indian Army officer, Major Mahadevan. The film was shot in Kashmir, and was a notable commercial success.[60] A dubbed Tamil version of the film was released in Tamil Nadu as Aran, but Mohanlal disassociated himself with the film since his voice was not used, stating that "I prefer to speak for my role in the film."[61] Mohanlal also acted in the sequels Kurukshetra (2008) and Kandahar (2010) in Major Mahadevan series. In 2009 the Indian government conferred him with the honorary title of Lieutenant colonel from Indian Territorial Army.[62]
In 2007, Mohanlal won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in Paradesi directed by P. T. Kunju Muhammed. Sify.com stated that "Mohanlal is mesmerising and reinvents the idiom of acting once more with feeling." His July release Hallo became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year.[63][64] In August that year, he appeared in his second Bollywood film, Aag (also called Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag), a remake of the Bollywood classic Sholay (1975). Mohanlal reprised the role played by Sanjeev Kumar from the original.[65] In 2008, Mohanlal did the lead role in the multi-star film Twenty:20 and in 2009 he co-starred with Kamal Haasan in the Tamil film Unnaipol Oruvan. His last film of the year Evidam Swargamanu was directed by Rosshan Andrrews.
2010–present[edit]
In 2010, he acted in five films, the first being Janakan, a crime thriller which he co-starred with Suresh Gopi, written by S. N Swamy, he played Adv. Surya Narayanan who encounters some runaway suspects came for justice. Alexander the Great directed by Murali Nagavally was a comical racy entertainer released in May. Oru Naal Varum directed by T. K Rajeev Kumar, scripted by Sreenivasan and produced by Maniyanpilla Raju, was a social satire about the corruption in India. It reunited the much-adored classic combo of Mohanlal-Sreenivasan onscreen. His next film was Shikkar a dark revenge thriller directed by M. Padmakumar, in which he played a lorry driver who is haunted by his past. The film topped at the Ramzan box-office.[66] Followed in the end was Kandahar directed by Major Ravi, a war film based on the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814 in 1999, Mohanlal reprised the role of Major Mahadevan in the film. It was the third installment in the Major Mahadevan film series, and the debut Malayalam film of Amitabh Bachan.
His first release in 2011 was the multi-starrer Christian Brothers, an action drama directed by Joshiy and scripted by Udayakrishna-Siby K. Thomas, he co-starred with Suresh Gopi, Dileep, and Sarath Kumar. Released in March worldwide on 300 screens, which was the largest release for a Malayalam film at the time.[67] This racy film was a commercial success and one of the top grossing Malayalam film of the year.[68] His Vishu (April) release was China Town, another multi-starrer he co-starred with Jayaram and Dileep was a comedy film directed by Rafi Mecartin. Despite of the mixed reviews, the film ran over 100 days and became one of the highest grossing Malayalam of the year.[69] He starred in Pranayam released in August, an off-beat romantic drama directed by Blessy. It was a love story between three aged characters played by Mohanlal, Anupam Kher, and Jayapradha. The film was highly acclaimed by the critics and Mohanlal's performance as Mathews was well appreciated.[70] His next film, Snehaveedu, was directed by Sathyan Anthikkadu,[71] a family film in the background of a village in Palakkad. For the first time, yesterday's actress Sheela shared screen space with Mohanlal, she played the role of his mother. Snehaveedu is credited as his 300th film.[72] The film was a hit.[73] His last in the year was Oru Marubhoomikkadha, directed by Priyadarshan, which was an action-comedy thriller entirely plotted in Middle East. It marked the return of Priyadarshan-Mohanlal-Mukesh combo of the late 1980s and 90s. The film was a superhit at the Christmas-New year box office.[74]
In 2012, he acted in six films. His first release was the much hyped big-budget romantic thriller film Casanovva, directed by Rosshan Andrrews and written by Bobby-Sanjay. He enacted the role of Casanova, a serial womaniser and the owner of Casanova's Eternal Spring – an international chain of flower boutiques. Later he appeared in a cameo role in the Bollywood movie Tezz, released in April directed by Priyadarshan. His next film was B. Unnikrishnan directorial Grandmaster, a neo-noir crime thriller about a cop who is forced to investigate a series of murders. Mohanlal's well tempered, calm and subdued acting was appreciated by the critics.[75] Produced by UTV Motion Pictures, it is the first Malayalam film to be released through Netflix, made available in the United States and Canada.[76] Spirit directed by Ranjith talked about the increasing habit of alcoholism in Kerala. The film was exempted from entertainment tax by the state government for creating social awareness in the society.[77] The film completed 125 days theatrical run in Kerala and became a commercial success.[78] Run Baby Run released during the Onam festival, was a comedy thriller directed by Joshiy. It featured news media as the background. The film was well appreciated by critics, remarking it as an example of a well crafted thriller.[79] It became one among the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year.[80] The year ended with Christmas release Karmayodha directed by Major Ravi, an action thriller in which he played Mad Maddy, an encounter specialist who is assigned to investigate the missing of a teenage school girl in Mumbai. The film dealt with the discrimination against women.
2013 was a remarkable year for Mohanlal, it was the year in which the all-time blockbuster of Malayalam film Drishyam released. His first film of the year was Lokpal, a vigilante thriller in which he played a vigilante nicknamed "Lokpal". It was directed by Joshiy and written by S. N. Swamy. Red Wine directed by Salam Bappu, was a non-linear investigation thriller based on a political murder. Ladies and Gentleman directed by Siddique was a romantic comedy film on the backdrop of IT companies. Geethaanjali, a horror thriller directed by Priyadarsan was a spin-off of Malayalam classic film Manichitrathazhu, he reprised the role of Dr. Sunny from the original. His last release was Drishyam directed by Jeethu Joseph. It grossed ₹75 crore worldwide and became the highest-grossing Malayalam film ever, until 2016.[81]
In 2014, he starred in Tamil action-drama Jilla alongside Vijay, directed by R. T. Neason and produced by R. B. Choudary.[82][83] The film was a commercial success grossing over ₹85 crore worldwide,[84] and completed 100 days theatrical run in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.[85]Mohanlal's first Malayalam release of 2014 was Mr. Fraud, a heist film directed by B. Unnikrishnan. He appeared in an extended cameo role in his next, Koothara directed by Srinath Rajendran, a coming-of-age mystery film set in an untold period. He played a mysterious character in the experimental film, who at the end of the film revealed as a merman. His next was a comical political satire film Peruchazhi, written and directed by Arun Vaidyanathan. He played a young political kingmaker who is assigned to make a governor candidate to win the California state gubernatorial elections, there he uses standard Indian political gimmicks to win the election.
In 2015, first release was the Kannada film Mythri. His performance as the revenge seeking DRDO scientist Mahadev was well appreciated by the critics. His first Malayalam release was with a cameo appearance in Rasam. Ennum Eppozhum directed by Sathyan Anthikad was his first leading role in the year, co-starring Manju Warrier. The film was a success at the box office. It was followed by the action thriller Lailaa O Lailaa directed by Joshiy, it failed both critically and commercially. His next was Ranjith directorial thriller Loham. Though it met with the mixed critical reactions, the film was a commercial success and grossed ₹15 crore at the box office.[86] The revenge thriller Kanal was his last in the year. It also received mixed reviews from critics.
In 2016, Mohanlal had four releases, which had a combined gross collection of ₹378 crore worldwide, making him fourth (behind Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Salman Khan) among the top Indian actors with highest box office receipts in the year, and in top position among South Indian actors.[87] His first release in the year was the Telugu-Malayalam bilingual, Manamantha, (Vismayam in Malayalam), a family drama directed by Chandra Sekhar Yeleti. His following release was another Telugu film, Janatha Garage, an action drama directed by Koratala Siva. It became the highest-grossing Telugu film of 2016 and one of the highest-grossing Telugu films ever,[88] with a gross over ₹135 crores worldwide.[89] His first Malayalam release was Priyadarshan directed crime-thriller, Oppam, in which he played a blind man. The film became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of 2016 within its 2 weeks of theatrical run.[90] It crossed ₹50 crore mark at the box office within one-and-a-half month,[91] and grossed over ₹63 crore worldwide.[92] He acted as a hunter in his following release, the action film Pulimurugan. It became the highest-grossing Malayalam film ever and is the first Malayalam film to gross over ₹100 crore at the box office.[93] The film so far collected ₹152 crore worldwide.[87]
Other projects[edit]
Theatre[edit]
Mohanlal has acted in several amateur plays before entering into films. In 2001, he debuted in his first professional drama on the stage as Karna (a character in the Indian epic Mahabharata) in Karnabharam, a Sanskrit-language play directed by Kavalam Narayana Panicker. It was premiered at the Siri Fort Auditorium in New Delhi on 29 March 2001 as part of the National Theatre Festival of National School of Drama. The play depicts Karna's mental agony a day before the Kurukshetra War, as he thinks about his past and his faith. Mohanlal said, "You cannot compare Kavalam's play with the amateur plays I did. Though there are other characters in the play, the theme revolves around Karna. It is almost like a solo performance. Some of the scenes are really touching and challenging".[94] He acted without payment, saying "I performed for the joy of it ... for my love of our history".[20]
Kadhayattam was a presentation enacted by Mohanlal, depicting ten characters and situations from Malayalam literature. The play directed by T. K. Rajeev Kumar was premiered at the Senate Hall of University of Kerala in Thiruvananthapuram on 1 November 2003.[95] It was later staged in Kozhikode, Bangalore, Chennai, and Delhi. For the play, ten classic characters were selected from ten Malayalam novels written by O. Chandu Menon, C. V. Raman Pillai, S. K. Pottekkatt, Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, P. Kesavadev, Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, Uroob, O. V. Vijayan, M. Mukundan, and M. T. Vasudevan Nair, written over a 100-year period.[96] In 2008, Mohanlal performed in Chayamukhi along with Mukesh, written and directed by Prasanth Narayanan. Mohanlal portrayed the character of Bheeman and Mukesh played Keechakan, the characters from Mahabharata. It followed a play within a play narrative style and was premiered at the Lulu International Convention Centre in Thrissur on 12 March 2008.[97] Later staged in Thiruvananthapuram, Bangalore, Kollam, Kochi, and Kozhikode. A critic from The Hindu said, "Chayamukhi is, arguably, the finest work on Malayalam stage in recent times".[98]
He was also part of the ballet Maya Ravan directed by Shobana in 2008, by narrating the voice of Hanuman in the English ballet.[99] In 2015, he collaborated once again with Mukesh for Naga, but this time as the narrator. The play, based on Girish Karnad's Kannada play Nagamandala was directed by Suveeran. Naga was a combination of myth, superstition, fact, and fantasy. It was premiered at the Parish Hall of St. George Church, Kalady on 9 August 2015.[100]
Goodwill and brand ambassador[edit]
Mohanlal has been goodwill ambassador for the government and other nonprofit organisations mainly for public service ads and humanitarian causes. In March 2007, he was made the goodwill ambassador of AIDS awareness campaign by Kerala AIDS Control Society for which he acted in short awareness videos.[101] In October 2009, Mohanlal was appointed as the goodwill ambassador of Kerala State Athletics by the Kerala State Athletics Association.[102] In March 2010, Mohanlal accepted the plea of Department of Industries and Commerce of Government of Kerala to designate as the goodwill ambassador of Kerala handloom industries.[103] In July 2015, the Government of Kerala made him the Goodwill ambassador of "Subhayatra 2015", a project developed to create awareness about traffic rules.[104] He was appointed as the Goodwill ambassador of "Mrithasanjeevani" in September 2016, another project by Government of Kerala aimed at promoting organ donation in the state.[105]
He has also appeared in several television commercials and advertisements for Malabar Gold and Diamonds, Oceanus etc.[106] Mohanlal was the first movie star in India to endorse dhoti after he was made the brand ambassador of MCR in 2001. MCR manufactured 30,000 coloured dhotis featured in the film Narasimham (2000), which was a market success. He still continues to be the chief brand ambassador of MCR.[107] Mohanlal signed as the brand ambassador of Kanan Devan in 2002, a tea brand owned by the Tata Global Beverages. His contract was renewed after its rebranding in 2014.[108] In July 2010, LG Electronics India enlisted Mohanlal for the endorsement of the brand's Onam festival offers for Kerala customers lasting till September 2010.[109] In the same year, he signed as the brand ambassador in the state for Manappuram Finance Ltd., a non-banking financial company.[110] Mohanlal endorsed the coconut oil brand KLF Coconad in 2013.[111]
In September 2013, the direct-broadcast satellite television provider Tata Sky announced Mohanlal as its brand endorser for its Kerala market.[112] Mohanlal, along with Milkha Singh and P. T. Usha were the brand ambassadors of the event Kochi International Half Marathon in 2013, a half marathon organised by Kochi Municipal Corporation and Push Integrated Communication Pvt Ltd.,[113] he continued in its second edition in 2014, along with cricketer Harbhajan Singh.[114] In May 2016, as part of expanding its market to the South Indian audience, the entertainment company hotstar that provides platform for streaming media and video on demand, announced Mohanlal as its brand ambassador for its Malayalam contents. He endorsed its six-week multimedia campaign on television, print, outdoor, and digital medias.[115]
Musical band[edit]
In 2014 Mohanlal and music director Ratheesh Vegha formed the band 'Lalisom – The Lal Effect.'[116] The band's maiden show was at the 2015 National Games of India. The band drew flak from the social media for charging an amount of ₹1.60 crore for its first show, later the show was also criticised for poor performance which included lip-syncing to a previously recorded audio tape.[117][118][119] Following the criticism, Mohanlal announced that he would be returning the cost of ₹1.60 crore to the Government of Kerala.[120] But the government rejected Mohanlal's offer saying that the heat generated by the event was quite regrettable and the government’s morality would not allow it to take back the money. The government also said, Mohanlal had not personally benefited from the amount which he received since it was meant to meet the stage expenses and remuneration for the artistes. But Mohanlal did not take back the money he dispatched.[121] Many eminent personalities from film industry and other fields came to support Mohanlal.[122][123][124] The band's next performance is scheduled to contain 40 hit songs from Mohanlal films, performed using hologram technology.[125]
Business and other ventures[edit]
Mohanlal has started and associated with several business ventures related to film production and distribution, restaurants and packaged spices among others. He owns Maxlab Cinemas and Entertainments, a film distribution company. He started Vismayas Max, a film pre and post-production studio headquartered in Trivandrum and college for dubbing artists at KINFRA Film and Video Park, Trivandrum. The company's management was later taken over by Sohan Roy of Aries Group, which is now renamed to Aries Vismayas Max, Mohanlal continued as its brand ambassador. He has produced films under the production house, Pranavam Arts International.[126]
He owns restaurants in India and overseas, including a chain in Dubai called Mohanlal's Tastebuds, established in 2002, and a spices, pickles, condiments, and curry powder brand with the same name launched in February 2004 in the Middle East. From 2007, the Eastern Group owns the majority stake of the brand.[127] In 2006, he opened a seafood restaurant named The Harbour Market in Bangalore,[128] and a hotel - Travancore Court in Ernakulam.[129] His other business ventures include Uniroyal Marine Exports Limited – a Kozhikode-based seafood export company, where he is a non-executive director since 1992.[130] He is the co-founder, partner and chairman of Jose Thomas Performing Arts Centre (JTPac) in Thrippunithura, Kochi, an arts centre for performing arts and music established in 2009 .[131] He is an independent director of Clenergen India Private Limited, a company for production and supply of biomass feedstock to biomass gasification.[132]
In 2009, Mohanlal, along with Priyadarshan, tried to bid for an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket team based in Kochi; they withdrew the bid on failing to source enough funds after a change in rules was introduced.[102][133] Mohanlal was the captain of the Kerala Strikers team in the Celebrity Cricket League (CCL) held in 2012 and 2013.
As an escape artist[edit]
In 2008, Mohanlal secretly underwent 18 months of escape artist training under famous magician Gopinath Muthukad. He had planned to perform a stunt called 'Burning Illusion' in Thiruvananthapuram. However, due to pressure from various quarters including his fans, the act was cancelled later on criticisms and allegations that it is extremely dangerous. The event was jointly organised by the Kerala Police, State Tourism Department and the Kerala State Youth Welfare Board. The open-air "fire escape" stunt, which should have held at the Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium, was a curtain raiser for the four-day 'Vismayam 2008', an international convention in which nearly 1,000 magicians from across the world would take part. The meet started on 1 May. In the stunt, he will be handcuffed and the whole body wrapped in chains with the keys in the hands of dignitaries watching the show. The actor would then be put inside a box, which will be thrown into a ball of fire from where he has to escape.[134]
The news shocked and split the magician community in Kerala. Before the commencement of the act, internationally acclaimed magician Samraj advised Mohanlal against performing the stunt. Samraj approached the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) with a memorandum signed by 300 magicians, requesting it to urge Mohanlal to withdraw.[135] AMMA president, actor Innocent, requested Mohanlal to withdraw from the stunt from endangering himself. He said "Mohanlal is a pillar of the Malayalam film industry; he has no right to go and do such a risky show".[136] The stunt was also to inspire the youth to overcome debacles in life with sheer determination. Briefing about the act in the press conference organised in Trivandrum, Mohanlal said "The risk factor is fifty-fifty for the escape act. I hope that I can make it with the blessings of all".[137] About the objective of the act, the Merlin Award winning magician Gopinath Muthukad said "Counted as one of the most dangerous acts, the 'Burning Illusion' will find Mohanlal inspiring the youth to overcome debacles in life with sheer determination. He has been practicing for a while to perfect it".[138]
In 2014, the actor decided to perform a risk-free item for the inaugural function of Magic Planet, a magic-themed complex at Kinfra Film and Video Park in Kazhakoottam, Trivandrum. It was a project of the Academy of Magical Sciences, founded by his teacher the internationally acclaimed magician Gopinath Muthukad. The function was inaugurated by then sitting Chief Minister of Kerala Oommen Chandy and the first magic performance was done by Mohanlal. In the trick, he lifted a girl on the air. Opposition Leader V. S. Achuthanandan along with other supreme leaders and high-profile international magicians were present at the function.[139]
In the media[edit]
Mohanlal has been described in Indian media as one of the most versatile actors and has been lauded for his natural acting style.[30][58][140][141][142] Reader's Digest India described him in 2004 as "cinema's jack of all trades and master of many".[20] He was also listed 80th in India's Most Trusted Persons, in a survey conducted by Reader's Digest in 2010.[143] Bollywood director Ram Gopal Varma has described Mohanlal as "one of the finest actors in the country who can slip into any role easily".[144]
In 2003 on the 25th anniversary of Mohanlal's film career, a week-long celebration and a stage show were held in Thiruvananthapuram, by his fans and friends. The proceeds from the stage show were donated to charity.[145] Malayalam television channels, Asianet and Surya TV also held separate stage shows to celebrate the anniversary.[146]
Mohanlal have been accused in the media for causing a crisis in Malayalam cinema due to the "superstar" effect. In 2005, Mohanlal along with Mammootty, Dileep, and Suresh Gopi controlled 95% of the box-office revenue of Malayalam cinema. He have been criticized for the high remuneration, preference for formulaic content and larger-than-life male-oriented roles.[147][148] Mohanlal fan clubs are present throughout Kerala; they help in creating a buzz around new releases and ensure a good opening in movie screens, a crucial factor in the success of the film.[149]
In 2007, prohibition activists in Kerala protested against Mohanlal for appearing in a surreptitious whisky advertisement. Mahatma Gandhi National Foundation, a Kottayam-based NGO, accused the actor of violating laws that ban direct liquor advertisements. However, Mohanlal stated that it was unfair to single him out when so many other Indian actors were doing similar endorsements on television.[150] In 2010, Mohanlal was part of a public spat involving Malayalam writer and social critic Sukumar Azhikode, actor Thilakan and Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). The controversy erupted after Azhikode supported Thilakan's accusations that AMMA had imposed an 'undeclared ban' on him,[151] suggesting that the leading stars of Malayalam should step aside since they are old, out-of-shape[152] and charged exorbitant remunerations resulting in mounting losses for the industry. He added that Mohanlal was "a hypocrite who hid his advancing age to act with younger heroines".[106] Mohanlal responded that Azhikode might be having "hallucinations" and he consider his remarks as "an uncle's joke". This led to further personal remarks[153] by Azhikode against Mohanlal. Other actors like Mammootty and Innocent defended Mohanlal and the media was, in general, critical of the comments by Azhikode.[154][155] Azhikode filed a defamation suit against Mohanlal in August 2010.[156]
The forest department filed a case against Mohanlal for keeping an elephant tusk at his home under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.[157] The case was first dismissed by a local Court in Perumbavoor and later by the High Court of Kerala in 2012. An individual from Thrissur filed a petition that the officials had gone out of the way to favour Mohanlal. It was alleged in the petition that actor and former minister K. B. Ganesh Kumar and forest officials were trying to save Mohanlal and overthrow the case related to the discovery of four elephant tusks at the actor's house during an income tax raid. The petitioner went to Kerala HC, but the Court dismissed the case and observed that "there was nothing to show that the State government or its officers had acted in favour of the actor. Besides, the petitioner had not been able to point out any illegality or irregularities in the investigation."[158][159] "Mohanlal's lawyer senior advocate M. K. Damodaran informed the court that police are investigating the case and the final report has not yet been submitted. When the lawyer of the plaintiff mentioned that the tusks are still kept in his house, the defendant's lawyer explained that a receipt for the tusks has been obtained and is kept with Mohanlal".[160] Dismissing the petition, the court criticized the petitioner for approaching the high court even without inquiring about the present status of the case. "There is no public interest in the petition, but it is aimed only at publicity", the court had held.[159]
Personal life[edit]
Mohanlal resides with his family in Thevara, Kochi in Kerala. He married Suchitra, daughter of Tamil film producer K. Balaji on 28 April 1988.[161][162] Mohanlal later recalled in an interview that Suchitra used to send him cards because she wanted to marry him. Their horoscopes did not match at first, but later it was found that the astrologer erred. Mohanlal has two children – Pranav Mohanlal and Vismaya Mohanlal. Pranav has acted in a few films, debuting in Mohanlal's Onnaman (2001).[163] Mohanlal did not object when his son expressed a desire to act, as "kids may have many such ambitions. If we can help them realise something, what is the problem ?."[163] He owns a house at Ooty,[164] a villa in Arabian Ranches and a flat in Burj Khalifa at Dubai.[165] Mohanlal is a self-described foodie.[20][166] He also enjoys melodious music. Mohanlal is a strong believer in destiny and spirituality. He describes himself as a religious and spiritual person,[167] and likes to read Osho, J. Krishnamurti, Aurobindo and Ramana Maharshi.[17] He has often stated that the turn of events in his life, including his film career, was accidental.[58] His elder brother Pyarelal died in the year 2000, during a military exercise.[162]
Awards and achievements[edit]
Mohanlal has received a number of awards and honours including the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2001.[168] He has also received the National Film Awards and Kerala State Film Awards for Best Actor and in other categories several times.
In 2008, while filming for Kurukshetra (2008 film) in which he plays the role of an Indian Army officer, Mohanlal expressed his interest to join the Territorial Army of India.[169]On 9 July 2008, he was formally inducted to the Territorial Army in the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel by then Army Chief Deepak Kapoor. Rules had to be amended to accommodate him as men above the age of 42 are not eligible to join the volunteer force. He is the first and only Indian actor to get the title.[170][171]
Mohanlal was conferred with an honorary doctorate by Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady in 2010. In 2012, he was bestowed with the title of Black belt in Korean martial art Taekwondo from Kukkiwon, the world Taekwondo Headquarters in Seoul, South Korea. He is the first and only South Indian actor to be honoured with the title.[16][172]
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