The Government of India has decided to award the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award to Malayalam superstar Mohanlal for his remarkable contribution to Indian cinema. The Information & Broadcasting Ministry made the official announcement, recognising his achievements over decades.
Mohanlal will receive the award for the year 2023. He has earned acclaim as an actor, director and producer, making significant contributions to Malayalam cinema and winning several state and national honours for his work.
The award will be presented on September 23 as part of the 71st National Awards ceremony. Mohanlal began his career in 1980 as a villain in the film Manjal Virinja Pookal and has since acted in over 400 movies across multiple languages.
He made his directorial debut with the children’s fantasy film Barroz 3D in 2024. Mohanlal also founded production houses, including Casino Films in 1984, Pranavam Films in 1990, and Cheers Films in 2006, producing numerous successful films across genres.
Mohanlal has explored various genres and even lent his voice as a playback singer. In 1986, he appeared in 36 films. He became the youngest actor to win the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor at age 26 and portrayed Karna in the 2001 play Karnabharam.
He was appointed lieutenant colonel by the Indian Army for his roles in Keerthi Chakra and Kurukshetra. Some of his biggest hits include Drishyam, Lucifer, Empuraan and Thudarum. He has also worked in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi films, solidifying his pan-Indian appeal.
