NEW DELHI: Malayalam superstar Mohanlal will be honoured with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2023 for his “outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema.”
On Saturday the ministry of information & broadcasting made this announcement, sparking celebrations across the film fraternity. The award will be presented at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony on September 23, 2025.
The government said the decision was made on the recommendation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee.
Apart from being a two-time National Film Award winner for Best Actor, Mohanlal has also received the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan. His contributions as an actor, director, and producer have left an indelible mark on Indian film history.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is the country’s highest recognition in cinema, awarded annually by the Government of India to honour lifetime contributions to the industry.
Mohanlal Viswanathan, (65), fondly called lalettan is known mononymously as Mohanlal. He has a prolific career spanning over four decades, during which he has acted in more than 400 films. The Government of India honoured him with Padma Shri in 2001, and Padma Bhushan in 2019, India’s fourth and third highest civilian honours, for his contributions to Indian cinema. In 2009, he became the first actor in India to be awarded the honorary rank of lieutenant colonel in the Territorial Army. Mohanlal was named as one of “the men who changed the face of the Indian Cinema” by CNN.
Reacting to the announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated actor Mohanlal on being conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Modi stated that Mohanlal epitomises excellence and versatility. “With a rich body of work spanning decades, he stands as a leading light of Malayalam cinema, theatre and is deeply passionate about the culture of Kerala. He has also delivered remarkable performances in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films. His cinematic and theatrical brilliance across mediums is truly inspiring” Modi said.
