INDIAN CINEMA BLOG: 11/30/07

Mohanlal Viswanathan Nair (born May 21, 1960), is a four time National award winning Indian actor, producer, who works in Malayalam films, a part of Indian Cinema. He is one of the most popular actors^[1] in the Indian state of Kerala. He is noted for his versatility, effortless acting, unique body language and for his association with some of the best Malayalam directors and screenwriters. He was awarded the Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian honours in India, by the Indian Government in 2001.

Mohanlal became immensely popular in Kerala during the mid 80's in light hearted roles with his easy and natural acting style. The late 80's and the early 90's, known as the Golden Age of Malayalam cinema, produced some of the most creative and diverse Malayalam movies and enabled Mohanlal establish himself as one of the most talented actors in the country. He is critically acclaimed for his ability to get into the character's skin and portray their inner feelings and turmoils within a limited time-frame. He is the General Secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) for the period 2006-2009.

Early life (1960-1980)

Mohanlal was born in Elanthur in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala State (India), to father Vishwanathan Nair, an advocate, and mother Santhakumari and later shifted to Mudavanmugal in Thiruvananthapuram. He attended the local school in Mudavanmugal and later enrolled into the Model School, Thiruvananthapuram(Trivandrum). An average student at school, he started his association with the world of acting very early, when he used to participate in school-plays. In the sixth grade, young Mohanlal was chosen the best actor in school, an award that was usually bagged by tenth graders^[2].

After schooling, he went to Mahatma Gandhi College, Thiruvananthapuram for his Bachelor's in Commerce,but failed to complete it. During this time he continued to act in college productions and won best actor awards^[2]. He made friends with a group of fellow-students, who were passionate about theatre and feature films. They were instrumental in getting him his first breakthrough and some of them, notably Priyadarshan and Raju, went on to become popular movie directors and actors.

Film career

Further information: Filmography of Mohanlal

Early years (1978-1985)

His introduction to movies was automatic, when his friends combined to establish a movie company, Bharath Cine Group and began shooting a film titled Thiranottam, which was in 1978. Mohanlal was given a small comic role. The film ran into trouble with the Censor Board and was never released.

His first breakthrough came in 1980, at the age of 20, when a Malayalam production house Navodaya wanted to make a film with new artistes in leading roles. Mohanlal's friends sent his photographs to Navodya productions. He was auditioned and selected for the role of Narendran, the antagonist, in Manjil Virinja Pookkal.

He had no dearth of opportunities after this and he played roles of gradually increasing importance in a number of movies in the following years. In the year 1983, he is credited in more than 25 feature films. Uyarangalil, a story of cheating and deception, written by noted script-writer M.T.Vasudevan Nairand directed by I.V.Sasi was a highlight of this period of his career. He then expanded into comic roles in his director-friend and college mate Priyadarshan's debut Poochakkoru Mookkuthi.

Awards and achievements

Mohanlal was awarded the Padma Shri by the Indian Government in 2001. He was recently elected as the Most Popular Keralite by the survey conducted by CNN - IBN related to the Silver Jubilee of Kerala formation in 2006.

Mohanlal in his National award winning role as a kathakali artist in Vaanaprastham

National Film Awards

1989 Jury's Special Mention - Kireedam
1991 Best Actor - Bharatham
1999 Best Actor - Vanaprastham
1999 Best Film ( Producer ) - Vaanaprastham

Kerala State Film Awards

1986 Best Actor - T .P. Balagopalan M.A.
1988 Actor (Special Award) - Padha Mudhra, Chitram, Utsavappittennu, Aryan and Vellanakalude Nadu
1991 Best Actor - Ulladakkam, Kilukkam, Abhimanyu
1991 Best Second Film - Bharatham (Producer)
1995 Best Actor - Kalapani, Spadikam
1995 Best Second Film - Kalapani (Producer)
1999 Best Actor - Vaanaprastham
2005 Best Actor - Thanmatra