‘Malayalam Vanalam, Lalsalam’; Actor Mohanlal to be Honored on October 4
The Kerala State Government is set to honor Sri. Mohanlal, the venerable actor of Malayalam cinema, who has brought immense pride to both Malayalam cinema and the state of Kerala by receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the nation’s highest honor for his comprehensive contributions to the film industry.
The grand event, aptly named ‘Malayalam Vanalam, Lalsalam,’ is scheduled to take place at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday, October 4, at 5 PM. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will present the honor to Mohanlal on behalf of the government. Prominent figures from across the Indian film industry are expected to attend the ceremony as esteemed guests. During a press conference, Fishery, Culture, and Youth Affairs Minister Saji Cheriyan announced that leading personalities from the cinematic, political, and social spheres would be present to convey Kerala’s profound love and respect for Sri. Mohanlal.
Culture Minister Saji Cheriyan will preside over the felicitation function. Among the chief guests attending will be Labor and Education Minister V. Sivankutty and Food and Civil Supplies Minister G. R. Anil. The event will also see the participation of other ministers, the Leader of the Opposition, Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), and various public representatives.
As Malayalam cinema celebrates its centenary, Mohanlal’s remarkable artistic journey is nearing its golden jubilee. The ‘Malayalam Vanalam, Lalsalam’ ceremony serves as a heartfelt expression of the state’s gratitude to Mohanlal, who has been instrumental in the artistic and commercial growth of Malayalam cinema. Over an illustrious acting career spanning nearly five decades, Mohanlal has portrayed numerous iconic characters, securing his position among India’s finest actors. With over four hundred films to his credit across multiple languages, he has emerged as a cinematic phenomenon, captivating audiences worldwide. He is the deserving recipient of the 2023 Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Minister Cheriyan highlighted that Sri. Mohanlal is the first Malayali to receive this paramount honor after Adoor Gopalakrishnan, marking a golden milestone in the annals of Malayalam cinema.
Following the felicitation, a captivating stage performance titled ‘Aadam Namukku Paadam’ (Let’s Dance, Let’s Sing), conceived and presented by director T.K. Rajeev Kumar, will feature prominent heroines and celebrated singers from Mohanlal’s films. This segment is a musical homage to the actor. Singers such as Sujatha Mohan, Shweta Mohan, Sithara, Arya Dayal, Manjari, Jyotsna, Mridula Warrier, Nithya Mammen, Sayonara, Rajalakshmi, Kalpana Raghavendra, Remi, and Disha Prakash will perform soulful melodies from Mohanlal’s extensive filmography. Before each musical rendition, leading actresses who have starred alongside Mohanlal—including Urvashi, Shobana, Manju Warrier, Parvathy, Karthika, Meena, Nithya Menen, Lissy, Ranjini, Ramya Krishnan, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy, Shweta Menon, and Malavika Mohanan—will share their insights and experiences on stage.
This felicitation ceremony is a proud national acknowledgment of Mohanlal’s immense contributions to both Malayalam and Indian cinema, and it also symbolizes Kerala’s profound affection and admiration for him. The minister conveyed that a significant public turnout is anticipated for the event, and comprehensive security measures have been implemented to ensure its smooth conduct.
During the press briefing, the event’s official logo was jointly unveiled by Food and Civil Supplies Minister G. R. Anil and Labor and Education Minister V. Sivankutty. Also present at the press conference were MLAs V. Joy and Antony Raju, Cultural Affairs Department Director Dr. Divya S. Iyer IAS, Kerala State Chalachitra Academy Chairman K. Madhu, and State Film Workers Welfare Fund Board Chairman K. Madhupal.