Malayalam superstar Mohanlal was conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony held in Delhi on Tuesday. The award, presented by President Droupadi Murmu, recognizes Mohanlal’s outstanding contribution, versatility, and lifetime achievements in Indian cinema. Named after Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema, the accolade honors individuals for their exceptional service to the film industry.
The award presentation was met with a standing ovation, with the audience applauding and cheering for Mohanlal. Industry colleagues and fans across the country extended heartfelt congratulations. Over a career spanning more than four decades, Mohanlal has delivered acclaimed performances across Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada cinema. At 65, he continues to compete with younger actors while maintaining a consistent record of back-to-back hits. He has appeared in over 350 films, earning critical praise for movies such as Thanmathra, Drishyam, Vanaprastham, Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol, and Pulimurugan.
മലയാളത്തിന്റെ സ്വന്തം മോഹൻലാൽ…! ❤️🥹
Mohanlal Called as Lalettan in the Dada Saheb Phalke Award Ceremony…!
Pride Moment For All Malayalis Across the World…! @Mohanlal #Mohanlal pic.twitter.com/V7v1n11UTW
— Ananthajith Asokkumar 🇮🇳 (@iamananthajith) September 23, 2025
Mohanlal’s accolades include six National Film Awards, ten Kerala State Film Awards, a Nandi Award, and several international honors. The Government of India has previously recognized his contributions with the Padma Shri in 2001 and the Padma Bhushan in 2019. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award adds another landmark achievement to his illustrious career.
Recently, Mohanlal has delivered consecutive hits with films such as L2 Empuran and Tuduram. His latest release, Hridayapurvam, has also garnered positive audience response.
Currently, he is engaged with multiple projects including Bha. Bha. B., Vrishabha, Drishyam 3, Patriot, and Ram. Filming for Vrishabha has been completed and is now in post-production, while the other projects are actively under production, highlighting his continued dominance and versatility in Indian cinema.