Legendary actor Ashok Kumar was the jury chairman for the 1986- Kerala state film awards committee. He noticed a young man playing the role of a post- graduate who struggles to save his job and to keep his dreams alive in the film T P Balagopalan MA.
Ashokda did notice the accuracy in expressions and the ease with which the actor brings those in his face. He asked the other jury members to give attention to this guy and he told them that Malayalam cinema would be safe and bright in the hands of this young actor.
Mohan Lalwas adjudged the best actor by that jury . After that Lal repeated the same several times.
Mohan Lal started his career in the 1978 -film Tiranottam. It was made by his friends. But he got critical acclaim through his second film in 1980 titled Manjil Virinja Pookkal.(Flowers bloomed in the mist.). He played villain in it. He is probably the most versatile actor in our country. Here is a list of some of his famous roles.
1.The antihero who does anything for money in Uyarangalil (In the heights). (1984)
2.The struggling employee of TP Balagopalan MA(1986)
3.The mafia lord named Vincent Gomes in Rajavinte Makan (Son Of The King).
4.The young man whose life gets spoiled due to his reaction towards a local goonda in Kireedam (The Crown). For me, this is Lal’s best film. It was later remade in Hindi by Priyadarshan (Gardish) with some unnecessary parallel comedy tracks. That actually spoiled a classic.
5.The classical singer of Bharatam
6.The psychiatrist inUlladakkam ( The Content)
7.The rough son of an arrogant father in Sphatikam (Glass)
8.The happy-go-lucky fellow inKilukkam (The Jingle)
9.The classical dancer in Kamaladalam (A lotus petal)
10.The psychologist in Manichitratazh
11.The bankrupt public work contractor in Vellanakalude Naad (The Land Of White Elephants).
12.The Kathakali performer in Vaanaprastham. (’The Last Dance’ when dubbed into English )
13.The army captain who takes revenge in Pingami (The Heir).
14.The street performer in Vishnulokam
15.The mentally retarded Vinod in Talavattam. This film is now being remade by Priyadarshan with Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor.
16.The ace commando in Doutyam.(The Mission.)
17.The young farm owner of Namukku Paarkkan Muntirithoppukal (Vineyards for us to dwell) .This is a classic film by Padmarajan.
These are only a few of the 250-plus movies of Lal’s illustrious career. I picked these only to show his range in acting.
Awards and Achievements:
1.Kerala state award for best actor 4 times
in 1986, 1991, 1995, 1999
- Special prize by National film awards jury for Kireedam. (1989)
2.National Award for best actor for Bharatam.(1991)
3.National Award for best actor for Vanaprastham.(1999)
4.National Award for the producer of the best film for Vanaprastham.(1999)
5.International Indian Film Academy (IIFA)Award for best supporting actor for the Hindi film Company(2003)
6.Four Film Fare awards.
7.National Civilian Honour ’’Padmashree’’ .
Etc etc.
Mohan Lal was in the worst period of his career since 1999 to 2003. Like Amitabh Bachchan , he did several bad films with larger than-life roles. But he realized it after a series of flops and harsh criticism by the media. Then he delivered excellent performances in films like
Vismayatumbath (On the edge of amusement), Ravanaprabhu and Balettan.
OTHER FACTS AND FABLES :
1.Full name : Mohan Lal Vishwanathan
2.Age : 44 years
3.Owns restaurants named ’’Tastebuds’’ in the Persian Gulf.
4.Exports spices in the brand name ’’mohanlals’’.
5.Collects antiques as a hobby.
6.Associated with Malayalam theatre.
7.Going to do a film with Nasiruddin Shah soon in Malayalam.
His now running film Udayananu taram is breaking records in collection . It is critically acclaimed too. It is a satire/ black-humor about the tinsel world . This film is released also in multiplexes of Mumbai, Chennai, New Delhi and Bangalore and I heard that it is doing well.
Mohan Lal’s ’’Vanaprastham’’ was screened in the 2001s Canne’s film festival and one foreign film maker said: You are born in the wrong part of the world .other wise you could have been an Academy Award winner!