Mohanlal to receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award for ‘iconic contribution’ to Indian cinema

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced that Mohanlal has been adjudged as the recipient of the prestigious award.

Sep 20, 2025, 18:47:06 IST

By Santanu Das

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The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced on Saturday that actor Mohanlal will receive the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023. The prolific actor has acted in over 400 films in his four-decade career, predominantly Malayalam films and Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada films.

Mohanlal will receive the honour at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony.

Mohanlal to get the Dadasaheb Phalke Award

In a tweet on their official X account, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting noted, “On the recommendation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee, the Government of India is pleased to announce that Shri. Mohanlal will be conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023.”

They added, “Mohanlal’s remarkable cinematic journey inspires generations! The legendary actor, director, and producer is being honoured for his iconic contribution to Indian Cinema. His unmatched talent, versatility, and relentless hard work have set a golden standard in Indian film history. The award will be presented at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony on Sept 23, 2025.”

Mohanlal's career

Mohanlal made his acting debut with the Malayalam film Thiranottam in 1978, the release of which was delayed due to censorship issues. The 1980 romance film Manjil Virinja Pookkal officially marked his screen debut. Since then, he has acted in several acclaimed and notable films, including Iruvar, Kireedam, Bharatham, Vanaprastham, and Kanmadam.

He has won five National Film Awards—two Best Actor, a Special Jury Mention and a Special Jury Award for acting, and an award for Best Feature Film. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honour, in 2001 and the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian honour, in 2019, for his contributions to the arts.

He was recently seen in Hridayapoorvam, which was released during Onam. It is a romantic comedy drama directed by Sathyan Anthikad and stars Malavika Mohanan, Sangita Madhavan Nair, and Sangeeth Prathap.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Santanu Das
Santanu Das is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over 5 years of experience, writing on films, pop culture and film festivals. He has a keen interest in writing about South Asian independent films and has covered several film festivals, including Sundance and CPH: Docx. He also brings a sharp perspective to the monthly column called The Fault in Our Stars, where he writes about a recent film/series and what stops the ‘good’ from becoming ‘great’. A gold medalist from Banaras Hindu University, Santanu completed his postgraduate studies in English from Jadavpur University. He is also a Rotten Tomatoes-certified film critic. When not watching films or speaking to celebrities, Santanu can be found reading a book. Some of his favourite films are Aparajito, Ponyo and The Double Life of Veronique. His favourite books include The Corrections, The God of Small Things and A Room of One's Own. Santanu continues to write passionately about films and celebrity culture. He brings a relatable, as well as critically informed, lens to entertainment and culture for a wide audience. Find him on LinkedIn: santanudasfilm Instagram: @santupechaRead More

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