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National Awards: Fans can't get enough of how ‘Lalettan’ Mohanlal was introduced while receiving Dadasaheb Phalke Award

At the National Film Awards held in Delhi on Tuesday, MIB Secretary Sanjay Jaju spoke fondly of Malayalam star Mohanlal and said this. 

Published on: Sep 23, 2025, 19:05:56 IST
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Malayalam star Mohanlal was conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the National Film Awards held in Delhi on Tuesday. Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Sanjay Jaju, fondly introduced the star by his moniker ‘Lalettan’. Fans began circulating the video online, happy with the way their favourite star was introduced. (Also Read: Follow National Film Awards live updates here)

Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has been honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the National Film Awards on Tuesday. (PTI)
Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has been honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the National Film Awards on Tuesday. (PTI)

Mohanlal smiles as he’s called Lalettan

Introducing Mohanlal at the awards ceremony, Sanjay said, “This evening belongs to legends and also to firsts. Padma Bhushan Shri Mohanlal ji is honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. For more than four decades, he has been many men onscreen. Soldier, poet, neighbour, king. And yet in the hearts of millions, he has always remained Lalettan. He shows us that cinema is not just performance, it’s also humility and service.

Fans say Mohanlal made Malayalis proud

Mohanlal, who went to the ceremony with his wife Suchitra, smiled while being called Lalettan, the moniker his fans have for him. For the unversed, Lalettan is a combination of ‘Lal’ from his name and the Malayali word ‘ettan’, which means elder brother. Fans were thrilled with the way the star was introduced. One X (formerly Twitter) user wrote, “#Mohanlal's introduction at the National Awards Ceremony. The Epitome Of Indian Cinema.”

Another wrote, “During the 71st National Film Awards ceremony, @MIB_India Secretary Sanjay Jaju affectionately addresses esteemed actor #Mohanlal as ‘#Lalettan’! Pride Moment For All Malayalis Across The World.” Numerous others also re-shared the clip of Sanjay introducing Mohanlal with his moniker at the ceremony, simply with heart emojis or #Lalettan.

About Mohanlal

Mohanlal has worked in Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi films in his long and illustrious career, which began in 1980 with Manjil Virinja Pookkal, in which he played the antagonist.

He is not just the man who scored two 200 crore films for Malayalam cinema this year with L2 Empuraan and Thudarum; he has also won five National Film Awards in the past for acting and producing. Last seen in Hridayapoorvam, he will soon star in Drishyam 3, Patriot, Vrusshabha, Bha Bha Bha and Ram.

  • Neeshita Nyayapati
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Neeshita Nyayapati

    Despite having a Master's degree in Journalism and over a decade of experience in print and digital media as a field reporter and sub-editor at organisations such as The Times of India and Reader's Digest, Neeshita Nyayapati remains a movie buff first and a Chief Content Producer second. She fell in love with movies in childhood and believes nothing matches the magic of watching a good film that moves you with a warm tub of popcorn in hand. Her love for writing about cinema follows that. Come Friday, you'll find her at her happy place, the movies, catching the latest rom-com or masala offering, for reviews or otherwise. As for the rest of the week, she's here reporting the juiciest news in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi or bringing out the best of celebs in interviews. While her niche is Telugu cinema, Neeshita likes to dabble in a little bit of everything to stay up to date. From film announcements to scandals and hard news angles, she has explored it all. A good book, a comforting cup of hot chocolate, puppy kisses and a stunning beach view are all she needs to unwind. Her passion for biking and travelling has taken her to various places across the country. She has found peace in everything from the frozen lakes of Gangtok to the coffee plantations of Coorg and the dense forests of Bandipur, to the monasteries of Darjeeling. But no matter where she goes, Neeshita loves coming across inspiring and moving stories.Read More

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