Mohan Lal Malayalam Cinema actor, began his career as an actor in the 1979 movie Thiranottam, which was not released. His first movie released was Manjil Virinja Pookkal (Flowers that bloomed in the mist), 1980, in which he donned the role of the villain. Entering the movie world as a villain, he slowly took to comedy and soon became a super star. He runs his own production firm with his wife, and has recently entered drama theatre as well. He directed and acted in the famous Hindi movie 'Company'
Early Career
Mohan Lal's first released movie was Manjil Virinja Pookkal, in which he donned the role of the villain. In many more movies to come, he played the villain, and also the anti-hero, in movies like Rajavinte Makan (Prince)(1986). Soon, he clubbed with his class mate and movie director Priyadarshan, and the team produced many comedy movies like Poochakkoru Mookkuthi (1984)(Nosering for the cat). He also starred in comedy movies like Boeing Boeing, etc. With actor director Sreenivasan, he did a trilogy in which the two unemployed youth (Mohan Lal and Sreenivasan) ends up in Chennai and eventually becomes CIDs.(released in 1987, 88 and 90).
He also acted in movies which had a social base. Movies like Vellanakalude Nadu (The Land of White Elephants)(1988) , as the name suggests, shows the corruption and the pathetic situation of the bureaucracy, whereas scores of other movies show the plight of the unemployed. In the movie Vaastuhara (1991), he acted as the rehabilitation officer at Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The same year he teamed up again with Priyadarshan to create the super hit comedy movie Kilukkam, in which he plays a guide in the town of Ooty.
Later Movies
Mohan Lal also acted in many action movies as police officers but off-late, he has reverted to his old anti-hero type of characters. He plays the street rowdy fighting to bring about order in the society. In many movies since Devasuram (God and Devil) (1993) he plays such roles. Most notable among his later movies are Kalapani (The Black Waters), (1996) in which he plays a doctor sentenced to imprisonment in The Cellular Jail, Port Blair by the British court, and Vaanaprastham (1999)(Renunciation) in which he played a Kathakali artist. Even now, inspite of the box-office failures his recent movies had, he still holds the position as the super star because of the varied roles that he has protrayed on the silver screen. There was great celebration all around in Kerala when he completed 25 years in movies.
Other Languages
Mohan Lal has acted in guest roles in many Tamil and Telugu movies. His first full length Tamil movie was Iruvar (Both), released in 1997. He acted as a South Indian Police Commissioner of Mumbai in the Hindi movie Company (2002). He acted in the Tamil Movie Pop Corn in 2003. A Kannada project is going on.
Awards
Mohan Lal's highest achievement has been the Padma Shri, awarded in 2001 by the President of India. He got the National Best Actor twice, in 1991 for Bharatham and in 1999 for Vanaprastham, for which he got the best producer award as well. State Awards have been awarded in 1986, 91, 95 and 99 for various movies. International Indian Film Association Award for best supporting actor was given to Mohan Lal for his role in Company (2002). He received Mother Theresa Award in 2000.
Mohan Lal's Official Home Page- [1]