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Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Forget the actor, it's Mohanlal the producer who should make a comeback; the one behind both his National Awards for Best Actor
Seeing the recent success of Thudarum, it's almost impossible not to wonder how the same Mohanlal — who is still capable of delivering spectacular performances, as he demonstrated in the Tharun Moorthy directorial, completely shedding his star mantle and effectively silencing his critics — kept bombarding audiences with atrocities such as Ittymaani: Made in China (2019), Kaappaan (2019), Big Brother (2020), Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham (2021), Aaraattu (2022), Monster (2022), Alone (2023), and the biggest bomb of all, his directorial debut Barroz (2024), one after the other over the past few years. Although he did offer decent films like Drishyam 2 (2021), Neru (2023), and Malaikottai Vaaliban (2024) during the same period, his cinematic dumpster fires far outnumbered the not-bad entries, making one wonder if his involvement in the better projects was merely accidental. In fact, it's hard not to ask: where did the old Mohanlal go? No, I'm not talking about the actor he once was; probably in his 20s, 30s or even 40s. It's senseless to expect someone in their 60s to perform with the same agility and intensity they had at half their age. But I'm not referring to the actor in him. I'm talking about the producer instead; the Mohanlal who once threw his weight behind exceptional films, sensing the true potential of a story, a project or a director, and turning himself into the creative rock on which a film could be built. What happened to that Mohanlal, the one who could recognise and help realise great films? Before he began frequently collaborating with Aashirvad Cinemas, a production house established by his driver-turned-confidante-turned-close friend Antony Perumbavoor, Mohanlal, who turns 65 on Wednesday (May 21), had personally bankrolled over a dozen and a half films. In hindsight, many of these projects not only played a key role in elevating his stature as an actor but also stand among the finest mainstream Malayalam films of their era. Interestingly, Mohanlal entered film production for the first time alongside fellow superstar Mammootty. Together with producer Century Kochumon, director IV Sasi and his wife, actor Seema, they co-founded Casino Films. The company made its debut by bankrolling Adiyozhukkukal (1984), written by MT Vasudevan Nair and directed by Sasi himself. A hard-hitting drama, the film earned Mammootty his first Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor. Casino Films didn't stop there, it went on to produce three more acclaimed movies — Sasi and P Padmarajan's Karimbinpoovinakkare (1985), and Sathyan Anthikad and Sreenivasan's Gandhinagar 2nd Street (1986) and Nadodikkattu (1987), before the superstars bid goodbye to the company. Needless to say, all of these titles have been etched into the golden annals of Malayalam cinema and remain cherished classics to this day. During this period, Mohanlal also became involved with another production house, Cheers, which launched its journey by funding P Anil's Adiverukal (1986). Cheers went on to produce Kamal's widely acclaimed tragedy Unnikale Oru Kadha Parayam (1987) and the comedy-drama Orkkappurathu (1988). The company's final production was Aryan (1988), directed by Priyadarshan, which has, over time, drawn significant criticism for its casteist and savarna-centric themes and dialogues. By then, Mohanlal had not only established himself as one of the finest actors in the industry but had also achieved full-fledged superstardom. Yet, he continued to invest in films that prioritised quality above all else. And soon, he floated his own production company, Pranavam Arts International. Not only did Pranavam Arts change the trajectory of Mohanlal's career, but it also gifted the industry a handful of culturally and aesthetically significant films that defied conventional commercial formulas. Pranavam's films were not just starkly different from each other in terms of story and aesthetics, but they all explored and highlighted previously unseen facets of Mohanlal's acting abilities, making significant use of his untapped potential. More than that, every film he took on as a producer seemed to possess a soul of its own. It was also as if he chose to produce only those projects that would challenge him as a performer. Interestingly, four out of the eleven movies he bankrolled under the banner of Pranavam Arts — named after his son Pranav Mohanlal — were penned by the acclaimed screenwriter Lohithadas, renowned for crafting some of the most celebrated dramas in Malayalam cinema, among which was Kireedam (1989), directed by Sibi Malayil, which earned Mohanlal a National Film Award – Special Mention. The Sibi-Lohithadas collaboration continued with His Highness Abdullah (1990), which marked Pranavam's debut production. The film followed Abdullah (Mohanlal), a poor Muslim Qawwali singer in Bombay, who is hired by members of an affluent royal Hindu family in Kerala to assassinate their patriarch, Maharaja Udayavarma (Nedumudi Venu). The movie not only showcased Mohanlal's extraordinary ability to perform playback song sequences with near-perfect lip-syncing, but it also broke away from typical mainstream narratives. Unlike many films that either glorify or victimise savarna and Brahminical cultures while portraying Muslim characters in stereotypical roles that are reduced to the binaries of good and bad, His Highness Abdullah boldly exposed the rot in elitism, exemplified by a lack of compassion even among blood relatives with each person being more consumed by a greed for dynastic wealth than the other. Featuring some of Malayalam cinema's most iconic songs, such as 'Pramadhavanam,' 'Devasabhathalam,' and 'Gopika Vasantham,' composed by Raveendran and sung by KJ Yesudas and others, the film emerged as a major box office success. The very next year, the producer-actor returned with another project, once again teaming up with the same writer-director duo. While His Highness Abdullah revolved around an impending crime with elements of a thriller too, Bharatham (1991) was a pure musical drama, featuring an unrestrained and unmatched Mohanlal at its core. Though films like Kireedam, Thalavattam (1986), and Ninnishtam Ennishtam (1986) had showcased his emotional depth as a performer, the role of Kalloor Gopinathan in Bharatham was particularly fresh and complex even for him. Centred on the minor ego clash that erupts between two brothers — Carnatic music virtuosos Gopinathan and his elder sibling Ramanathan (Nedumudi Venu) — following an unforeseen and unfortunate incident, the film gradually evolves into a deeply layered musical family drama with a powerful emotional undercurrent. Bharatham further underlined Mohanlal's willingness to shed his star persona, portraying a character rendered helpless by life's cruel twists and misfortunes. In Kamaladalam (1992), another musical drama crafted by the Sibi-Lohithadas duo and produced by Mohanlal, the trio pushed the actor in him into uncharted territory as he portrayed a revered classical dance teacher fighting alcoholism and the ghosts of his past. Though Mohanlal's physical agility was already well-known, primarily through comedic and cinematic dance sequences, this film revealed a completely different dimension of the same. As Nandagopan, Mohanlal delivered a jaw-dropping performance. Once again, he excelled as both producer and actor, proving how a true thespian can use his stature not just to maintain fame but to refine his craft and continually push his artistic boundaries. Although his next production ventures, Priyadarshan's Mithunam (1993) and Sathyan Anthikkad's Pingami (1994), failed to succeed at the box office, they remain beloved among film lovers. It was after these that Mohanlal undertook his most ambitious and grandest project yet as a producer, Priyadarshan's Kaalapani (1996). In collaboration with R Mohan's Shogun Films, Pranavam Arts mounted this epic period drama, focusing on the lives of the inmates of the Cellular Jail (Kaalapani) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the British Raj. As a producer, Mohanlal spared no effort in assembling the best possible cast — including Tabu, Prabhu, Amrish Puri, Sankaradi, Nedumudi Venu, Delhi Ganesh, Sreenivasan and Cochin Haneefa — and crew, which featured stalwarts like Ilaiyaraaja (music), Santosh Sivan (cinematography), Sabu Cyril (art direction), and ST Venky (special effects). Although the film failed to recoup its then-massive production costs, Kaalapani became a landmark in Indian cinema and continues to serve as a reference point for period dramas. The movie also earned four National Film Awards. In 1998, Mohanlal once again joined forces with Lohithadas and created Kanmadam, which opened to both critical and commercial acclaim. Various aspects of the film, particularly the performances of Mohanlal and Manju Warrier, received widespread praise. That same year, Pranavam Arts mounted another massive project, Harikrishnans, which marked the much-anticipated on-screen reunion of Mohanlal and Mammootty after a decade or so. Featuring Juhi Chawla in the lead, the mystery buddy comedy was directed by Fazil and jointly produced by Mohanlal and his wife, Suchitra. The film lived up to the hype and became a blockbuster, helping Mohanlal recover from the financial setbacks caused by his earlier unsuccessful ventures to an extent. Unfortunately, Pranavam's next project, Bhadran's Olympian Anthony Adam (1999), failed to make an impact. Yet, nothing could dampen Mohanlal's spirit. He once again donned the producer's hat for Shaji N Karun's Vanaprastham, one of the most significant films in Malayalam's parallel cinema movement, wherein he played a lowered caste Kathakali artiste grappling with marginalisation from all quarters. An international co-production, the film opened to universal acclaim and even earned Mohanlal and Shaji a place at the Cannes Film Festival, where Vanaprastham was selected for the Un Certain Regard section. Interestingly, the two films that earned Mohanlal his National Film Awards for Best Actor — Bharatham and Vanaprastham — were both produced by him. Likewise, two of the six Kerala State Film Awards for Best Actor that he has received were for performances in films he bankrolled — Kaalapani and Vanaprastham — further underscoring his visionary instincts as a producer. Even after the establishment of Aashirvad Cinemas, Mohanlal returned to production in 2010, co-producing the military action film Kandahar, directed by Major Ravi. This came shortly after he was awarded the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army. Although the film, also featuring Amitabh Bachchan in his Malayalam debut, failed to earn critical acclaim, Kandahar served its purpose as Mohanlal's way of expressing gratitude for the honorary military title he had received. Barring Kandahar, nearly every film Mohanlal has produced remains beloved — not only by his fans but by Malayalam cinema lovers in general — largely due to their artistic depth and brilliance. It is precisely this sensibility that had seemed missing from Mohanlal in recent years, as though that part of his creative mind had either become dormant or been deliberately switched off. Now that Thudarum is enjoying widespread success, one can only hope the superstar draws upon his earlier producer instincts when choosing his future acting roles. Anandu Suresh is a Senior sub-editor at Indian Express Online. He specialises in Malayalam cinema, but doesn't limit himself to it and explores various aspects of the art form. He also pens a column titled Cinema Anatomy, where he delves extensively into the diverse layers and dimensions of cinema, aiming to uncover deeper meanings and foster continuous discourse. Anandu previously worked with The New Indian Express' news desk in Hyderabad, Telangana. You can follow him on Twitter @anandu_suresh_ and write (or send movie recommendations) to him at ... Read More
News18
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
It's A Wrap For Hridayapoorvam, Mohanlal Drops Group Photo
Hridayapoorvam marks another collaboration between Mohanlal and Sathyan Anthikad. Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has officially completed the shooting of the much-awaited film Hridayapoorvam. The movie is directed by veteran filmmaker Sathyan Anthikad, known for his heartfelt family dramas. To share this milestone, Mohanlal took to social media and posted a group photo featuring the entire cast and crew. Along with the picture, he wrote, 'That's a wrap! See you on the big screen. #Hridayapoorvam." This simple message sent his fans into a frenzy as they eagerly awaited his next venture. The group photo shows everyone involved in the film. Sitting next to Mohanlal in the picture is actress Malavika Mohanan who plays the female lead. Since Mohanlal's latest updates, fans have been sharing their excitement online. A fan wrote, 'Waiting another banger." Another said, 'Next blockbuster loading," while someone else wrote, 'Next 100 crore loading." This film marks another collaboration between Mohanlal and Sathyan Anthikad. The two have worked together 17 times before which makes Hridayapoorvam their 18th project. Their previous films have been well-loved by audiences especially for their family-friendly stories filled with humour and emotion. It has been nearly a decade since their last film together, Ennum Eppozhum, which came out in 2015. While the plot of Hridayapoorvam remains under the wraps, it is being described as a family entertainer. The screenplay and dialogues have been written by Sonu T.P. and the story is by Akhil Sathyan. Mohanlal will play the character Sandeep Balakrishnan. The film also features Sangita Madhavan Nair, Sangeeth Prathap, Siddique, Sabitha Anand, Baburaj, Nishan, Lalu Alex, Janardhanan and S.P. Charan. The movie is produced by Antony Perumbavoor under the banner of Aashirvad Cinemas. In other news, Mohanlal's recent film Thudarum continues to perform exceptionally well at the box office. The film was released on April 25 and it has already crossed the Rs 100 crore mark in Kerala alone. Directed by Tharun Moorthy, this family drama features Mohanlal as Shanmugham aka 'Benz.' Shobhana is the female lead and a supporting cast includes Prakash Varma, Farhaan Faasil, Maniyanpilla Raju, Binu Pappu, Irshad Ali, Aarsha Chandini Baiju, Thomas Mathew and Krishna Prabha. Now, in its fourth week, Thudarum continues to draw large audiences and break records. Back to Hridayapoorvam, the film will reportedly make its theatrical debut on August 28. First Published:
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Mohanlal's ‘Chotta Mumbai' 4K re-release postponed amid ‘Thudarum' success
Mohanlal's 65th birthday celebration plans included the re-release of his popular film 'Chotta Mumbai' in a 4K restored version, but it has been postponed due to the success of 'Thudarum'. While fans await the new release date, Mohanlal is actively involved in filming 'Hridayapoorvam' and will make a cameo appearance in 'Kannappa'. Malayalam cinema star Mohanlal gears up to celebrate his 65th birthday on May 21 with the re-release of his iconic film Chotta Mumbai in a 4K restored version to mark the occasion. Re-release postponed Mohanlal's close friend and filmmaker Maniyanpilla Raju confirmed the postponement of 'Chotta Mumbai' re-release, citing the ongoing success of 'Thudarum' as the reason. The new date for the 4K version's release is yet to be announced, leaving fans eagerly waiting for the chance to relive the cult classic on the big screen once again. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AI guru Andrew Ng recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around in 2025 Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo About the film Directed by Anwar Rasheed , 'Chotta Mumbai' is a beloved action-comedy that follows Vasco Da Gama, popularly known as Thala, and his group of carefree friends. Living a happy-go-lucky life, the gang remains unemployed and often stirs trouble in their community. However, the story takes a serious turn when they clash with a corrupt police officer who doubles as a gangster. The film boasts a stellar ensemble cast including Mohanlal, Kalabhavan Mani, Siddique, Jagathy Sreekumar, Indrajith Sukumaran, Manikuttan, Bijukuttan, and more, with music composed by Rahul Raj. Mohanlal's upcoming film Meanwhile, Mohanlal is busy with other projects. He is currently shooting for Hridayapoorvam, a feel-good film directed by Sathyan Anthikad, marking their reunion after nine years. The film stars Malavika Mohanan alongside Mohanlal and is produced by Antony Perumbavoor under Aashirvad Cinemas. Additionally, Mohanlal will appear in a cameo role in the mythological film ' Kannappa ', starring Vishnu Manchu, which has been rescheduled for release on June 27, 2025.
Hindustan Times
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Antony Perumbavoor says it's ‘half true, half false' that he interferes with Mohanlal's script selection
Actor Mohanlal had a redeeming 2025, thanks to L2 Empuraan and Thudarum, after a disappointing 2024 with Malaikottai Vaaliban and Barroz 3D. There has often been chatter that it's filmmaker Antony Perumbavoor of Ashirvad Cinemas who has a huge role in the scripts the actor approves or rejects. In an interview with Matrubhumi, Antony clarifies if it's true. (Also Read: Thudarum director Tharun Moorthy reveals film took 12 years to be made after Mohanlal signed) Antony heads his own production company, Aashirvad Cinemas, founded in 1999. Since then, he has produced or distributed numerous films with the actor. When asked whether he interferes with Mohanlal's script selection, Antony acknowledges that there's some truth to these claims. However, he clarifies that he only does it in projects funded by his production house. He said, 'It's half true and half false that I listen to stories and take part in script selections. Lal sir and I hear all the stories of the films being considered by Aashirvad. I actively participate in discussions of those projects. On the other hand, Lal sir alone listens to stories of films by other producers; I don't participate in those discussions. It's so if those films get shelved or face setbacks, let it not be said that it's because I didn't like it.' Antony also added that they turn down numerous requests despite wanting to appease everyone, 'Many people want to do a film with Mohanlal sir, and their wishes are not bluntly turned down. We want to give everybody a chance. But we only have one Mohanlal sir, right? What can we do when so many people come looking for this one person? Not everyone ends up getting the chance to work with him.' Antony worked with Mohanlal as his chauffeur before putting up his production house. His first production was the 2000 film Narasimham with Mohanlal. He has since backed numerous films starring Mohanlal, including the famous Drishyam films, Lucifer franchise, and more. Hridayapoorvam and Drishyam 3 are in the works. Mohanlal will play a cameo in Vishnu Manchu's Kannappa. He will soon star in Hridayapoorvam, a yet-to-be-titled film by Mahesh Narayanan, which also stars Mammootty, apart from the delayed projects Ram and Vrushabha.
Indian Express
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Antony Perumbavoor responds to claims of interfering in Mohanlal's script selection: ‘It's half true, half false'
Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has once again demonstrated his command over the box office, with two of his films crossing the Rs 200 crore mark in less than 45 days. After the massive success of L2: Empuraan, which emerged as the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time and the second highest-grossing Indian film of the year so far by earning Rs 265.5 crore worldwide, according to industry tracker Sacnilk, Mohanlal's Thudarum has also surpassed the Rs 200 crore mark and is continuing its journey at an impressive momentum. Unlike Empuraan, which was mounted on a massive budget of about Rs 175 crore, Thudarum was a significantly smaller film, making its success all the more impactful. At the same time, in contrast to the Prithviraj Sukumaran directorial that opened to average reviews, Thudarum received largely positive responses, thus making its success more notable. Nonetheless, this contrast also brought more focus to Mohanlal's choice of scripts, which had been widely criticised until Thudarum. Given the superstar's string of underwhelming box office performances since Lucifer (2019) — with Neru being the only exception — his fans had been disheartened, and the Tharun Moorthy directorial has now rejuvenated their spirits. In the meantime, rumours were rife that it was not Mohanlal himself, but his associates, who decided which projects he should take on. Now, the superstar's frequent collaborator, producer Antony Perumbavoor of Aashirvad Cinemas, has addressed questions about whether he interferes in Mohanlal's script selection. Acknowledging that there is some truth to the claims, Antony, however, clarified that it is only in the case of projects considered for Aashirvad Cinemas that both he and Mohanlal listen to scripts together. For projects from other producers, he maintained, Mohanlal listens to the scripts on his own. 'It's half true and half false that I listen to the stories that come Mohanlal sir's way and participate in his script selections. Yes, we listen together to all the stories being considered for production by Aashirvad. I actively participate in discussions of those projects. On the other hand, it's Lal sir himself, alone, who listens to the stories of films from other producers. I don't participate in such discussions. This is so that, if those films face any setbacks, people don't say it happened because I didn't approve of the projects,' he said during a chat with Mathrubhumi. Antony continued, 'Many people want to do a film with Mohanlal sir, and their wishes are not bluntly turned down. We want to give everybody a chance. But we only have one Mohanlal sir, right? What can we do when so many people come looking for this one person? So, not everyone ends up getting chances to work with him.' Antony Perumbavoor bankrolled Mohanlal's blockbuster films such as Narasimham (2000), Ravanaprabhu (2001), Naran (2005), Rasathanthram (2006), Evidam Swargamanu (2009), Spirit (2012), Drishyam (2013), Oppam (2016), Lucifer and Drishyam 2 (2021). While Mohanlal will be next seen in the Telugu fantasy film Kannappa, wherein he plays a cameo role, the Malayalam superstar is currently working on Sathyan Anthikad's Hridayapoorvam and Mahesh Narayanan's highly ambitious multi-starrer project, tentatively titled MMMN, which marks his on-screen reunion with Malayalam megastar Mammootty after a gap of 16 years since Twenty:20 (2008).
