The Government of India has announced the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023 for veteran actor Mohanlal Viswanathan, one of the most celebrated icons of Indian cinema. The honour, regarded as the nation’s highest recognition in film, will be conferred at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony in New Delhi tomorrow.
Soon after the announcement, tributes and congratulations poured in from political leaders, members of the film fraternity, and fans across the country. Speaking to the media, Mohanlal said he would dedicate the award to Malayalam cinema and to the people who shaped his journey.
“This is a proud moment. I cannot experience this alone. I share it with the audience, with those who have worked with me in the past, those who are working with me now, and those who will work with me in the future. I am not a big dreamer,” he remarked.
On his approach to cinema, he added, “If you ask me what my social commitment is, it is to portray the roles that come to me in the best possible way. A film cannot be made by one person; it is a collective effort. I want us to make good films, I want good films to be made in the Malayalam industry, and I want to be part of that.”
With a career spanning over four decades and more than 350 films, Mohanlal is widely regarded as one of India’s greatest actors. Having earlier won multiple National Film Awards, including Best Actor, this honour cements his place among the legends of Indian cinema.
