PM Modi congratulates Mohanlal on receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award: ‘Truly inspiring’

September 20, 2025

Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his wishes to Malayalam superstar Mohanlal on being honoured with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

PM Modi Hails Mohanlal’s Versatility
Dropping a picture with the Monster actor on X, the Prime Minister praised Mohanlal, saying, “Shri Mohanlal Ji epitomises excellence and versatility. With a rich body of work spanning decades, he stands as a leading light of Malayalam cinema, theatre and is deeply passionate about the culture of Kerala. He has also delivered remarkable performances in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films.”

“His cinematic and theatrical brilliance across mediums is truly inspiring. Congratulations to him on being conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. May his accomplishments continue to inspire generations to come,” PM Modi added.

Government Announces Award
On Saturday, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced that Mohanlal will be honoured with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023 for his praiseworthy contribution to Indian cinema.

Taking to their official X account, the ministry wrote, “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.”

A Glorious Cinematic Journey
The ministry lauded Mohanlal’s illustrious career, stating, “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 to the superstar on September 23 at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony.

Previous Honors
Mohanlal was earlier conferred with the Padma Shri in 2001 and the Padma Bhushan in 2019 for his contributions to Indian cinema.

In 2009, he became the first actor in the Indian film industry to be awarded the honorary rank of lieutenant colonel in the Territorial Army.