Dadasaheb Phalke Award Buzz: Mohanlal’s Big Win – From Raja Harishchandra to Lalettan’s Laughs!
Oh, Bollywood buffs and Mollywood maniacs, gather ’round the virtual bonfire because today, September 21, 2025, the internet is exploding like a Diwali firecracker over the Dadasaheb Phalke Award! If you’ve been Googling “Dadasaheb Phalke Award winners” or “Mohanlal Dadasaheb Phalke,” you’re not alone – we’re all in this celebratory chaos together. The latest scoop? Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, our very own Lalettan, has bagged the 2023 edition of India’s cinema crown jewel. And just in time for the 71st National Film Awards tomorrow, September 23. Cue the confetti, the garlands, and maybe a quick rewatch of Drishyam to honor the man!
Who’s This Dadasaheb Dude? Not a Superhero, But Close!
Picture this: It’s 1913, and a guy named Dhundiraj Govind Phalke – affectionately called Dadasaheb – decides to flip the script on Indian entertainment. He cranks out Raja Harishchandra, our first full-length feature film, using a borrowed camera and a whole lot of homemade magic (rumor has it, he even painted the sets with tea stains for that authentic look). Fast-forward to 1969, and the Government of India says, “Hey, let’s name our fanciest film award after this pioneer!” Enter the Dadasaheb Phalke Award: a shiny Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a fancy shawl, and a cool ₹10 lakh to boot. It’s like the Oscars, but with more masala and zero red-carpet drama – unless Amitabh Bachchan’s involved, of course.
Over 50+ years, this award has been dished out to legends who’ve turned celluloid into gold. From directors who dreamed big to actors who emoted bigger, it’s the ultimate “You’ve Made It” badge. But here’s the funny bit: There are knock-off Phalke awards floating around like cheap sequels – International Film Festival ones, Excellence Awards, you name it. Shyam Benegal once griped about the name confusion, but the government shrugged, “Eh, not exact copies, so carry on.” It’s like calling your knockoff biryani “Biryani 2.0” – close, but no cigar!
The Winners’ Wall of Fame: A Starry, Sweaty Lineup
Let’s roll out the red carpet (virtually, to save on dry cleaning) for some hall-of-famers. Kicking off in 1969 with Devika Rani, the silver screen siren who co-founded Bombay Talkies and basically invented glamour. Then B.N. Reddy in 1974, the Telugu trailblazer. Fast-forward to 1990: Amitabh Bachchan, the angry young man who punched his way into our hearts (and box offices). Big B got his in 2019, presented by President Ram Nath Kovind in 2020 – talk about delayed gratification, like waiting for monsoon in May!
Raj Kapoor (1987) showed us dreams on wheels with his tramp antics. Lata Mangeshkar (1989) sang her way to it – because who doesn’t need a nightingale in their trophy case? South stars? Oh yeah: Rajkumar (Kannada, 1995), K. Balachander (Tamil, 2010), Adoor Gopalakrishnan (Malayalam, 2006 – first from Kerala!), and now our man Mohanlal. The full list reads like a who’s who of filmdom: V. Shantaram, Satyajit Ray, B.R. Chopra, Asha Bhosle, Manoj Kumar… even singers like M.S. Viswanathan and Ilaiyaraaja. Posthumous nods? Prithviraj Kapoor (1971) and Vinod Khanna (2017) – because legends never really fade to black.
- 1969: Devika Rani – The OG diva.
- 2019: Amitabh Bachchan – Shahenshah of swag.
- 2022: Mithun Chakraborty – Disco dancer to lifetime achiever.
- 2023: Mohanlal – The versatile volcano!
Mohanlal: From Sidekick Shenanigans to Phalke Glory
Ah, Mohanlal – the man who’s acted in over 400 films, directed a few, produced some bangers, and still finds time for philanthropy (hello, AMMA strikes and hospital builds). Born in 1960 in Kerala, he started as a snot-nosed kid in a 1971 flick, then exploded as the charming sidekick in Manjil Virinja Pookkal (1980). But who can forget his cop chaos in 12th Man? Or the mind-bending twists in Drishyam? The guy’s got range: From gut-busting comedies where he dances like a tipsy uncle at a wedding, to intense dramas that leave you ugly-crying into your idli.
He’s not just Malayalam’s king; he’s dipped toes in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, even Hindi (Company, anyone?). Awards? National Film Awards galore, Padma Bhushan, the works. But the Phalke? It’s the cherry on his coconut barfi. Announced yesterday by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, PM Modi tweeted, “Mohanlal ji epitomises excellence and versatility!” I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw called him a cultural icon from Kerala’s “adipoli” land. And Mohanlal? Humble as ever: “Deeply humbled.” Tomorrow, President Droupadi Murmu hands it over at Vigyan Bhawan – expect tears, cheers, and maybe a spontaneous song.
Why It Matters: More Than a Shiny Medal
This award isn’t just bling; it’s a nod to cinema’s soul-stirrers. In a world of remakes and rage-bait trailers, it reminds us of storytellers who built empires from scratch. Mohanlal’s win? A shoutout to South Indian cinema’s quiet revolution – no capes, just killer scripts. As we gear up for tomorrow’s ceremony, let’s binge a Mohanlal marathon. Who knows, maybe it’ll inspire your next family talent show disaster.
So, there you have it – the Dadasaheb Phalke lowdown, with extra spice. From Phalke’s silent reels to Mohanlal’s booming laughs, Indian cinema’s a riot. What’s your fave Phalke winner? Spill in the comments – or better, re-enact a scene for the ‘gram!
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