The 50 best films of Mohanlal
I did not have trouble choosing 50 films from a filmography of more than 300 titles (and Lalettan is my favorite actor). There are a few potentially controversial omissions like Bharatham, Thenmavin Kombath and some of Lalettan's overrated post 2000 films which are pretty unbearable :) (I am sure true fans of Malayalam cinema would agree with me). I also do not remember much of G. Aravnidan's Vaasthuhara, so I have excluded that one as well. Please post your comments, bouquets and brickbats :).
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50 titles
- DirectorSibi MalayilStarsMohanlalRekhaMuraliRajeev, an orphan eccentric millionaire, has his own strange taste towards everything. With less knowledge about family relationships, he struggles hard to achieve his aim to become a father without marrying.Lalettan plays a lovable millionaire playboy who wants to adopt a kid. This is a potentially controversial choice as Lalettan's no.1 film. The plot is absurd. But the film made everyone cry when it first came out. And Lalettan is at his loveable best here.
- DirectorBharat GopyStarsMohanlalSukumaranJayaramKuttan's family is heavily indebted by the wayward lifestyle of his elder brother, Ravi. However, Ravi's untimely death forces Kuttan to take the responsibility of the family. Watch the full movie, Ulsavapittennu online, only on Eros Now.A tragedy about the prince in a declining a royal family who finds it tough to deal with the outside world after his elder brother's wayward ways leaves the family in debt . The final scene is heartbreaking. This film was directed by Bharat Gopi.
- DirectorFazilStarsMohanlalNadia MoiduPadminiA young girl on an unannounced visit changes the lives of her lonely grandmother and several other people in the neighbourhood by her joie de vivre.This is more of a Nadia Moidu film. She upstages Lalettan in that "naked cooling glass" scene. This is Fazil's best film before he started to make sentimental nonsense. There is the wonderful "Aayiram Kannumai" song as well.
- DirectorPriyadarshanStarsMohanlalMukeshLizyA man dates three air hostesses simultaneously with the help of his friend. Works like a charm in the start but things start to crumble which leads to a series of funny events.Duryodhanan beedi valichooo ..... :) An early Priyadarshan film based on the Jerry Lewis film of the same name. Lalettan and Mukesh are rival plagiarizing photographers who find it tough to handle their girlfriends. It is a wonderful morally repugnant comedy.
- DirectorSathyan AnthikadStarsMohanlalSreenivasanShobanaAfter losing their jobs in Kerala, Dasan and Vijayan decide to migrate to the Middle East. But they end up in Tamil Nadu where they are mistaken as two CID officers by a group of smugglers.ANGANE PAAVANAZHI SHAVAMAI! One of the most famous comedies in the history of Malayalam cinema. Mohanlal and Sreenivasan as a couple of lower middle class office employees who are tricked into buying a cow and then go on a trip to Dubai after which they land up in Madras are hilarious. Thilakan is also brilliant as M.N.Nambiar. Sathyan Anthikad sure knew how to make a comedy with some heart breaking scenes.
- DirectorPriyadarshanStarsMohanlalSreenivasanMukeshShambu and Shivan fall in love with girls of rich families who are at war with each other. Hilarious sequences pass by as they utilize the rivalry between the two families to achieve their goals.Another excellent morally repugnant comedy like BOEING BOEING. This film features an ensemble cast. The scene where Mohanlal (as Driver Shambu) upstages America returned Bhavan (Srinivasan) by speaking english is a classic! Cochin Hanifa and Jagathi are sensational in this.
- DirectorPriyadarshanStarsMohanlalShobanaSreenivasanC Pavithran Nair, a young contractor faces several challenges and more problems crop up when an IAS Officer who happens to be his ex girlfriend causes him trouble.Thamarasheri Chwaram! :) Lalettan takes on his corrupt brother and brother in law in this bitter sweet comedy. Srinivasan in a rare serious role is also excellent!
- DirectorP. PadmarajanStarsMohanlalGavin PackardManiyanpilla RajuMohanlal helps a white man (Fabien) escape from Kerala Jail for money, but turns out for ulterior motives.Drugs and sex in Kovalam. Lalettan plays a dubious businessman who is embroiled in a drug deal gone wrong. Gavan became a bit of a rage in Kerala after this film.
- DirectorI.V. SasiStarsMohanlalNapoleanRevathiNeelakandan squanders away the inheritance left by his father. However, his life turns upside down when his mother reveals a terrible secret on her deathbed that changes the course of his life.Lalettan plays a cruel and sexist heavy. This film is just really really tough. Lalettan is sensational as Mangalasheri Neelakandan.
- DirectorThampi KannanthanamStarsMohanlalAmbikaRatheeshThe film follows underworld don Vincent Gomas (Mohanlal) and his rivalry against the Kerala Home minister N. Krishnadas (Ratheesh).One of Laletan's earliest films as an underworld don.
- DirectorSathyan AnthikadStarsMohanlalRevathiMuraliMurali returns to his home in Kerala after working in Dubai for seven years. He decides to do social service for the people in his hometown, but fails due to the local politicians.Hilarious pro-middle class film with Lalettan as a Dubai returned bus "udama" (owner) who finds the going tough, handling employees and vicious communists.
- DirectorPriyadarshanStarsMohanlalKarthikaLizyVinod/Vinu (played by Mohanlal) is mentally ill and is hospitalized in the institution run by Dr. Ravindran ( M G Soman). Story progresses as Vinod recovers with the help of Dr. Savithri, Dr. Ravindran's daughter (Karthika) and Dr. Unnikrishnan (Nedumudi Venu) who finds that Vinu fell ill after the accidental death of his fiancée Anitha (Lizy). Later Vinu and Savithri fall in love but Savithri is already engaged to be married to her cousin, Hari(Mukesh). Plot progresses as Dr. Ravindran opposes the romance between the doctor and the recovered patient.Not exactly a remake of ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOOS NEST. Lissi playing the guitar was terrible :) but Lalettan carries this film. Soman was excellent as a cruel doctor.
- DirectorSathyan AnthikadStarsMohanlalShobanaManiyanpilla RajuBalagopalan, an educated man, strives to save his earnings for his sister's marriage. He also deals with responsibilities towards his family in a society that is ailing from widespread unemployment.The trials and tribulations of middle class Malayalis. I liked the ending where they give up city life and go back to their village.
- DirectorI.V. SasiStarsMohanlalRahmanNedumudi VenuAn over-enthusiastic assistant manager lures two debt-ridden subordinates into a conspiracy, which failed miserably, causing a chain of incidents, that would affect their personal life and career, when revealed to public.Lalettan plays a rare murderous womanizing villain.
- DirectorMani RatnamStarsMohanlalAishwarya Rai BachchanPrakash RajA struggling actor and a writer-politician become friends as young men and rise to great heights in cinema and politics respectively. But when both become contenders for the top political post in the state, a rift develops between them.Its probably Lalettan's greatest achievement as an actor. Mohanlal-Manirthnam-A.R.Rehman and Santosh Shivan working together and they dont dissapoint, each of them is at the top of their game. This film is like a lost classic. Lalettan is so refined in this film. Its a shame that this film did not lead to better roles for him. It has been downhill for Lalettan after Iruvar.
- DirectorVenu NagavalliStarsShankarMohanlalUrvashiNandan loves Devi, but she is compelled to marry someone else. Meanwhile, Thara loses her lover Sunny in an accident. Circumstances bring Nandan and Thara together and finally unite in marriage.Lalettan plays a boisterous young man in this sentimental love story directed by Venu Nagavalli.
- DirectorP. PadmarajanStarsMohanlalSumalathaParvathiJayakrishnan falls in love with two girls, Radha and Clara, and fights his confusion about whom he should marry and spend his life with.Another great achievement for Lalettan as a Thrisshurkaran. And he does not come across as funny lying on the beach like a blue whale cavorting with Sumalatha, showing off his protruding breasts and pot belly and hirsuteness. Now thats the hallmark of a great actor. The film had a wonderful background score.
- DirectorSathyan AnthikadStarsMohanlalSreenivasanKaramana Janardanan NairCID Officers Ramdas and Vijayan go to Kerala to find the murderer of a police officer. While doing so, they face a dangerous crime syndicate that deals in drug trafficking.A worthy sequel to Nadodikaatu. I personally attended the shooting of this film and met Lalettan, Sreenivasan, N.L.Balakrishnan and Innocent.
- DirectorBharathanStarsMohanlalSalim GhouseSumalathaBalan and Raju's friendly relationship turns into rivalry when Raju murders his wife and robs his hard-earned money. Balan decides to take revenge on Raju.Bharathan tries to make a Western and succeeds quite well. Salim Ghouse as the villain was excellent.
- DirectorSibi MalayilStarsMohanlalAugustineJanardananSadayam follows the final days of a condemned prisoner, for murdering two little girls.One of Lalettans darkest roles. The scene where he stabs those kids to death was pretty unsettling.
- DirectorA.K. LohithadasStarsMohanlalManju WarrierLalResponsible for the accidental death of a man he met on the streets of Mumbai, Vishwam returns to Kerala to give the news to the latter's debt- ridden family, but instead falls in love with his sister.Probably his last great film? Manju Warrier was sensational in this. Boy what an actress!
- DirectorPriyadarshanStarsMohanlalShankarMenakaThe misunderstanding caused due to two women having the same name escalate wildly out of control for everyone involved.Another morally repugnant comedy from Priyadarshan.
- DirectorSathyan AnthikadStarsNedumudi VenuBharat GopyMohanlalThe film explores a love triangle between the characters played by Nedumudi Venu, Mohanlal and Menaka. Appunni and Ammukutty are lovers from childhood. Ammukutty's father Ayyappan Nair arranges her marriage with a rich school teacher, Menon Mash. Ammukutty is happy to break her relationship with Appunni and get married to the rich Menon Mash.Its actually Nedumudi's film. But Lalettan is excellent as a spineless school mash who nearly steals the village belle.
- DirectorSathyan AnthikadStarsMohanlalKarthikaThilakanA landlord needs to sell his property to pay his debts but his tenants are adamant on not vacating the house. Tired of trying every means, he decides to take help of his cop friend who has fallen for the tenant's daughter.A nice little bitter-sweet middle class comedy. It is actually a very depressing film if you think about it.
- DirectorT. HariharanStarsMohanlalGeethaThilakanIndira's life turns upside down as she is awarded life sentence for murdering Avarachan, a landlord, who killed a young tribal woman after raping her.This film featured Geetha's best performance.