For people who have heard about him, he is an Enigma; for others who have seen him close- in real life, he remains a Marvel. For majority who have seen him on-screen, he is a phenomenon; for detractors, he still remains a Wonder. For his contemporaries he is a Revelation; and for gen-next he remains a magical Oracle.
Maverick genius Mohanlal gets candid revealing his favorite top 6 performances (though with many more in fray giving stiff competition in his illustrious career) in an exclusive chat with Shobha. W of Rediff.
1. Manjil Virinja Pookkal
Director: Fazil
This film will always be close to my heart because it was my first release. Manjil Virinja Pookkal, made with newcomers [Shankar, Poornima Jayaram], changed the face of Malayalam cinema. Nobody expected it to be such a big hit.
2. Manichitrathazhu
Director: Fazil
Manichitrathazhu is one of those films that do not get made often. Even today, when it is shown on television, people call me up and talk about it passionately.
I make my entry only towards the intermission in Fazil's films. So also in Manichitrathazhu. I play a psychiatrist from the US. It was challenging, difficult role. For example, in one of the most important scenes, I sit on a chair and narrate the entire story of a disturbed woman [played by Shobhana, for which the actress won the National Award]. Luckily, the long narration did not bore people; we sustained their interest.
There is this song, Pazham tamizh paattil, which I sing in one of the most emotionally charged scenes after locking up a lady in a room. That scene could have gone out of control if not for Fazil. He did not let the emotion slip away. It was a daring act by him.
3. Iruvar
Director: Mani Ratnam
Iruvar was a very interesting film because I was 'supposedly' portraying the Tamil legend M G Ramachandran. That is challenging for any actor.
I had asked the director why he chose me. I don't resemble MGR at all. But after the film was released, a lot of MGR's old friends asked me whether I knew MGR personally. They felt that I walked, ran and spoke exactly like him! But it was not intentional at all.
4. Kireedam
Director: Sibi Malayil
I won my first National Award, the Special Jury Award, for this film. It had a very sad story. People tell me they get a lump in their throat when they see some of the emotional scenes in this film. They ask me whether I also felt sad when we shot it.
The film was shot in a small village and hundreds of villagers gathered to watch the shooting. When I was about to cry in the last scene, the crowds became uncontrollable. In their midst, I don't think I would have felt the same amount of sadness the character felt.
I live as an actor only during the time between 'Action' and 'Cut'. I might have felt his pain during that period, but I can't remember it now.
I don't think viewers could have felt the pain of the hero if it were not for Thilakkan chettan who acted as my father, or Ponnamma chechi who acted as my mother. Kireedam would not have been so touching if not for them.
5. Bharatham
Director: Sibi Malayil
Bharatham is not my favourite because I won the National Award for Best Actor. Actually, we were to shoot a different story. When we were just about to start, we learnt that someone else was making a film with a similar story. I said, let's drop the idea.
Then Lohitadas, the writer, got this spark and started writing another story. In no time, we started shooting again. It was a music-oriented film. We recorded the songs and shot the film at a brisk pace. On day 53, we released it. It was just amazing!
Sometimes, I feel that if something has to happen, it will. The film became a huge hit and I won the National Award.
6. Vaanaprastham
Director: Shaji N Karun
As an actor, I consider it my good fortune to have been able to mingle with some very simple but great people, and act as one. I mean the Kathakali artistes [Mohanlal played a tortured Kathakali artiste in this film]. Then, of course, I consider travelling to the Cannes International Film Festival with my own film [he produced Vaanaprastham] an honour.
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