'Entered cinema from this same city'; Mohanlal gets emotional during felicitation ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Actor Mohanlal turned emotional during the felicitation program conducted by the state government at the central stadium in the capital city on Saturday. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner said he was carrying more emotional weight than he felt during the award ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi.

Mohanlal was felicitated by the Chief Minister with a gold medal and a certificate of appreciation written by poet Prabha Varma on behalf of the Kerala government in the program titled ‘Malayalam Vaanolam Lal Salaam’ held at the capital city on Saturday.

Mohanlal:

“This welcome is from Malayalees who made me who I am, and the government they elected. Even the acting skills I have acquired over the years cannot hide the emotional burden I am feeling due to these reasons. I stand before you with a greater emotional burden than the moment I received the coveted Dadasaheb Phalke Award in Delhi. This land is where I lived with my mother and father, unaware of the complexities of life. At a time when I knew nothing about cinema, some of our friends decided to make a film in this city. Soon, the love for cinema took us to Madras. It was from here that a few of my friends sent my photo for an audition in Fazil’s movie, all without my knowledge.

In some months’ time, I played the character of Narendran in Fazil's movie 'Manjil Virinja Pookkal'. I am amazed at where fate is taking me. Sometimes I spent my time doing retrospection on the job choice I made. During those times of uncertainty, it was the affectionate chant of ‘Lalletta’ from the public that held me back strong in this same profession. I think that all the awards I have received are for Malayalees, Malayalam and Kerala.”