Mohanlal to receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Why in news ?

• Mohanlal, the megastar of Indian cinema and Malayalam superstar, has been announced to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. He will be presented with the award at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony on September 23, 2025.

 About:

• Born: May 21, 1960, Kerala
• Education: Completed her primary education in Kerala
• She trained in theater and acting before entering the film industry.
• Mohanlal has acted in over 400 films so far.
• He has won the hearts of audiences with his acting in Malayalam as well as Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi films.
• He has been awarded the National Film Award (Best Actor) twice.
• His versatility and dedication in a career spanning nearly four and a half decades has elevated Indian cinema to new heights.

Dadasaheb Phalke Award

• The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is the highest honor in Indian cinema.
• This award is given to individuals who have made a lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.
•  It is also known as the "Bharat Ratna" of the film world.

Establishment

• This award was established in 1969.
• It is named after Dhundiraj Govind Phalke (Dadasaheb Phalke), the father of Indian cinema.
• Dadasaheb Phalke made India's first feature film, "Raja Harishchandra," in 1913.

Awarding Body

• The award is given by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.
• ​​It is presented during the National Film Awards ceremony.
• The selection is made by a committee from the film industry.

Objective

• To honor artists who have made exceptional and lifelong contributions to Indian cinema.
• To inspire future generations and take cinema to new heights.

Key Facts

• The first Dadasaheb Phalke Award was given to actress Devika Rani in 1969.
• This award has so far been given to actors, actresses, directors, producers, musicians, playback singers, and technical experts.
• Prominent names honored with this honor include Satyajit Ray, Dilip Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Ashok Kumar, Amol Palekar, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth, Asha Bhosle, Waheeda Rehman and most recently (as announced in 2025) Mohanlal.