The Magic of Lal Yettan
If there is one actor I am especially fond of in India other than our own Kamal and Rajini, its got to be Mohanlal of Kerala. Not many outside Kerala know about this versatile actor’s talents. I would say he is on par with the best actors of our country along with Kamal, Amitabh and Naseeruddin Shah.
Mohanlal’s forte is his ability to play any kind of character - comedy or serious with aplomb. I have never found him to be too worked up about any role. He can just breeze into a role and out of it in no time.
Talking about Lal will not be complete without talking about his association with the popular Malayalam director Priyadharshan. The two have worked in about 25 films and they are one of the most celebrated actor-director combinations.
Mohanlal has given some absolutely brilliant comedies along with that genius script writer-cum-comedian Sreenivasan. I can laugh out loud just by seeing Sreenivasan on screen. And i have to tell you its all clean fun.
And some of my all time favorite movies of Mohanlal are:
Kaataathe Kilikoodu (Bharathan’s film)
Gandhi Nagar Second street
Chitram
Dhasaradham
Pattanam Pattanam
Chandralekha
Vandanam
Uncle Bun(he playes a la Eddie Murphy - a lovable giant of a man, a role neither Kamal nor Shivaji has played till date)
Manichithrathaazhu
Iruvar(tamil as we all know)
His Highness Abdullah
He also did one mega budget movie No 20. Madras Mail along with Mammooty.
And I can never forget Lal’s pranks as a drunk young man in that Trivandrum-Madras Mail. Unbelievable performance. He can bring to life, a drunk youth without an iota of over-acting.
After a string of flops (he worked with a few directors like Shaji Kailas who are, in my opinion, solely responsible for bringing the standard of Malayalam Cinema on par with or below Tamizh Cinema in the recent years), Lal yettan was back with a super hit Udhayananu Dhaaram, based on a wonderful script written by Sreenivasan. I am yet to see the movie though.
Lal yettan truly rocks.
July 15th, 2005 at 7:08 am
Prabhu…You’ve kindled my spirits.
LAL is a great actor.
I love watching LAL movies.! I was attracted to LAL thanks to
1) Kilukkam
2) His Highness Abdullah
3) Soorya Gayathri
4) Manichitra thazu
5) Thilakam
6) Bharatham
To name a few.!
Priya dharshan / Lal dynamite combination.!
I fee sad he didn’t shine in Tamil.!
I am yet to watch U-Tharam.!
I will…one of these days.
Class Actor…..! My favorite.!
Thanks for writing about Mr.Mohanlal…..Uncle Bun.!
July 15th, 2005 at 10:03 am
u still have to see many good movie prabhu.
check out my list.
http://jackofall.blogspot.com/2005/05/my-list-of-mohanlal-movies.html
July 15th, 2005 at 10:17 am
Senthil
I know i have missed out on a lot of his movies.
nowadays i dont even have the hope.
i hvae forrest gump lying around my house for 6 months and am yet complete the movie. koncham pending.
Same with Shawshank redemption.
July 15th, 2005 at 10:23 am
I had seen his HHA, Chitram, Vandanam, No.20 madras mail, the movie with revathy (kidnap story.. what was it) and few more. Fantastic actor.
Hvn’t you seen the latest flick ‘udhayananu tharum’? Reports were good.
July 15th, 2005 at 10:27 am
Ram
i am not sure, but i think u r talking abt kilukkam.
Amazing performer.
July 15th, 2005 at 1:09 pm
nan partha opra mohanlal padam vandu iruvar, absolutel brilliant acting,
i agree he is a gr8, annal dont insult lal by placing him in the league with amithab, avarikku (amithab) act pannava teriyadu!
cycle gapilla neengal tamilcinema waste nu sollittengal?
July 15th, 2005 at 8:47 pm
u understand Malayalam? Great !
and naan paatha Lal’ movies, Siraichaalai apram oru Malayalam movie - Revathy payithiyama irupaa..ooty’la thaan movie fulla irukum (I forgot the movie name).
mm yes he is a good actor !
July 15th, 2005 at 9:17 pm
J
i think thats kilukkam.
“mm yes he is a good actor”
yedho mohanlal puzhaichu po
ndraa madhiri oru paraatu
ellam neram
July 16th, 2005 at 1:39 am
hmmm.. bayangara busyaa..??
Well atleast dont miss to see his 2 national award winners
bharatham and vanaprastham
July 16th, 2005 at 6:17 am
@Senthil
Busy ellam illa senthil.
i think even watching movies is a habit and requires deliberate effort.
busya irundha ipdi blog pannuvena?
July 16th, 2005 at 11:21 am
LOL :)))
Kilukam - yes yes !!
Ada, inna ba ithu. post padichu comment pannaa kooda salichukeerangho
July 16th, 2005 at 11:09 pm
Lal is a good actor, my fav is Mammootty.
I think his greatest performances are in Iruvar (obviously! Anyone would get an oscar if they get to act in a Mani Ratnam movie. He knows how to use the talents), Vanaprastham and Kireedom.
BTW, Thanks for dropping by.