Home » Features » Mohanlal at 64! From Manichitratazhu to Drishyam, look at his iconic Malayalam hits and their Bollywood remakes
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Mohanlal at 64! From Manichitratazhu to Drishyam, look at his iconic Malayalam hits and their Bollywood remakes

Mohanlal's cinematic brilliance is evident in how his Malayalam classics have inspired numerous Bollywood remakes.

Mohanlal/Instagram
On the 64th birthday of the great actor Mohanlal, we can take a moment to remember his many accomplishments in Indian cinema, and in Malayalam cinema in particular. The actor has appeared in countless legendary films that will live on in people's memories. He is renowned for his natural acting technique and huge range. Hindi remakes of several of his critically acclaimed Malayalam films brought his brilliant stories and charismatic characters to a new generation of moviegoers. The remakes of Mohanlal's films, which range from severe thrillers to screwball comedies, are evidence of the lasting influence of his cinematic legacy and its universal appeal.

Mohanlal films remade in Bollywood

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Poochakkoru Mookkuthi (JioCinema) - Hungama (Disney+ Hotstar)

In 1984, Priyadarshan wrote and directed the screwball comedy Poochakkoru Mookkuthi. Mohanlal, Shankar, Menaka, Jagathy Sreekumar, C. I. Paul, Sukumari, Sreenivasan, Kuthiravattam Pappu, Baiju Santhosh, and M. G. Soman are all part of the ensemble cast.Priyadarshan wrote and directed the comedy film Hungama in 2003. With Shakti Kapoor, Rajpal Yadav, Tiku Talsania, and Shoma Anand in supporting roles, the film has Akshaye Khanna, Paresh Rawal, Aftab Shivdasani, and Rimi Sen as the lead actors.ALSO READ: Best 5 classic Mohanlal films to watch on Sun NXT - Rajavinte Makan, Thalavattam, and more

Boeing Boeing (JioCinema) - Garam Masala (Disney+ Hotstar)

Priyadarshan wrote and directed the romantic comedy Boeing Boeing (1985). With the arrival of his friend Anilkumar (Mukesh) and other roadblocks in the film, the situation becomes more problematic for Shyam (Mohanlal), who is seeing three flight attendants simultaneously.Priyadarshan wrote and directed the comedy film Garam Masala in 2005. It stars Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Neha Dhupia, and Rimi Sen. In the film, two companion photographers, Shyam "Sam" Salgaonkar (Abraham) and Makarand "Mac" Deendayal Chatpatiya (Kumar), are the centre of the plot. After returning from an international vacation, Shyam tries to cause trouble in Makarand's life by letting him be with three women.

Rajavinte Makan (Eros Now) - Kanwarlal (YouTube)

Thampi Kannanthanam produced and directed the gangster film Rajavinte Makan (1986). Dennis Joseph's script and Sidney Sheldon's 1980 novel Rage of Angels served as its foundation. Mohan Jose, Ambika, Ratheesh, and Mohanlal are the stars. The film follows Vincent Gomes as he plots vengeance against N. Krishnadas, the home minister.S. S. Ravichandra directed Kanwarlal, an action film from 1988. Bappi Lahiri composed the score for the film, which starred Jeetendra, Raj Babbar, and Sujata Mehta.

Thalavattam (JioCinema) - Kyon Ki (Prime Video)

Priyadarshan wrote and directed the 1986 drama film Thalavattam, featuring Mohanlal, Lizy, M. G. Soman, and Karthika as the main characters. Based on the 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, it loosely adapts the 1962 book of the same name by Ken Kesey. The protagonist, Vinod, is a strange new inmate at a mental institution.Directed and written by Priyadarshan, Kyon Ki is a romantic drama film from 2005. Starring Salman Khan, Jackie Shroff, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Suniel Shetty, Rimi Sen, and Om Puri, the film follows the story of Anand, a mentally ill patient whose past intrigues a female doctor named Tanvi, who puts her own beliefs to the test and confronts her father, the tyrannical administrator of the asylum where Anand is admitted.

Chitram (Disney+ Hotstar) - Pyar Hua Chori Chori (YouTube)

Written and directed by Priyadarshan, Chithram is a screwball comedy film from 1988. Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair makes a cameo appearance in the film, which also stars Mohanlal, Ranjini, Nedumudi Venu, Lizy, Sreenivasan, M. G. Soman, Sukumari, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Shanavas.K. Bapayya directed the 1991 romantic comedy Pyar Hua Chori Chori, which starred Mithun Chakraborty, Gautami, Shikha Swaroop, Shafi Inamdar, Shakti Kapoor, and Anupam Kher.

Kireedam (Disney+ Hotstar and Prime Video) - Gardish (YouTube)

In the 1989 action drama film Kireedam, Sibi Malayil served as director and A. K. Lohithadas as writer. Supporting characters in the film include Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Mohan Raj, Murali, Sreenath, Kundara Johny, Cochin Haneefa, Jagathy Sreekumar, Philomina, Usha, Jagadish, Maniyanpilla Raju, Mamukkoya, Oduvil Unnikrishnan, and Kanakalatha, in addition to Mohanlal, Thilakan, and Parvathy Jayaram. A mix of bad luck and human frailty dashes the dreams and ambitions of a young man named Sethumadhavan (Mohanlal) in the film. The film explores how society shapes individuals and forces them to conform to specific roles, irrespective of their personal preferences.Shammi Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Aishwarya, Dimple Kapadia, and Amrish Puri were the stars of Priyadarshan's 1993 action-crime film Gardish.

Kilukkam (Disney+ Hotstar) - Muskurahat (ShemarooMe [OTTplay Premium])

Priyadarshan directed and Venu Nagavalli wrote Kilukkam, a comedy-drama film from 1991. The story set in Ooty revolves around tourist guide Joji (Mohanlal) and photographer Nishchal (Jagathy Sreekumar). They happen to meet a lavish tourist, Nandini (Revathi), whom they bet their fortunes on. It also stars Thilakan, Innocent, K. B. Ganesh Kumar, Sukumari, and Sharat Saxena, with Murali and Jagadish making cameo appearances. Priyadarshan directed Muskurahat, a 1992 comedy-drama film starring Jay Mehta, Revathi, Amrish Puri, Anil Dhawan, Sharat Saxena, Annu Kapoor, and Jagdeep.

Manichithrathazhu (Disney+ Hotstar and Prime Video) - Bhool Bhulaiyaa (Disney+ Hotstar)

Madhu Muttam wrote and Fazil directed the epic psychological horror film Manichitrathazhu in 1993. This film has Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, and Shobana in the leads, while Nedumudi Venu, Innocent, Vinaya Prasad, Sridhar, K.P.A.C. Lalitha, Sudheesh, Thilakan, and K.B. Ganesh Kumar, among others, are in supporting roles. An old traditional home in Muttom (near Haripad) belonging to a central Travancore Channar family, the Alummoottil meda, was the site of a tragic event in the nineteenth century, which serves as the basis for the story.Priyadarshan directed and Neeraj Vora wrote the 2007 psychological comedy horror film Bhool Bhulaiyaa. The film features Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, and Shiney Ahuja in the lead roles alongside Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Manoj Joshi, Asrani, Ameesha Patel, and Vikram Gokhale.

Minnaram (Disney+ Hotstar) - Hungama 2 (Disney+ Hotstar)

Priyadarshan wrote and directed the 1994 romantic tragedy film Minnaram, which was based on a novel by Cheriyan Kalpakavadi. An ensemble cast including Sankaradi, K. P. Ummer, Jagathy Sreekumar, Geetha Vijayan, Venu Nagavally, Lalu Alex, and Thilakan supports lead actors Mohanlal and Shobana.In 2021, Priyadarshan will helm the romantic comedy Hungama 2. It follows, in the same vein, a spiritual sequel to Hungama, the director's own 2003 film. With Paresh Rawal, Shilpa Shetty, Meezaan Jafri, and Pranitha Subhash, the film boasts an impressive cast.

Chandralekha (Disney+ Hotstar) - Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega (Prime Video and ShemarooMe [OTTplay Premium])

Priyadarshan wrote the screenplay, directed the film, and produced it alongside Fazil in 1997 with the comedy Chandralekha. Mohanlal, Sreenivasan, Pooja Batra, Innocent, Nedumudi Venu, and Sukanya are the main actors, while Anil Kapoor makes a brief appearance. The female protagonists' names, Chandra and Lekha, are a portmanteau in the film's title. The 1995 Hollywood film While You Were Sleeping influenced the central plot.Raj Kanwar directed this romantic comedy from 2000, while Sajid Nadiadwala, Rumi Jaffrey, and Sanjay Verma produced it. Shah Rukh Khan made a cameo appearance in the film, although the main actors are Salman Khan, Rani Mukerji, and Preity Zinta.

Udayananu Tharam (ManoramaMAX [OTTplay Premium]) - Shortkut (Prime Video)

In 2005, Sreenivasan and Rosshan Andrews collaborated on the screenplay for Udayananu Tharam, a black comedy-satire film. This film features Mohanlal, Jagathy Sreekumar, Meena, Sreenivasan, and Mukesh. Udayananu Tharam satirises the Malayalam film industry. The plot centres on the artistic and financial collapse that hit the once-glimmering Malayalam cinema industry around the start of the new millennium. It follows Udayabhanu (Mohanlal), an assistant director with big dreams of directing his own film. But Saroj Kumar's crafty friend and junior artist, Rajappan Thengamoodu (Sreenivasan), foils his plans by stealing his screenplay.Neeraj Vora directed this 2009 film, Short Kut: The Con Is On. At the forefront of the film are Akshaye Khanna, Arshad Warsi, and Amrita Rao. Upon its premiere, it received largely unfavourable reviews from critics.

Drishyam (Disney+ Hotstar) - Drishyam (JioCinema, Disney+ Hotstar, and Netflix)

Jeethu Joseph wrote and directed the 2013 criminal thriller Drishyam. Mohanlal and Meena are the lead stars, with supporting roles from Ansiba Hassan, Esther Anil, Kalabhavan Shajohn, Asha Sharath, Siddique, Roshan Basheer, and Neeraj Madhav. When Varun Prabhakar—the son of IG Geetha Prabhakar—goes missing, Georgekutty and his family find themselves under suspicion. The story recounts their battle to clear their names.Nishikant Kamat directed the 2015 suspense thriller Drishyam. The main characters of the film are Rajat Kapoor, Ajay Devgn, Shriya Saran, Ishita Dutta, and Tabu. Both critics and businesses saw it as a hit.

Drishyam 2 (Prime Video) - Drishyam 2 (Prime Video)

Directed and written by Jeethu Joseph, Drishyam 2: The Resumption is a crime thriller released directly on Prime Video in 2021. This film is a continuation of the 2013 film Drishyam (six years later) and features Mohanlal, Asha Sharath, Meena, Ansiba Hassan, Esther Anil, and Murali Gopy.After Nishikant Kamat's demise, Abhishek Pathak directed the suspenseful criminal thriller Drishyam 2. This film follows the 2015 success of Drishyam. Ishita Dutta, Mrunal Jadhav, Rajat Kapoor, and Kamlesh Sawant are among the supporting cast members who appear alongside Ajay Devgn, Akshaye Khanna, Shriya Saran, and Tabu in the film. The events of the first film took place seven years ago, as shown in the sequel.ALSO READ: 5 best Mammootty-Mohanlal films to stream on Sun NXT - Twenty Twenty, Padayottam, and more Share
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