Mohanlal: Difference between revisions

Mohanlal has often been accused in the media for causing a crisis in Malayalam cinema due to the "superstar" effect.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20190918142917/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19881231-mammootty-and-mohan-lal-emerge-as-unprecedented-superstars-of-malayalam-films-798061-1988-12-31</ref> In 2005, 95 percent of box-office gross in Malayalam cinema came from Mohanlal, Mammootty, and Dileep films. He had been criticized for the high remuneration, preference for formulaic content and larger-than-life male-oriented roles that characterized most of his movies during that period.<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/12/09/stories/2005120901230100.htm The Hindu : Entertainment Thiruvananthapuram / Cinema : Whither the heroine?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928042749/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/12/09/stories/2005120901230100.htm|date=28 September 2013}} (9 December 2005)</ref><ref>T. N. Gopakumar [http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/94ff8a4a35a9b8876525698d002642a9/46344d1a8344a1f9652572df003429af/$FILE/A0190307.pdf Malayalam Cinema Faces a Theat] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725213203/http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/94ff8a4a35a9b8876525698d002642a9/46344d1a8344a1f9652572df003429af/$FILE/A0190307.pdf |date=25 July 2011 }}</ref> Mohanlal's many [[fan club]]s which are present throughout Kerala help in creating a buzz around new releases and ensure a good opening in movie screens, a crucial factor to the success of films in Kerala.<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/12/30/stories/2005123001380100.htm The Hindu : Entertainment Thiruvananthapuram : Boom year for Mollywood] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070921125535/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/12/30/stories/2005123001380100.htm|date=21 September 2007}} (30 December 2005)</ref>

The forest department filed a case against Mohanlal for keeping an elephant tusk at his home, under the [[Wildlife Protection Act, 1972]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/malayalam/news-and-interviews/Superstar-Mohanlal-booked-for-possessing-elephant-tusk/articleshow/14144301.cms | title= Superstar Mohanlal booked for possessing elephant tusk| date=15 June 2012 | work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> The case was first dismissed by a local Court in [[Perumbavoor]] and later by the [[High Court of Kerala]] in 2012. An individual from Thrissur filed a petition that the officials had gone out of the way to favour Mohanlal. It was alleged in the petition that actor and former minister [[K. B. Ganesh Kumar]] and forest officials were trying to save Mohanlal and overthrow the case related to the discovery of four elephant tusks at the actor's house during an income tax raid. The petitioner went to Kerala HC, but the Court dismissed the case and observed that "there was nothing to show that the State government or its officers had acted in favour of the actor. Besides, the petitioner had not been able to point out any illegality or irregularities in the investigation."<ref>{{cite news|author=Mathrubhumi|title=Confiscation of tusk: Plea against Mohanlal dismissed|url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/news/malayalam/confiscation-of-tusk-plea-against-mohanlal-dismissed-137109.html|accessdate=5 January 2015|agency=Mathrubhumi|issue=Kochi|publisher=Mathrubhumi|date=18 June 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105113506/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/news/malayalam/confiscation-of-tusk-plea-against-mohanlal-dismissed-137109.html|archivedate=5 January 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd">{{cite news|title=Are petitions against Mohanlal aimed at publicity, asks HC|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Are-petitions-against-Mohanlal-aimed-at-publicity-asks-HC/articleshow/29125683.cms|accessdate=5 January 2015|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=21 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140131022328/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Are-petitions-against-Mohanlal-aimed-at-publicity-asks-HC/articleshow/29125683.cms|archive-date=31 January 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> "Mohanlal's lawyer senior advocate M. K. Damodaran informed the court that police are investigating the case and the final report has not yet been submitted. When the lawyer of the plaintiff mentioned that the tusks are still kept in his house, the defendant's lawyer explained that a receipt for the tusks has been obtained and is kept with Mohanlal".<ref>{{cite news|last=K. P.|first=Bhavadas|title=Court wonders whether the elephant tusk case is for publicity.|url=http://www.metromatinee.com/news-articles/court-wonders-whether-the-elephant-tusk-case-is-for-publicity-7651|accessdate=5 January 2015|agency=Metromatinee|publisher=Metromatinee|date=22 January 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105113435/http://www.metromatinee.com/news-articles/court-wonders-whether-the-elephant-tusk-case-is-for-publicity-7651|archivedate=5 January 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Dismissing the petition, the court criticized the petitioner for approaching the High Court even without inquiring about the present status of the case. "There is no public interest in the petition, but it is aimed only at publicity", the court had held.<ref name="Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd"/>

==Personal life==

Mohanlal is a self-described foodie.<ref name = "rd"/><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/04/08/stories/2006040803360300.htm | location=Chennai, India | work=[[The Hindu]] | title=Stirring it up with Mohanlal | date=8 April 2006 | access-date=25 May 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071127035120/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/04/08/stories/2006040803360300.htm | archive-date=27 November 2007 | url-status=live }}</ref> He also enjoys melodious music. Mohanlal is a strong believer in destiny and spirituality. He describes himself as a religious and spiritual person,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mohanlal about Pranav Mohanlal's perspectives about spirituality|url=http://onlookersmedia.in/latestnews/mohanlal-pranav-mohanlals-perspectives-spirituality/|website=onlookersmedia.in|access-date=9 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404130810/http://onlookersmedia.in/latestnews/mohanlal-pranav-mohanlals-perspectives-spirituality/|archive-date=4 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and likes to read [[Osho (Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh)|Osho]], [[J. Krishnamurti]], [[Aurobindo]] and [[Ramana Maharshi]].<ref name="toi1"/> He has often stated that the turn of events in his life, including his film career, was accidental.<ref name = "hindu2"/>

==Accolades==

{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Mohanlal}}

In 2008, while filming for ''[[Kurukshetra (2008 film)|Kurukshetra]]'', in which he plays an [[Indian Army]] officer, Mohanlal expressed his interest to join the [[Territorial Army (India)|Territorial Army of India]]. But he could not, as men above the age of 42 are not eligible to join the volunteer force.<ref>[http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mohanlal-wants-to-join-territorial-army/77204-8.html Mohanlal wants to join Territorial Army – Movies News News – IBNLive] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728130958/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mohanlal-wants-to-join-territorial-army/77204-8.html |date=28 July 2011 }}. Ibnlive.in.com. 1 November 2008. Retrieved on 6 May 2012.</ref> On 9 July 2008, he was formally inducted to the Territorial Army in the honorary rank of [[Lieutenant Colonel]] by then Army Chief [[Deepak Kapoor]]. He is the first actor to receive the honour.<ref>Thiruvananthapuram [http://www.hindustantimes.com/Mohanlal-to-join-Territorial-Army/Article1-429999.aspx Mohanlal to join Territorial Army] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201053052/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Mohanlal-to-join-Territorial-Army/Article1-429999.aspx |date=1 December 2010 }}. Hindustan Times. 8 July 2009</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/10/stories/2009071056411800.htm | location=[[Chennai]] | work=[[The Hindu]] | title=Mohanlal joins Territorial Army | date=10 July 2009 | access-date=29 May 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913052237/http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/10/stories/2009071056411800.htm | archive-date=13 September 2009 | url-status=live }}</ref> In 2012, he was bestowed with an honorary title of [[Black belt (martial arts)|Black belt]] in [[Taekwondo]] from [[Kukkiwon]], [[South Korea]]. He is the first South Indian actor to be honoured with the title.<ref name = blackbelt/><ref>{{Cite news|url = http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mohanlal-blackbelt/1/226217.html|title = Blackbelt for Mohanlal!|date = 25 October 2012|work = [[India Today]]|accessdate = 6 October 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141015210145/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mohanlal-blackbelt/1/226217.html|archive-date = 15 October 2014|url-status = live}}</ref>