So yes. Here is me completing the list that I left halfway through. Some
picked out from my many favourite Mohanlal characters. The top 5 for me!
5. PATTANAPRAVESHAM - The Restaurant Scene
The surprised face as Balakrishnan orders 20 chappathis and 4 chilly chicken, the fear and anxiety as he pulls his chair close to his suspect, the cunning look as he rolls his eyes around while fitting the syringe, the delight when he thinks he had injected the syringe and pulled the blood, finally the shock to find no blood in syringe - all expressions flash in Mohanlal's face within the gap of just seconds. To add to all that, the downright hilarious tone in which he says only dialogue in this scene -'Yes Omelette yes' - I never get tired of watching this scene!
The surprised face as Balakrishnan orders 20 chappathis and 4 chilly chicken, the fear and anxiety as he pulls his chair close to his suspect, the cunning look as he rolls his eyes around while fitting the syringe, the delight when he thinks he had injected the syringe and pulled the blood, finally the shock to find no blood in syringe - all expressions flash in Mohanlal's face within the gap of just seconds. To add to all that, the downright hilarious tone in which he says only dialogue in this scene -'Yes Omelette yes' - I never get tired of watching this scene!
4. KIREEDAM Climax
Mohanlal’s performance as Sethumadhavan was the perfect example of how an actor can infuse life into the character he portrays flawlessly .The scenes like where he leaves his houses telling his mother that he is losing the grip on his life, where he hits Jose's goon and screams he want to live and the entire terrific climax are testimonials to the level of commitment and dedication with which the actor approaches his roles. The intensity the actor maintains throughout the final moments of the movie in the market is simply impeccable .If the manner in which he just chews while waving the knife at police is an example of the minute details he brings on-screen to improvise upon and make the character look so real and his final loud cry out to the sky is a movie frame that's engraved in our minds forever!
Mohanlal’s performance as Sethumadhavan was the perfect example of how an actor can infuse life into the character he portrays flawlessly .The scenes like where he leaves his houses telling his mother that he is losing the grip on his life, where he hits Jose's goon and screams he want to live and the entire terrific climax are testimonials to the level of commitment and dedication with which the actor approaches his roles. The intensity the actor maintains throughout the final moments of the movie in the market is simply impeccable .If the manner in which he just chews while waving the knife at police is an example of the minute details he brings on-screen to improvise upon and make the character look so real and his final loud cry out to the sky is a movie frame that's engraved in our minds forever!
3. DASHARATHAM Climax
Tamil star Surya once told in a talk show that during his early days as an actor, his biggest challenge was not knowing how to use his hands in each scenes, when to let them free and when to put them in pockets. That's when he observed closely how Mohanlal acted in his movies and found that his hands, arms and his entire body had the flow like that of music. He then added -'Mohanlal sir's fingers and even finger nails can act'. In Dasharatham's climax as Mohanlal rests his hand on Sukumari's shoulder and tells her -" Annie mone snehikunna pole Maggieku enne snehikaamo' ,watch his fingers and you would know what Surya is talking about. Dasharatham's climax is one we all re-visit often despite knowing that it would end us up only in tears because it is very rarely that you see something else that beats the performance of this leading actor in the final moments of this movie.
Tamil star Surya once told in a talk show that during his early days as an actor, his biggest challenge was not knowing how to use his hands in each scenes, when to let them free and when to put them in pockets. That's when he observed closely how Mohanlal acted in his movies and found that his hands, arms and his entire body had the flow like that of music. He then added -'Mohanlal sir's fingers and even finger nails can act'. In Dasharatham's climax as Mohanlal rests his hand on Sukumari's shoulder and tells her -" Annie mone snehikunna pole Maggieku enne snehikaamo' ,watch his fingers and you would know what Surya is talking about. Dasharatham's climax is one we all re-visit often despite knowing that it would end us up only in tears because it is very rarely that you see something else that beats the performance of this leading actor in the final moments of this movie.
2. IRUVAR - When Anandan meets the director after his first movie is
shelved
A number of top directors in Malayalam believe that it was Mani Ratnam who extracted the best performance ever by Mohanlal during his first Tamil movie. In a brilliantly acted scene, Anandan confronts the director after his first movie is shelved and tries his best to convince him to resume the movie. As the latter replies it is not possible, Anandan is heartbroken. There is no overburst yet Mohanlal's eyes speak volumes about his pain. It remains a mystery to me why Lalettan did not win that year's National or State awards for Iruvar.
A number of top directors in Malayalam believe that it was Mani Ratnam who extracted the best performance ever by Mohanlal during his first Tamil movie. In a brilliantly acted scene, Anandan confronts the director after his first movie is shelved and tries his best to convince him to resume the movie. As the latter replies it is not possible, Anandan is heartbroken. There is no overburst yet Mohanlal's eyes speak volumes about his pain. It remains a mystery to me why Lalettan did not win that year's National or State awards for Iruvar.
1. BHARATHAM - The Police Station Scene
Murali asks Mohanlal to keep calm even if the news is bad as he is waiting in the station to identify the photos and clothes of the dead person. When the belongings are brought in front of him and he recognizes that it’s his brother who is dead, he brings it close to his face slowly and cries silently. No words are spoken in those two and half minutes by the character. No sound is let out when he cries .Yet what transpires in front of you pierces deep through your heart. And that ladies and gentleman is my most magical acting moment by Lalettan ever! Mohanlal's performance in the movie and especially the above scene was rewarded with a well deserved National award.
Murali asks Mohanlal to keep calm even if the news is bad as he is waiting in the station to identify the photos and clothes of the dead person. When the belongings are brought in front of him and he recognizes that it’s his brother who is dead, he brings it close to his face slowly and cries silently. No words are spoken in those two and half minutes by the character. No sound is let out when he cries .Yet what transpires in front of you pierces deep through your heart. And that ladies and gentleman is my most magical acting moment by Lalettan ever! Mohanlal's performance in the movie and especially the above scene was rewarded with a well deserved National award.
P.S - The first thought that would cross most minds would be that
why I haven’t included moments from movies like Vanaprastham , Thanmatra,
Sphadikam etc. But for an actor who is so flamboyant in almost all areas -
action, comedy, romance etc., it is simply an impossible task to include all
the brilliant acting moments from his career in one article. Hence I stick to
10 that have always been on top of my list.
Cheers to all those who enjoy good cinema.
I need to watch Iruvar. That said, this is a great list.
ReplyDeleteThanks Harish. And yes please do watch that one too :)
ReplyDeleteyour ardor for lal is something we share. As i read through your piece,I had the pleasure of picturing each scene with the very same ardor. Thank you for that! My top ten wouldn't have been very different.
ReplyDelete