Veteran actor Anant Nag has been named the recipient of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2024, India's highest honour in cinema. With a career spanning decades across Kannada cinema, television and multiple Indian film industries, Anant Nag has earned acclaim for his versatile performances and enduring contribution to Indian storytelling. The award recognizes his immense impact on Indian cinema and celebrates a legacy that has inspired generations of actors and filmmakers.


Veteran actor Anant Nag honoured with Indian cinema’s highest award

As Malayalam superstar Mohanlal received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the 71st National Film Awards on Tuesday in New Delhi, the actor dedicated the award to the Malayalam film industry and the legacy of other legendary artists who have received the honour before him. Mohanlal is the youngest recipient of the prestigious award, which is India’s highest cinema honour and given to veteran artists for their lifetime contribution to cinema.&nbsp;&nbsp;With a career spanning over five decades, Mohanlal expressed his heartfelt thanks to the audience of Malayalam cinema for constantly pushing artists like him to do better.&nbsp;The actor stated that receiving the honour was not a ‘dream-come-true’ moment for him as he had never dared to dream of such a prestigious honour in his career. It was ‘something greater’ for him.&nbsp;Popularly known as Lalettan, he ended his powerful speech by giving a special tribute to cinema. "Cinema is the heartbeat of my soul," he said in Malayalam, and concluded the speech with "Jai Hind."&nbsp;<h2>Mohanlal's complete Dadasaheb Phalke-winning speech</h2>&nbsp;"As a representative of the Malayalam film industry, I am deeply humbled to be the youngest and only the second recipient from the industry of this distinguished honour. This moment is not mine alone. It belongs to the entire Malayalam cinema fraternity. I see this award as a collective tribute to our industry's legacy, creativity and resilience. When I first received the news from the Centre, I was overwhelmed. Not merely by the honour but by the privilege of being chosen to carry forward the voice of our cinematic tradition.&nbsp;In pics: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/mohanlal-to-srk-prominent-winners-at-the-71st-national-film-awards-1758638763143">Mohanlal to SRK: Prominent winners at the 71st National Film Awards</a>&nbsp;I believe this is a destiny's generous hand allowing me to accept this award on behalf of all those who have shaped Malayalam cinema with their vision and artistry. To be honest, I never dared to dream of this moment, not even in my wildest dream. So, this is not a dream-come-true. This is something far greater. It's magical. It's sacred. It roots me more deeply in gratitude and responsibility.&nbsp;I accept this award as the blessings of my fore-runners, the legendary masters of Malayalam cinema - past and present. I dedicate it to them, to the Malayalam film industry and to the discerning intelligent audience of Kerala who have nurtured our art with love and insight.&nbsp;As an actor and a film personality, this honour strengthens my resolve. It deepens my commitment to cinema and I pledge to continue my journey with renewed sincerity, passion and purpose.&nbsp;I extend my heartfelt thanks to the government of India.&nbsp;Cinema is the heartbeat of my soul. Jai Hind."&nbsp;<h2>Previous winners of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award</h2>&nbsp;Mohanlal joins stalwarts of Indian cinema in this esteemed list of honorees. Before Mohanlal, lgends like Mithun Chakraborty, Asha Parekh, Waheeda Rehman, Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna, K Viswanath, Manoj Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Gulzar, Pran, Soumitra Chatterjee, Shyam Benegal, Mrinal Sen, Tapan Sinha, Yash Chopra, Asha Bhosle, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, BR Chopra, Dilip Kumar, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Lata Mangeshkar, Bhupen Hazarika, Raj Kapoor and Satyajit Ray and others have received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/mohanlal-receives-dadasaheb-phalke-award-list-of-past-recipients-of-india-s-highest-film-honour-1758612916541">Mohanlal receives Dadasaheb Phalke Award; list of past recipients of this honour</a>

As Mohanlal became the youngest recipient of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the 71st National Film Awards, the Malayalam actor delivered a rousing speech and dedicated the award to the Malayalam film fraternity. 

As Malayalam superstar Mohanlal received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the 71st National Film Awards on Tuesday in New Delhi, the actor dedicated the award to the Malayalam film industry and the legacy of other legendary artists who have received the honour before him. Mohanlal is the youngest recipient of the prestigious award, which is India’s highest cinema honour and given to veteran artists for their lifetime contribution to cinema. With a career spanning over five decades, Mohanlal expressed his heartfelt thanks to the audience of Malayalam cinema for constantly pushing artists like him to do better. The actor stated that receiving the honour was not a ‘dream-come-true’ moment for him as he had never dared to dream of such a prestigious honour in his career. It was ‘something greater’ for him. Popularly known as Lalettan, he ended his powerful speech by giving a special tribute to cinema. "Cinema is the heartbeat of my soul," he said in Malayalam, and concluded the speech with "Jai Hind." Mohanlal's complete Dadasaheb Phalke-winning speech "As a representative of the Malayalam film industry, I am deeply humbled to be the youngest and only the second recipient from the industry of this distinguished honour. This moment is not mine alone. It belongs to the entire Malayalam cinema fraternity. I see this award as a collective tribute to our industry's legacy, creativity and resilience. When I first received the news from the Centre, I was overwhelmed. Not merely by the honour but by the privilege of being chosen to carry forward the voice of our cinematic tradition. In pics: Mohanlal to SRK: Prominent winners at the 71st National Film Awards I believe this is a destiny's generous hand allowing me to accept this award on behalf of all those who have shaped Malayalam cinema with their vision and artistry. To be honest, I never dared to dream of this moment, not even in my wildest dream. So, this is not a dream-come-true. This is something far greater. It's magical. It's sacred. It roots me more deeply in gratitude and responsibility. I accept this award as the blessings of my fore-runners, the legendary masters of Malayalam cinema - past and present. I dedicate it to them, to the Malayalam film industry and to the discerning intelligent audience of Kerala who have nurtured our art with love and insight. As an actor and a film personality, this honour strengthens my resolve. It deepens my commitment to cinema and I pledge to continue my journey with renewed sincerity, passion and purpose. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the government of India. Cinema is the heartbeat of my soul. Jai Hind." Previous winners of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award Mohanlal joins stalwarts of Indian cinema in this esteemed list of honorees. Before Mohanlal, lgends like Mithun Chakraborty, Asha Parekh, Waheeda Rehman, Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna, K Viswanath, Manoj Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Gulzar, Pran, Soumitra Chatterjee, Shyam Benegal, Mrinal Sen, Tapan Sinha, Yash Chopra, Asha Bhosle, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, BR Chopra, Dilip Kumar, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Lata Mangeshkar, Bhupen Hazarika, Raj Kapoor and Satyajit Ray and others have received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Also read: Mohanlal receives Dadasaheb Phalke Award; list of past recipients of this honour

As Mohanlal became the youngest recipient of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the 71st National Film Awards, the Malayalam actor delivered a rousing speech and dedicated the award to the Malayalam film fraternity.&nbsp;

Mohanlal dedicates his Dadasaheb Phalke Award to Malayalam film fraternity in his speech: ‘Cinema is the heartbeat of my soul’

Recently, Malayalam star Mohanlal has been awarded Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his contribution to the Indian cinema, and the official ceremony is set to be held during the 71st National Film Awards. But do you know this prestigious award was instituted in 1969 by the Government of India?&nbsp;<h2>What is Dadasaheb Phalke Award?</h2>This is the highest honour in Indian cinema, given for lifetime contribution to the growth and development of Indian film. Named after Dhundiraj Govind Phalke (Dadasaheb Phalke), regarded as the father of Indian cinema, the award includes a Golden Lotus (Swarna Kamal) medallion, a shawl and a cash prize. Here's the complete list of all recipients of the Dadasaheb Phalke Awards.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/why-is-duniya-haseeno-ka-mela-from-gupt-trending-again-hint-the-bads-of-bollywood-1758528903106">Why is Bobby Deol's song Duniya Haseeno Ka Mela from Gupt trending again?</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">On the recommendation of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee, the Government of India is pleased to announce that Shri. Mohanlal will be conferred the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023. Mohanlal’s remarkable cinematic journey inspires generations! 🌟 The… <a href="https://t.co/n1L9t5WQuP">pic.twitter.com/n1L9t5WQuP</a>&mdash; Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (@MIB_India) <a href="https://twitter.com/MIB_India/status/1969379395035865522?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Early years (1969-1980)</h2>In 1969 the first recipient was Devika Rani (Hindi cinema), honoured for her pioneering role in early Indian films. The next several years saw recognition of influential figures across different regions and crafts: for example Birendranath Sircar from Bengali cinema in 1970, Prithviraj Kapoor (Hindi) in 1971, Pankaj Mullick (Bengali &amp; Hindi) in 1972, Ruby Myers (also known as Sulochana) in 1973 for her work in silent and early talkies, and B. N. Reddy in 1974 for Telugu cinema.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/nhrc-seeks-fir-against-ranbir-kapoor-over-cameo-in-aryan-khan-s-the-ba-ds-of-bollywood-1758561065122">NHRC seeks FIR against Ranbir Kapoor over cameo in The Ba***ds of Bollywood</a>&nbsp;Through the 1970s the award was given almost every year to actors, filmmakers, singers and producers who had laid the groundwork for Indian cinema. Notables from the period include Sohrab Modi, Paidi Jairaj, Naushad, L. V. Prasad, Durga Khote, and Satyajit Ray by the early-1980s. &nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Consolidation and expansion (1981-2000)</h2>During the 1980s and 1990s, the award continued to recognize icons from not just Hindi cinema but from Marathi, Bengali, Telugu, Assamese, and other regional industries.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/assamese-singer-zubeen-garg-s-last-rites-fans-gather-at-crematorium-kamarkuchi-nc-village-watch-1758602779602">Assamese singer Zubeen Garg's last rites: Fans gather at cremation site | Watch</a>&nbsp;In 1985, V. Shantaram was awarded for his work in Hindi &amp; Marathi cinemas. By 1989, singer Lata Mangeshkar was honoured for her playback singing contributions. The 1990s saw recipients like Akkineni Nageswara Rao (Telugu), Rajkumar (Kannada), Sivaji Ganesan (Tamil), Kavi Pradeep, B. R. Chopra, Hrishikesh Mukherjee etc., showcasing both linguistic diversity and the breadth of cinematic roles being honoured. &nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>21st Century highlights (2001-2020)</h2><ul><li>In the 2000s, the award recognised a mix of legendary performers and national film icons who had already shaped Indian cinema across decades.</li><li>Asha Bhosle (2000) for her long musical career spanning multiple languages. Yash Chopra (2001), Dev Anand (2002), Mrinal Sen (2003) and others carried forward the tradition of recognizing not just actors but also directors, producers, musicians and writers.&nbsp;</li><li>By 2010-2015 period, names like K. Balachander, Soumitra Chatterjee, Pran, Gulzar, Shashi Kapoor, Manoj Kumar kept the legacy strong. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/71st-national-awards-time-venue-and-where-to-watch-it-live-1758606133591">71st National Film Awards 2025: Time, venue and where to watch it live?</a><h2>Recent winners (2016-2025)</h2>Over the past decade, several names have joined the roster of legends honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Here are a few names:<ul><li>&nbsp;Kasinathuni Viswanath in 2016 was recognised for his contributions to Telugu cinema.&nbsp;</li><li>Vinod Khanna in 2017 and Amitabh Bachchan in 2018 upheld the tradition in the Hindi film industry. &nbsp;</li><li>Rajinikanth received the award in 2019 for his iconic work in Tamil cinema and the award was given to Asha Parekh in 2020.</li><li>In 2022, Mithun Chakraborty was honoured and most recently, in 2025, the recipient is Mohanlal, the Malayalam superstar, marking an important moment for Malayalam cinema.&nbsp;</li></ul><h2>&nbsp;Cross‐discipline recognition</h2>Winners have ranged from actors and directors to composers, playback singers, producers and cinematographers, such as Naushad (a music composer), Lata Mangeshkar (playback singing), V. Shantaram (director/actor). &nbsp;&nbsp;Some awards have been made posthumously, like Prithviraj Kapoor (1971) and more recently Vinod Khanna (2017) in certain lists noted had passed away by the time of the award announcement. As cinema continues to evolve, this award remains a timeless homage to contribution, commitment, and cinematic excellence.&nbsp;

Veteran actor Mohanlal will receive the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award on September 23, 2025, at the he 71st National Film Awards for his immense contribution in the Indian cinema. Instituted in 1969, this award is named after Dhundiraj Govind Phalke (the father of Indian cinema). 

Recently, Malayalam star Mohanlal has been awarded Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his contribution to the Indian cinema, and the official ceremony is set to be held during the 71st National Film Awards. But do you know this prestigious award was instituted in 1969 by the Government of India? What is Dadasaheb Phalke Award? This is the highest honour in Indian cinema, given for lifetime contribution to the growth and development of Indian film. Named after Dhundiraj Govind Phalke (Dadasaheb Phalke), regarded as the father of Indian cinema, the award includes a Golden Lotus (Swarna Kamal) medallion, a shawl and a cash prize. Here's the complete list of all recipients of the Dadasaheb Phalke Awards. Also Read: Why is Bobby Deol's song Duniya Haseeno Ka Mela from Gupt trending again?

Mohanlal will receive the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award on September 23, 2025, at the he 71st National Film Awards for his immense contribution in the Indian cinema. Instituted in 1969, this award is named after Dhundiraj Govind Phalke (the father of Indian cinema). &nbsp;

Mohanlal receives Dadasaheb Phalke Award; list of past recipients of India's highest film honour

Over the decades, several legands from South India have been bestowed with Dadasaheb Phalke Award, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations of actors, filmmakers, and cinema lovers. 

Over the decades, several legands from South India have been bestowed with Dadasaheb Phalke Award, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations of actors, filmmakers, and cinema lovers.&nbsp;

Mohanlal wins Dadasaheb Phalke Award: South Indian celebrities who have received the honour

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Veteran actor Anant Nag honoured with Indian cinema’s highest award

Mohanlal dedicates his Dadasaheb Phalke Award to Malayalam film fraternity

Mohanlal receives Dadasaheb Phalke Award; list of past recipients of this honour

South Indian celebrities who have received Dadasaheb Phalke Award