Lyrical Muse

Veteran Malayalam actor Mohanlal has been named the recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest recognition in cinema.

The Mollywood stalwart’s career whose has spanned a vast range of roles over four decades in more than 400 films – not just in Malayalam but across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi – has been hailed as “The Complete Actor,” by fans worldwide for his versatility.

Mohanlal will be conferred with the award at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony on September 23, 2025, in New Delhi.

For most Mohanlal fans, everything from recent superhits like Thudarum and Drishyam to evergreen classics like Devasuram, Chithram and Manichitrathazhu are always on the recommended list.

However, in his illustrious career there have been some movies – brave, experimental, ahead of its times – that were underappreciated upon release but went on to become cult classics.

Here are seven underrated Mohanlal movies that every film buff should check out.

Ulsavapittennu (1988)

Telling the poignant tale of Aniyan Thampuran, a gentle and naive prince of an erstwhile royal family, this 1988 tragedy drama film directed by Bharath Gopi and written by John Paul is a gut-punch on every level.

Taking us on his journey from innocent do-gooder to assertive royal family member and the responsibilities that begin to weigh on him, Ulsavapittennu ends on a haunting note of tragedy that lingers profoundly.

Season (1989)

Written and directed by Padmarajan, action-thriller Season is often considered a cult film that was ahead of its times.

Frequently cited as one of the finest crime thrillers in Malayalam, the 1989 film follows wealthy businessman Jeevan’s inadvertent involvement in a drug deal that goes south and a tale of vengeance that follows.

Dasharatham (1989)

Widely thought to be one of the best films from writer-director duo Lohithadas-Sibi Malayil, Dasharatham was one of the earliest Malayalan movies to deal with the theme of traditional surrogacy. The 1989 drama film followed business tycoon and bachelor Rajiv’s yearning for parenthood culminating in heartache.

With its heartfelt blend of emotion, humour and drama, the film was not only brave in its core theme but was also innovative in the technical side as the first Malayalam film to introduce 35mm Cinemascope Film Format.

Sadayam (1992)

A psychological drama written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair and directed by Sibi Malayil, Sadayam tells the story of a convict Sathyanathan awaiting capital punishment for the murder of two young girls and two men.

The 1992 film fared badly at the box office, but has gone on to achieve cult status later with Mohanlal’s performance as a tormented deathrow inmate regarded as one of his career best.

Aham (1992)

Directed by Rajeevnath and written by Venu Nagavally, Aham delivers a nuanced portrayal of mental illness. This 1992 film tells the compelling story of Siddharthan who is in an asylum – the loss of his sanity spurned by the guilt of causing harm to his wife.

Delivering the heart-wrenching tale of a hyper-conformist man, this psychological drama is vulnerable and chilling in equal parts.

Pingami (1994)

An action thriller which was an average success upon release in 1994, Pingami went on to attain a cult following for its simple yet impactful revenge plot.

Written by Reghunath Paleri – based on his own short story Kumarettan Parayaatha Kadha – and directed by Sathyan Anthikkad, the film follows Captain Vijay and his bond with Kumaran, a severely injured man. When Kumaran dies, Vijay sets out on a journey to avenge his death, only to discover secrets about his own life.

Devadoothan (2000)

This mystery horror film, directed by Sibi Malayil and written by Raghunath Paleri, underperformed on release but went on to achieve critical acclaim.

Following struggling musician Vishal Krishnamoorthy on his return to his alma mater years after being expelled, this 2000 film leads us into a mysterious tale that’s as haunting as it is deeply romantic.

Well-loved for its evergreen music by Vidyasagar and impactful acting performances, the film got its due upon re-release in 2024, emerging as one of the highest-grossing re-released Indian films.

(All poster images credit : IMDb)

Have you watched these underrated Mohanlal films? Do you have any more suggestions? Comment and discuss  X/Twitter and Instagram, and visit Lyrical Muse for more in-depth film stories.