While watching the Malayalam blockbuster _Chitram_ (1988) on a borrowed VCR, at the age of 3, I didn’t realize that it would be a turning point in my life. I fell in love with the movie and

instantly became a fan of its leading man, Mr Mohanlal, who made me laugh and cry at a time when I hadn’t even begun to understand what those emotions are! > I learnt to read and write 

Malayalam alphabets looking at > Mohanlal’s movie posters on newspapers and on roads even before > they started teaching Malayalam at school. I went into depression > thinking he 

actually died at the end of Unnikale Oru Kadha Parayaam > (1987) and refused to eat food until I was convinced that he was > still alive. I wrote fan mail to him while I was just 5 or

before I realised what an accomplished actor he was. I am sure almost all the Malayali kids who were born in the late 80s or early 90s would have many similar instances to share about the

influence Mohanlal had on our growing up years. And this is not just about them. At 61, he is still a rage among babies and kids; and they just absolutely adore him even today. That’s his

inexplicable charm, which makes him likeable to every single Malayali and makes them feel that he is our own; apart from his legendary acting skills. Growing up, I realised that there was

much more about him than that inexplicable charm. And like every Malayali who grew up during the early 90s; I had the chance to watch the best of the movies made in the country featuring the

best actor in the country at the top of his game. > Every year, he would do at least 7 or 8 movies in many different > genres, displaying a fantastic range of performances; without a

> single false note. It was the best phase of Mohanlal’s career. He > was along with us in every emotion in our lives - from agony to joy, > from love to heartbreak, from revenge to

 redemption, from humour to > violence; and much more. Transforming from a villain to a supporting actor, then a hero and finally a superstar, who was also a mind blowing actor - within a

span of five or six years was no mean task. The movies that I grew up on were the result of this marvellous transformation. My all time favourite performances of Mohanlal, also happened

during this period – _Spadikam_ (1995), _Dasharatham_ (1989), _Devasuram _(1993), _Chitram_ (1988), and of course his career-best performance, in Mani Ratnam’s _Iruvar_ (1997). As I said

earlier, ever since I watched _Chitram_, I knew I had to be part of this dream-world called cinema, and began working towards that. The first feature film that I got to be a part of,

_Innathe Chinthavishayam_ (2008), as an assistant to its cinematographer Alagappan, had Mohanlal in the lead role. What more could I ask for? My first ever stint with a feature film, with my

hero! And instead of working well as an assistant cinematographer, all I did was observe this man in awe. It wasn’t the best of his films, but it was a golden opportunity for me to witness

his magic, standing right next to him. He would sing and joke around until the camera rolled, and would suddenly transform so easily into his character when the director said ‘action!’ and

immediately after the shot was cut, he would go back to being his playful self. I worked for 30 days on the film, but not once did I have the courage to go up to him, and talk to him. > I

 finally managed that on my last day on the sets; and he called me > as ‘mone’ (son); which is how he fondly addresses everyone > younger to him, and the tone that he uses when he says

 that word is > legendary among the Malayalam film fraternity. I was over the moon with joy. In 2013, I made my debut as a screenwriter for a movie called _Kili Poyi_ (2013), with my best

friends; all of us who are die-hard fans of Mohanlal. The film had clear influences of the superstar and his films all over, which involuntarily came to us while writing and making it.

After joining the industry, I began hearing and knowing much more about the man from people around me, which only increased my awe and admiration for him. My friends even make fun of me,

saying that I walk with a slanted shoulder and talk like Lalettan (which is what we Keralites lovingly call Mohanlal) all the time, which happens quite unknowingly to me. I have worked with

him in several capacities – as an assistant cinematographer, as an assistant producer for a TV show which featured him and as a subtitler of his latest release, _1971 Beyond Borders;_ but I

don’t think I have achieved enough to be recognised by him, despite meeting him on several occasions over all these years. I hope I can achieve that very soon and some day, write or direct a

movie for him, that would meet my expectations as a fanboy! Even though he has had historic highs and terrible lows in his career post 2000, he has always bounced back with the biggest

blockbusters whenever he was about to be written off. One example being the hat-trick success of the blockbusters _Oppam, Pulimuguran_ & _Munthirivallikal Thalirukkumbol_, all within a

span of 5 months. With _Pulimurugan_ grossing close to 150 crores, which was a first for Malayalam cinema; he has widened the reach and market of Malayalam cinema. Many massive projects are

still being planned with Mohanlal in the lead – such as the Rs 1000 crore _Randamoozham -_ an adaptation of The Mahabharata, a fantasy thriller called _Odiyan_ and actor Prithviraj’s

directorial debut – _Lucifer. _All this while he is ageing gracefully, opening up to many more challenges in his illustrious career. So it will be exciting times ahead for the crores of fans

of this marvellous actor, including me. _(Vivek Ranjit is a screenwriting graduate from FTII, currently working as a screenwriter in Malayalam cinema and also does English subtitles for

Malayalam films. For cinephiles, he is the guy who also subtitled the current cult hit _‘_Angamaly Diaries_’_.)_ _(This story is from_ THE QUINT’S _archives and is being republished to mark

the actor’s birthday.)_ Published: 21 May 2017, 11:22 AM IST