How do you think the Dada Saheb Phalke Award 2025 will inspire the younger generation of filmmakers and actors, especially those working in Malayalam and other regional film industries?

I think the Dada Saheb Phalke Award 2025 won’t directly impact younger generations in a big way. Today’s filmmakers are already motivated by OTT platforms, international film festivals, and box-office opportunities. Awards like these matter to the older generation more than the young. That said, it will definitely add prestige to Malayalam cinema, and maybe some producers will back bolder projects in regional industries. But for most youngsters, the inspiration comes more from global cinema and digital trends than from government awards.

The Dada Saheb Phalke Award 2025 going to Mohanlal is going to be a huge morale boost for younger filmmakers and actors in Kerala. For decades, Malayalam cinema has been admired for storytelling quality, but it never got the same limelight as Bollywood. Now, with Mohanlal’s recognition, young talents may feel that working in Malayalam cinema does not limit their chances of national or global recognition. It will also encourage them to experiment more. Mohanlal himself has been a blend of commercial and artistic cinema. That duality is a lesson for young filmmakers—that you can entertain and innovate simultaneously.

Mohanlal winning the Dada Saheb Phalke Award 2025 is like Kerala cinema being officially stamped as “national treasure.” For young actors and directors, this is priceless. It tells them: You don’t have to migrate to Bollywood to make it big. You can stay rooted in your language, tell authentic stories, and still receive national-level recognition. This is crucial because for decades many talents abandoned regional industries for Mumbai. If this award reverses that mindset, it will be a historic cultural shift.