The Dada Saheb Phalke Award 2025 once again sparks debate about how India defines ‘lifetime achievement.’ Should it focus on the length of a career, the depth of impact, or the international recognition brought to Indian cinema?

International recognition shouldn’t be a major criterion. Cinema is for its own people first. The Dada Saheb Phalke Award 2025 is not the Oscars; it’s an Indian award meant to honour those who contributed to Indian audiences. By that logic, depth of impact inside India should weigh much heavier than global recognition.

I think “lifetime achievement” should be about depth of impact more than just the length of a career. The Dada Saheb Phalke Award 2025 proves this because Mohanlal’s influence is not only measured in the number of films but in how he transformed acting styles in Malayalam cinema. If we only counted years active, many lesser-impactful actors would qualify. What matters is how much they changed the language of cinema, inspired others, and contributed to its growth.

For me, it’s a combination of all three—career length, depth of impact, and international recognition. The Dada Saheb Phalke Award 2025 works because Mohanlal has all three: over 40 years of career, unforgettable roles that shaped Indian cinema, and international acclaim at film festivals. A balanced definition keeps the award prestigious and fair across generations.