Mohan lal a versatile actor began as actor in his debut film manjil virinajapookal (Malayalam word meaning flower bloomed
in winter). He is a villain in that film. Mohan lal vishwanathan nair was born in Elathoor, in Pathanamtitta district of kerala, to Vishwanathan nair, a government employee and Shanthakumari amma. His schooling was however in locality near his hometown and later model school Trivandrum. From his very young days he use to show talent in school play and bagged best actor in the school at 6th standard which was rare in that class because such an award use to go usually to the 10th standard students. He has graduation from Mahatma Gandhi University Trivandrum. His continued association with acting helps him bag many award.
FILM CAREER: since his debut film which he acted at the age of 20,in 1980 in which he was an antagonist. His versatility and his uniqueness is seen in every of his film. The film called TB BALAGOPALAN MA, a film directed by Satyan antikad, got him his first Kerala state award for the best actor. His role as Don in the Rajavinte magan made him more famous among malyalees. In thalavattam he is a mad man. In namaukkuparkkan mundirithopil he has an entirely different role. Among the Malayalam directors who made him famous are Satyan antikadu, IV Sasi, padmarajan, Barthan etc. In a film called kireedam he is a normal human being who happen to see his own father, a police officer being tortured by some criminal, his own calmness breaks and kills the criminal which is itself turning point of the story, where every one including his family members discard him as criminal. In another film devasuram he is a spoiled man who corrects himself and become good towards the end of the story. This film where he has to act dual character of good and bad in the same film was more challenging. The major awards he bagged were
National Awards
· 1989 : Jury's Special Award - Kireedam
· 1991 : Best Actor - Bharatham
· 1999 : Best Actor - Vaanaprastham
· 1999 : Producer of Best Film - Vaanaprastham
State Awards
· 1986 : Best Actor - T .P. Balagopalan M.A.
· 1988 : Special Jury Award - Aryan
· 1991 : Best Actor - Ulladakkam, Kilukkam, Abhimanyu
· 1995 : Best Actor - Kalapani, Spadikam
· 1999 : Best Actor - Vaanaprastham
· 2005 : Best Actor - Thanmatra
· 2007 : Best Actor – Paradesi
Film Fair Awards
· 1986 : Best Actor - Sanmasullavarkku Samadhaanam
· 1988 : Best Actor - Padamudra
· 1993 : Best Actor - Devasuram
· 1994 : Best Actor - Pavitram
· 1995 : Best Actor - Spadikam
· 1999 : Best Actor - Vaanaprastham
· 2005 : Best Actor - Thanmatra
· 2007 : Best Actor - Paradesi
He has also tried his hands as film producer, playback singer.