The profound bond between Malayalam cinema's legendary actor Mohanlal and his mother, Santhakumari, who passed away on December 30 at the age of 90, was beautifully illustrated by a unique cinematic avoidance. Despite her immense pride in her son's stellar career, Santhakumari consciously stayed away from watching some of his most iconic and critically acclaimed films, unable to endure seeing her 'Lalu' in pain on screen.
A Mother's Heart: Shielding Herself from On-Screen Suffering
For Santhakumari, Mohanlal was not just a superstar but her beloved son first. Her love was so deep that she deliberately avoided watching films where his characters faced tragedy and hardship. In a past television interview, she openly expressed this sentiment, stating she could not bear the emotional weight of his performances in certain roles.
"I cannot watch Kireedam (1989) or Chenkol (1993). It is too painful. There are beatings and suffering. I have never watched Chenkol at all. I watched a little of Kireedam and then stopped. I have not seen Thalavattam (1986) either, and I do not want to," Santhakumari had revealed. She preferred his lighter, comedic roles, citing movies like Kilukkam (1991) as more to her liking.
Interestingly, her protective instinct extended even to blockbuster entertainers with somber endings. She disclosed that she walked out of the theatre before the climax of Chithram (1988), one of Mohanlal's biggest commercial successes, because the story led to her son's character, an escaped convict, being taken back to jail to face a death sentence.
The Iconic Films She Couldn't Watch
The films Santhakumari avoided are, ironically, counted among the very best in Mohanlal's filmography and in Malayalam cinema history.
- Kireedam (1989): This tragic drama earned Mohanlal his first National Film Award (Special Mention) and is revered for its powerful portrayal of a young man's life derailed by circumstance.
- Chenkol (1993): The sequel to Kireedam, it continues the harrowing journey of the protagonist, culminating in a deeply tragic fate.
- Thalavattam (1986): Another critically praised performance where Mohanlal plays a mentally traumatized individual.
All three films are masterpieces of tragic storytelling, where Mohanlal's characters endure immense suffering, which was precisely what his mother sought to avoid.
Mohanlal's Unwavering Devotion to His Mother
This poignant detail underscores the reciprocal depth of their relationship. Mohanlal, often described as detached from the highs and lows of his profession, was famously and visibly devoted to his mother. No matter how hectic his shooting schedules were, he ensured he stayed connected with her, often rushing to be by her side.
A telling example of this bond occurred in 2025 when Mohanlal, after receiving the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, made it a priority to visit his ailing mother in Kochi immediately upon his return to share the honor with her first.
The actor had also previously shared an anecdote about his parents' reaction to his on-screen debut as a villain in Manjil Virinja Pookkal (1980). While thrilled to see him in a film, they were distressed to hear audience members refer to their son as 'kaalan' (a colloquial term for a rascal or evil person) during his scenes. "Hearing that, my mother's heart would truly shudder," Mohanlal had recounted in an interview with Mathrubhumi Weekly.
The passing of Santhakumari marks the end of an era for the actor, whose private world was deeply anchored in his family. Her unique way of loving him—by celebrating his joy on screen but shielding her heart from his portrayed sorrow—remains a touching footnote in the story of one of Indian cinema's greatest stars.
