I still remember walking with him on the red carpet at Cannes; Shaji sir shaped my career: Mohanlal

Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has paid an emotional tribute to renowned filmmaker Shaji N. Karun, who passed away on Monday. The veteran actor recalled him as a director who marked a turning point in his acting career. Taking to Facebook, Mohanlal remembered Shaji N. Karun as a visionary who elevated Malayalam cinema to the global stage and expressed his sorrow that they could not realise their dream of collaborating once more.

In his heartfelt note, Mohanlal wrote, "the great Shaji N. Karun sir, who brought Malayalam cinema to the pinnacle of world cinema and whom every Malayali embraced with pride, has left us."

"In the films Neram Pularumbol, Panchagni, and Onnummuthal Poojyam Vare, my roles were small in length but immense in significance," he said.

"Shaji N. Karun sir, whom I deeply respected, was the cinematographer for these three films and later became a director who created a major turning point in my acting journey. He was a filmmaker who turned the poetic expression often attributed to cinematography into a tangible experience for us," the Mollywood superstar added.

"It was during the making of Vanaprastham that I had the good fortune to work under his direction. For me, Vanaprastham stands as a career-defining film — a clear 'before and after'. I still vividly remember walking with him on the red carpet at Cannes, as if it were yesterday. It pains me deeply that the dream of making another film together remains unfulfilled. In the face of these memories, I offer my tearful respects," Mohanlal wrote, remembering his favourite director.

Shaji N. Karun was a pivotal figure in Malayalam cinema, known for his masterful storytelling and visual poetry. His collaborations with Mohanlal, particularly Vanaprastham, received international acclaim, including a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival. His passing marks the end of an era for Indian and world cinema.