Suriya: I was introduced to Malayalam cinema through these Mohanlal films

Tamil superstar Suriya once spoke about the massive influence Malayalam cinema icon Mohanlal has had on his acting journey. In a video interview, Suriya revealed that he was introduced to Malayalam films through several celebrated movies of Mohanlal, which played a key role in shaping his approach to acting.

Suriya explained how watching Mohanlal’s performances in these films helped him understand how to approach various roles. "I was introduced to Malayalam cinema with Mohanlal films like Kilukkam, Kireedam, Spadikam, and others. Watching these films gave me a clear idea of how to approach roles in a particular way," Suriya said.

He went on to speak about how Mohanlal’s acting has inspired him to develop his own craft in films such as Kaakha Kaakha and Ghajini. Suriya noted that the portrayal of his characters in these films was shaped by the lessons he learnt from watching Mohanlal. "When I did movies including Kaakha Kaakha and Ghajini, I took references from Mohanlal’s movies. His natural ability to portray characters was something I aspired to replicate in my own work," Suriya shared.

Suriya also praised Mohanlal for his ability to act without ever appearing to perform for the camera. He explained, "When you watch Mohanlal, you don’t see a camera in front of him. Even with a magnified lens right in front of his face, Mohanlal makes the camera disappear."

For Suriya, Mohanlal's ability to make acting look effortless and natural is what sets him apart, and he called him the best actor in the country, inspiring countless actors across India.