Mohanlal as Rameshan in Thanmathra, a film directed by Blessy and released in 2005, is considered by many as one of the most iconic performances ever seen on the big screen in Indian cinema history.

Rolling back the years, let's revisit a magical interaction with Mohanlal at the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (MBIFL 2020), where he spoke at length about his Dashavatars—ten of the most revered characters he has portrayed in films. The conversation gradually unfolded into a deeper journey into the fascinating world of a master performer—a true thespian.

"Thanmathra in several ways is a very special film to me — it will always remain closest to my heart. It’s about a man suffering from Alzheimer's. I did not do a clinical study as such for the role. But something inside me helped me pull off that role. After the release of the movie, even several doctors asked me how I managed it — the answer is, I don't know," said Mohanlal, as the audience at the session in Thiruvananthapuram listened carefully.

"My father once had a fall that led to a blood clot," an emotional Mohanlal recalled about the late Vishwanathan Nair. "Consequently, his memory had faded a bit." The actor had just revealed a touching part of his life. By observing his father closely, Mohanlal would have definitely been familiar with at least a few gestures of those struggling with memory loss.

Soon after, Blessy joined the conversation in the form of a video message. "I don't think Lalettan had done any clinical study for Thanmathra, but we have all witnessed his performance — a testament to the actor he is," said the national award-winning director.

Mohanlal went on to talk at length about his role in Thanmathra. When the moderator asked him about the nude scenes in the film, Mohanlal acknowledged that such scenes did exist. "I think they removed it from theatres after a couple of days. See, the character demanded it. I never felt it was vulgar. I never went on to question Blessy about why he included such a scene. I knew its necessity — I simply did it," said Mohanlal, evoking cheers from the crowd.

Thanmathra also starred an array of actors including Nedumudi Venu, Meera Vasudevan, Prathap Pothen, Seetha, and Arjun Lal.

Even in 2025, the movie continues to spark discussions for its nuanced portrayal of Alzheimer's through the character played by Mohanlal. The man is an embodiment of true human emotions — an immaculate performer.