In 1980, Mohanlal was cast in the lead antagonist role in Manjil Virinja Pookkal[12] - the directorial debut of Fazil - produced by Navodaya Appachan.The movie, in which debutants Shankar and Poornima Jayaram played the lead roles, became a major hit and for Mohanlal, "there was no looking back".[15] Mohanlal's friends had sent his application in response to an advertisement by Navodaya Studios.[16] He auditioned for the role in front of a panel that included well-known directors; two of them gave him poor marks but Fazil and Jijo Appachan liked him.[17] In an interview with Reader's Digest in 2004, Mohanlal said that his looks as a young man might have fit the villain's image.[10] By 1983, Mohanlal was credited in more than 25 feature films [12] most of which had him play negative roles.[10] Mohanlal played his first lead role in an ensemble cast, as a young man in love with a girl whom he mistakenly believes to be rich, in the 1984 comedy Poochakkoru Mookkuthi, also the debut of friend and noted film-maker Priyadarshan .[18] It also marked the beginning of Mohanlal-Priyadarshan duo which later made several successful movies; they have worked together in 29 movies till 2011.[19] In 1985, he recorded a song for the film Onnanam Kunnil.[18] Uyarangalil, Nokketha Doorathu Kannum Nattu, Boeing Boeing and Aram + Aram Kinnaram were some of his successful movies in this period.
