The Kerala film industry had its moments of glory at the IIFA Awards when its very own Mohanlal, who grabbed the 'Best Supporting Actor' honour for his role in COMPANY, used the occasion to highlight the achievements of the regional cinema. "Indian film industry is huge and Malayalam film industry is just a small part of it," Mohanlal said of filmmaking in Kerala, adding, "It has produced some of the best movies in the country and has some of the best talent."

The industry also has many firsts to its credit -- first 70mm film, first cinemascope film, first 3-D film and first co-produced film with France, which was showcased at the prestigious Cannes Festival, he noted. The film that won accolades at the French festival was VAANAPRASTHAM directed by Shaji N Karun, in which Lal played a troubled Kathakali dancer.

"And today, I have the privilege to be the first actor from that Industry to win an IIFA Award," he said, "It shows there are no language barriers in cinema. Human emotions are the same everywhere." Lal ended his speech with a hope that there will come a truly international cinema, where all barriers or language and region and religion will go. In Ramgopal Varma's COMPANY, Mohanlal played a South Indian police chief in Mumbai who successfully wipes out the underworld.