About Mohanlal's performance in the film, French cinematographer Renato Berta said that Mohanlal was born in the wrong side of the word, otherwise he would have won an Oscar.
Mohanlal learned Kathakali for the film under various renowned masters and performed the difficult dance form with perfection, which was widely praised by critics as well as his masters.
The most famous and renowned Kathakali master, Kalamandalam Gopi, who played a major role in the film, later named Mohanlal "the greatest Indian actor".
IBN-Live ranked Vanaprastham the ninth greatest Indian films of all time.
First Indian film to shot in Panavision and used Dolby Stereo.