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Empuraan release date announcement poster featuring Mohanlal (Photo Credit – Instagram)

The sequel to the 2019 Malayalam blockbuster Lucifer, Empuraan, now has an official release date. Mohanlal, Prithviraj, and Manju Warrier revealed via their social media accounts that the film is set to hit theaters worldwide on March 27, 2025. This much-anticipated crime action drama, directed by Prithviraj and starring Mohanlal, will see Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas, Indrajith Sukumaran, Sai Kumar, Baiju Santhosh, Saniya Iyappan, and Sachin Khedekar reprising their roles.

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Empuraan represents one of the most significant financial undertakings in Malayalam cinema. This ambitious production spans several locations across India and includes international shoots in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia, emphasizing its grand scale. While Kerala is a primary filming location in India, the team has also shot scenes in other states, such as Gujarat and Telangana.

Empuraan...

Jeethu Joseph, the acclaimed director of films like Drishyam, Memories and Papanasam, has announced his next project with Kooman writer Krishna Kumar. The film titled Nunakuzhy will be produced by Saregama and Yoodlee Films.

The film will feature Basil Joseph, Grace Antony, Siddique, Manoj K. Jayan, Baiju Santhosh, Saiju Kurup and Aju Varghese in prominent roles. The cinematography will be handled by Satheesh Kurup and the editing by V. S. Vinayak.

According to Jeethu, the film will be different from his other announced projects such as Neru, Drishyam 3 and Ram.

The film is expected to go on floors by the end of this year and will be shot in various locations in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The makers are planning to release the film in 2024.

CinemaAward-winning director of Minnal Murali Basil Joseph and educationalist Elizabeth Samuel announced the birth of their child and also shared her name on social media.BasilJoseph/TwitterMalayalam filmmaker and actor Basil Joseph, and his wife and educationalist Elizabeth Samuel announced that they have become parents on February 15. They have named the baby Hope Elizabeth Basil. Sharing the news on social media, Basil wrote: “Thrilled to announce the arrival of our little bundle of joy, Hope Elizabeth Basil! She has already stolen our hearts and we are over the moon with love for our precious daughter. We can't wait to watch her grow and learn from her every day.” Basil married Elizabeth in 2017. Basil, who started his career making short films, is known for directing the films Kunjiramayanam, Godha and the 2021 superhero film Minnal Murali. He has also acted in supporting roles in films such as Virus and Joji, and played...

MollywoodBasil Joseph’s superhero flick ‘Minnal Murali’, which premiered on Netflix in December last year, features actors Tovino Thomas and Guru Somasundaram in the lead.Tnm StaffInstagram/ Basil JosephMalayalam filmmaker and actor Basil Joseph shared on social media that he was elated to win the award for Best Director (Fiction) at the Asian Academy Creative Awards. He was conferred the award for his 2021 Malayalam film Minnal Murali starring Tovino Thomas in the titular role. The Asian Academy Creative Awards recognise the best content from 16 countries that are part of the Asia Pacific region. This year’s event was held at the Chijmes Hall in Singapore on Thursday, December 8. The awards ceremony is being held in person after a gap of two years since it was hosted online during the coronavirus pandemic. “I feel overwhelmed and honoured to be declared the Best Director among 16 countries at the Asian Academy Awards 2022. Today,...

ReviewDirector Jeethu Joseph once again throws a googly, presenting a darker, unexpected side of the protagonist and creating another enjoyable thriller, albeit with a few problems in the end.CrisAsif Ali in a police uniform is easy to get used to, perhaps because he was just seen in one in Kuttavum Shikshayum, Rajeev Ravi’s last. In Kooman, he is already on screen in the first scene, wearing a civil police officer’s uniform, smoking, walking into a scene of crime where a robbery had occurred. Solving it in minutes, he establishes himself as a smart police officer, but it is too early to put him in that bracket of the crime-solving good-natured ones of popular police stories. Director Jeethu Joseph once again throws a googly, presenting a darker, unexpected side of the protagonist and creating another enjoyable thriller. Kooman however eventually loses the grip it has in the earlier half,...

ReviewThe film is clearly written for the masses but with so many of these churned out in multiple Indian languages, there has to be more than the basic ingredients for the narrative to be exciting.CrisIn the 1990s, after he made a few films in varied genres, director Shaji Kailas had plunged straight into the heart of action cinema, where his heroes were unbreakable and no one else much mattered. Many years later when he got the script of Kaduva, Shaji took it back to a time he had thrived in, the 90s, and set it there. Prithviraj fell comfortably into the black shoes and white clothes of Kaduva Kuriachan, the newest of Shaji’s unbreakable heroes, living the life of a rich Pala businessman and estate owner, frequently getting into trouble. Back in the 90s, movies were not yet called ‘mass’ but Kaduva fits right in, written line by line,...

MollywoodDirected by debutant Praveen Raj Pookkadan, ‘Velleppam’ is a romantic comedy starring Akshay Radhakrishnan and Noorin Shereef in the lead roles.Digital NativeVineeth Sreenivasan is multi-talented and has proved his mettle as a director, producer, actor, dubbing artiste and singer. He began his career as a playback singer way back in 2002 and has rendered several hit songs so far. The latest song Vineeth has recorded is for Velleppam. A teaser of the song was released on Tuesday and as usual he has done a great job, making fans wait in anticipation for the full song. Directed by debutant Praveen Raj Pookkadan, Velleppam is a romantic comedy starring Akshay Radhakrishnan and Noorin Shereef in the lead roles. The film also has an impressive supporting cast with Roma Asrani staging a comeback after a two-year hiatus, and Shine Tom Chacko. While Roma plays the hero’s sister in the film, Shine will...

MollywoodDirected by debutant Praveen Raj Pookkadan, ‘Velleppam’ is a romantic comedy starring Akshay Radhakrishnan and Noorin Shereef in the lead roles.Digital NativeVineeth Sreenivasan is multi-talented and has proved his mettle as a director, producer, actor, dubbing artiste and singer. He began his career as a playback singer way back in 2002 and has rendered several hit songs so far. The latest song Vineeth has recorded is for Velleppam. A teaser of the song was released on Tuesday and as usual he has done a great job, making fans wait in anticipation for the full song. Directed by debutant Praveen Raj Pookkadan, Velleppam is a romantic comedy starring Akshay Radhakrishnan and Noorin Shereef in the lead roles. The film also has an impressive supporting cast with Roma Asrani staging a comeback after a two-year hiatus, and Shine Tom Chacko. While Roma plays the hero’s sister in the film, Shine will...

MollywoodFans wanted to know whether the film is inspired by their real life story, after Vineeth posted a picture of himself and his wife on social media. Digital NativeDigital NativeWhen Vineeth Srinivasan posted a picture of himself and wife on his social media page revealing that it was taken during the shooting of his upcoming film Hridayam and the shooting spot was exactly the same place they used to hang out during their college days, fans wanted to know whether the film is inspired by their real life story. Replying to it, the actor-turned-director had said that Hridayam can't be called their love story but is a memoir. Posting the picture, Vineeth wrote, “This picture was clicked while we were shooting Hridayam, last month, in the same campus where we did our graduation… And this is one of the spots in our college where we used to hang out from...

MollywoodThe film is about a short young man getting a job as a police constable on compassionate grounds.Digital NativeKrishna Sankar / Courtesy -- Ajith Vishnu / FacebookThe Malayalam movie Kochaal has actor Krishna Sankar playing the title role and the shooting is in progress. The title means a short person and it is a film about a young man getting a job as a police constable on compassionate grounds after the death of his father. Shine Tom Chacko plays Tinker Babu, the son of a pork butcher, in this flick. The other important role in this flick is that of the police commissioner, which is played by Murali Gopy. Sharafudheen, Indrans, Srikanth Murali and Renji Panicker also form part of the cast. Kochaal will mark the directorial debut of Shyam Mohan. The film's pooja was held at Kochi and went on floors on December 23. The technical crew of this film includes...

ReviewThe actors – four of the ‘Premam’ guys included – do their parts well but the humour appears forced.CrisWith bookshelves carved neatly in the walls, yellow lights at short distances apart, unobtrusive wooden furniture and four curious-looking doors, the house that five young men go to in Mariyam Vannu Vilakkoothi is a charming little place to live in. No wonder the five men never feel like leaving it after they enter it one evening, creating the crux of the film. It’s all meant for laughs, from the very first scene when these men were schoolboys and predictably troublesome, to the end when they finally get out of the house and end up in a police station. That’s not the exact end of course, and without giving away spoilers, let’s just say that a lot of the well-intended comedy fails. The attempt is very sincere, from creating a unique little situation,...

MollywoodThis is that kind of a movie - it is forgettable, it is done to death… it is running out of boring descriptions for itself. CrisTatatarata, tatatarata – Gopi Sundar’s original music fills Mammootty’s new movie Shylock, from frame to frame, sentence to sentence. So much so that minutes after the film, you might still hear it in your head, even if there’s a very good chance that you are already forgetting the movie’s thread. Because it is that kind of a movie - it is forgettable, it is done to death… it is running out of boring descriptions for itself. Before the customary short description of the movie, let’s make sure we don’t confuse it with the scores of superstar movies that come and go every few weeks. A slow-moving, fabulous car out of which two sidekicks first emerge (Baiju and Hareesh Kanaran about...

MollywoodDirected by Jijo Joseph, the film has Siju Wilson and Leona Lishoy playing the lead roles. Digital NativeThe first look poster of the Malayalam film Varayan was released online by Manju Warrier recently. The poster shows the film’s main lead Siju Wilson sporting long hair and in brown robes, dressed like Jesus Christ, and is captioned “Terror behind the smile”. Manju Warrier wrote, “Good luck to Satyam Cinemas and the entire team of #varayan.” Directed by Jijo Joseph, Varayan has Siju Wilson and Leona Lishoy playing the lead roles. Jude Anthany Joseph plays a pivotal role in this flick as well. Ag Premachandran is bankrolling the film under his banner Satyam Cinemas. Besides Varayan slated for release this year, Siju Wilson also has Mariyam Vannu Vilakkoothi, Innu Muthal and Upacharapoorvam Gunda Jayan in his kitty. Mariyam Vannu Vilakkoothi is directed by Jenith Kachappilly and he has co-written the film in association with Arun Padathu.

MollywoodDirected by Jijo Joseph, the film has Siju Wilson and Leona Lishoy playing the lead roles. Digital NativeThe first look poster of the Malayalam film Varayan was released online by Manju Warrier recently. The poster shows the film’s main lead Siju Wilson sporting long hair and in brown robes, dressed like Jesus Christ, and is captioned “Terror behind the smile”. Manju Warrier wrote, “Good luck to Satyam Cinemas and the entire team of #varayan.” Directed by Jijo Joseph, Varayan has Siju Wilson and Leona Lishoy playing the lead roles. Jude Anthany Joseph plays a pivotal role in this flick as well. Ag Premachandran is bankrolling the film under his banner Satyam Cinemas. Besides Varayan slated for release this year, Siju Wilson also has Mariyam Vannu Vilakkoothi, Innu Muthal and Upacharapoorvam Gunda Jayan in his kitty. Mariyam Vannu Vilakkoothi is directed by Jenith Kachappilly and he has co-written the film in association with Arun Padathu.

MollywoodThe film, directed by Jenith Kachappilly, has in its cast Siju Wilson, Krishna Shankar, Althaf Salim and Shabareesh Varma, all of whom were part of ‘Premam’.Digital NativeDulquer Salmaan released the second look poster of Mariyam Vannu Vilakkoodhi on his social media page and it has garnered the attention of the cinephiles on a big scale. The second look poster is interesting and shows the lead characters struggling with a huge pizza! Mariyam Vannu Vilakkoodhi is directed by Jenith Kachappilly and he has co-written the film with Arun Padathu. The film’s cast comprises Basil Joseph, Althaf Salim, Baiju, Siju Wilson, Sv Krishna Shankar, Sethu Lakshmi, Sidhartha Siva, Shabareesh Varma, Shiyas Ka, and Irena Mihalkovich. Mariyam Vannu Vilakkoodhi is bankrolled by Rajesh Augustine with Srijith Babu, Captain Bipin Rajendran, and Sunil Kumar Vakeel co-producing it. The technical crew of the film includes Prashant Pillai for music, Vinayak Sasikumar for lyrics,...

Mollywood'Pattabhiraman' is touted to be a social comedy with four heroines in the star cast. Digital NativeDigital NativeThe first look poster of the Malayalam film Pattabhiraman was released last month creating huge expectations. The poster featured its lead star Jayaram along with Baiju, Dharmajan, Sheelu Abraham, Hareesh Kanaran, Miya George, Ramesh Pisharody and Prem Kumar in the background. Kannan Thamarakkulam is wielding the megaphone for this venture with Dinesh Pallath scripting it. Abraham Mathew is bankrolling the project under his banner Abaam Movies. The film is touted to be a fun entertainer that will also have a social message for the audiences. In the movie, Jayaram will be playing a government officer. Speaking to the Times of India about Jayaram’s character in Pattabhiraman, director Kannan Thamarakkullam had told earlier, “He plays a government employee. The story starts with him buying a plot in the capital city and arriving there to settle down.

MollywoodThe film is directed by Kannan Thamarakkulam and scripted by Dinesh Pallath.Digital NativeThe first look poster of the Malayalam film Pattabhiraman was released online. The colorful poster features its lead star Jayaram and also has Baiju, Dharmajan, Sheelu Abraham, Hareesh Kanaran, Miya George, Ramesh Pisharody and Prem Kumar in the background. Kannan Thamarakkulam is wielding the megaphone for this venture with Dinesh Pallath scripting it. Abraham Mathew is bankrolling the project under his banner Abaam Movies. The film is touted to be a fun entertainer that will also have a social message for the audience. In the movie, Jayaram will be playing a government officer. Kannan has directed five films so far of which three have Jayaram in the lead. Reports are that Pattabhiraman will have Thiruvananthapuram as its backdrop. In an earlier interview to the Times of India, the director said, “He (Jayaram) plays a government employee. The...

MollywoodEven as ‘Lucifer’ that Prithviraj directed and Murali Gopy wrote is doing well in theatres, the actor-turned-filmmaker’s tweet appears to suggest the duo are planning to work on another project.Digital NativeActor turned director Prithviraj Sukumaran and writer-actor Murali Gopy had teamed up for Lucifer, which released on March 28th, and the film is doing well at the theatres. The climax of this film and interviews of Murali Gopy also gave an indication that Lucifer could be developed into a franchise. Well, it now looks like the ball has been set rolling for it. In a Tweet, Prithiviraj wrote: “I guess when a thought that your writer puts into your head doesn’t let you sleep at 2:20 am..as a film maker..you know what you want to do next! Murali Gopy Why do you do this to me?” Prithviraj’s tweet appears to suggest Murali and he...

MollywoodThe film has reportedly broken the record of 160,000 admits held by 'Captain Marvel' in the first three days of its release.Digital NativeMalayalam film Lucifer, directed by actor Prithviraj with Mohanlal in the lead, has turned out to be a mega grosser not only in India but abroad as well. According to a Toi report, Lucifer has broken the record held by Captain Marvel in the United Arab Emirates. The film has reportedly broken the record of 160,000 admits held by Captain Marvel in the first three days of its release. Lucifer is doing good business at the box office worldwide. It has reportedly emerged as the biggest opener for Mohanlal at the USA box office. The gross collections over the weekend in Kerala have surpassed Njan Prakashan and Kumbalangi Nights catapulting it to the number one position. The exact figures from the box office in different regions are expected to be out soon.

MollywoodThe actor hails praise on director Prithviraj, for the way he handled the movie and gave confidence to his cast and crew.Digital NativeLucifer, starring Mohanlal and directed by actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, is reportedly doing well at the box office worldwide. It has reportedly emerged as the biggest opener for Mohanlal at the USA Box Office. Manju Warrier, who plays an important character in Lucifer, told the Indian Express, “Lucifer is getting a positive response. The audience is also sharing interesting observations regarding the movie. The confidence that Raju (Prithviraj) had while shooting the movie and the way he handled the movie gave confidence and hope to all of us. We commit to every movie with the hope and prayer that it should turn out to be a hit. But the result depends upon the tastes and attitude of the audience. When a movie is welcomed wholeheartedly by the audience,...

MollywoodThe movie, directed by Nadirshah, will have actors Asif Ali, Biju Menon and Baiju, playing three characters having the same name, Shaji.Digital NativeThe first look poster of the Malayalam film Mera Naam Shaji is out and we can make out that the film has three actors playing the title role. Asif Ali will be seen playing Cochin Shaji, while Biju Menon plays Calicut Shaji and Baiju will be seen as Trivandrum Shaji. The film’s shooting is almost over and we hear that it is gearing up for release during the first week of April. The poster shows Asif Ali in a bike, Biju Menon on a jeep and Baiju, standing next to a car. All three are waving their hands. The film is produced by B Rakesh. Biju Menon had earlier posted on the film: “We are out to win audiences over with this comedy, are you ready for us?...

MollywoodEven if you watch the film knowing what to expect of Haneef Adeni, 'Mikhael' is disappointing.Sowmya RajendranHaneef Adeni has, by now, established what to expect from his films. Revenge, style, Biblical allusions, plenty of English dialogues and some family drama driving the whole thing. While his first two films were with veteran actor Mammootty, Mikhael is with Nivin Pauly, one of the younger generation's most promising stars. But even if you go in fully knowing the typical Haneef Adeni fare and the fact that the film is about a "matchless macho" hero, Mikhael falls several notches short. The story has repeat elements from The Great Father and Abrahaminte Santhathikal - a family member is wronged, there's a police officer investigating a crime, and you have the hero playing avenger. The film begins with a confusing sequence that introduces us to numerous characters, none of them leaving much of an impact.

MollywoodWhile there are a few moments of enjoyable scripting, these come and go in the blink of an eye.CrisDirector Ranjith, had in an interview, said that you’d see the ‘old Mohanlal’ in Drama. He must mean the actor before the times of superhero movies, some of which he had written. It is true Drama doesn’t have any of the superhero elements Mohanlal has come to be known for in the last couple of decades. No ‘po mone’s or ‘savari girigiri’s. No long stretches of monologues that end with slow-motion walk-aways. He plays instead an Nri man in trouble with his wife, thrown out of the house because of something he did. His job at a funeral company in London brings him in touch with a big Malayali family where a death has occurred. While you can, if you try, pick out a few, really few,...

MollywoodThe film is getting a big opening with plans to release it in about 250 screens in the stateDigital NativeMohanlal starrer Drama is gearing up for release on November 1st on the occasion of Kerala Piravi Day and it will be getting a very big opening with plans to release the film in about 250 screens in the state alone. Mohanlal is playing a family man in the film, expected to be a feel-good entertainer with loads of family sentiments. Drama, scripted and directed by Ranjith, has been shot extensively in the UK and will be about the life of the NRIs and their families living abroad. Mohanlal and Asha Sarath play husband and wife in the movie and it is a film that will be rich with family sentiments and emotions, say sources in the know. The two actors have earlier worked together in films such as Drishyam, Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol, Karmayodha and 1971: Beyond Borders.

MollywoodScripted and directed by Ranjith, 'Drama' will be a complete family entertainer that delves on the lives of the NRIs living in the UK.Digital NativeThe Malayalam film Drama, starring Mohanlal and Asha Sharath as the lead pair went on floors recently. The film is set in the UK and a major portion of it is being shot there. Scripted and directed by Ranjith, Drama will be a complete family entertainer that delves on the lives of the NRIs living in the UK. According to sources close to Drama, Mohanlal and Asha Sharath are playing husband and wife in the movie and it is a film that will be rich with family sentiments and emotions. The two have worked together in films such as Drishyam, Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol, Karmayodha and 1971: Beyond Borders. In the critically acclaimed Drishyam, Asha had played the tough senior police officer who is trying to find her teenage son gone missing,...

MollywoodSources say that the Ranjith film is expected to be an Onam release. Digital NativeIt is only 27 seconds long, the first teaser of the Mohanlal-Ranjith film Drama. Mohanlal has shared it on his Twitter account. DRAമാ Official Teaser#DramaMovie pic.twitter.com/Q4vH95n89K — Mohanlal (@Mohanlal) June 30, 2018 He is in a suit, walking with a bag, staring at his key. Suddenly he runs towards a car, hurling the bag in first and then throwing himself into the driver's seat. The camera then focuses on his legs, shooting out of the car, the background music turning comical. Director Ranjith has worked with Mohanlal in several films together before, starting from Ravanaprabhu. Drama, mostly shot in the United Kingdom is touted to be a family entertainer. The first look poster of the film was released a few days ago. The film will see Kaniha playing the female lead. Mohanlal and Kaniha had earlier come together in Ranjith's Spirit. Asha Sharath, Arundhathi Nag, Siddique, Subi Suresh, Niranj, Shalin Zoya, Tini Tom, Baiju and Mythili will form the supporting cast for Drama. Reports are that the star cast also has three directors - Dileesh Pothen, Shyama Prasad and Johny Antony - playing pivotal roles.Niranjan, Anu Sithara, and Jewel Mary have also been roped in. Vinu Thomas is scoring the music and Azhagappan is doing the cinematography for the film. Drama is a joint venture by producers Mk Nassar and Maha Subair and it will be produced under their banners Lilypad Motion Pictures and Varnachithra Good Line Productions respectively. Sources say that it is expected to be an Onam release. Mohanlal’s fans are also gearing up for the release of the Ajoy Varma directorial Neerali, on July 12th. (Content provided by Digital Native) Also read: Amma agrees to emergency executive committee meet, but doesn’t set a date...

MollywoodIt is reportedly a family entertainer, that would be laced with humour and sentiments.Digital NativeThe shooting of director Ranjith’s upcoming film Drama, with Mohanlal in the lead, has finished in London. From what Mohanlal said in a recent interview, Drama is not an ordinary film. It is something that has never been attempted in the Malayalam film industry so far and therefore would be a treat for his fans and film buffs. Drama, a family entertainer, would be laced adequately with humor and sentiments, we hear. The film features Kaniha, Asha Sharath Arundhathi Nag, Siddique, Subi Suresh, Niranj, Shalin Zoya, Tini Tom, Baiju and Mythili in the supporting cast. Reports are that the cast also has three directors - Dileesh Pothen, Shyama Prasad and Johny Antony – playing pivotal roles. It may be mentioned here that Ranjith’s initial plan was to make a love drama Bilathikatha with Niranj and Anu Sithara playing the lead pair and Mohanlal playing a small role in it. However, this project has been shelved after Mohanlal gave the go ahead for Drama. Ranjith and Mohanlal have worked together in films such as Ravanaprabhu, Chandrolsavam, Rock N’ Roll, Spirit and Loham. Vinu Thomas is scoring the music and Azhagappan is the cinematographer for the film. Drama is jointly produced by Mk Nassar and Maha Subair under their banners Lilypad Motion Pictures and Varnachithra Good Line Productions respectively. Mohanlal is busy with a number of film releases scheduled for this year. His Neerali is slated for release on July 12. The film has been directed by Ajoy Varma with Nadiya playing Mohanlal’s lead pair. The star’s Odiyan is also slotted for release this year. (Content provided by Digital Native) Also read: Dileep's return to Amma shows how little the film body cares about sexual violence...