Tovino Thomas is all set to hit the big screens with a fiery new action avatar in the movie Pallichattambi. Directed by Jana Gana Mana fame Dijo Jose Antony, the film’s first glimpse has been unveiled by the makers, confirming the release date.
Pallichattambi Release Date
Taking to their official social media handles, the makers unveiled the first glimpse of the film. The short animated video features Tovino in a firebrand new look, accompanied by intense music composed by Jakes Bejoy.
With the release of the glimpse, the makers announced that the film will hit theatres on April 9, 2026, coinciding with the summer vacation.
Watch the glimpse here:
The official plot of Pallichattambi has not yet been revealed, but the movie is expected to be a gritty and raw action entertainer with Tovino in the lead. Kayadu Lohar plays the female co-lead, marking one of her upcoming ventures in Malayalam cinema. Additionally, actors Vijayaraghavan, Johny Antony, Sudheer Karamana, TG Ravi, and Prashanth Alexander are also part of the actioner.
Directed by Dijo Jose Antony, the film is written by S. Suresh Babu, with cinematography by Tijo Tomy. It is produced by Noufal, Brijeesh, and the CCC Brothers, while Sreejith Sarang serves as the editor.
Moreover, reports suggest that Prithviraj Sukumaran has played a pivotal cameo role in the film. However, an official confirmation from the makers is still awaited.
Tovino Thomas’ work front
Tovino Thomas was last seen in an extended cameo in Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra. The Kalyani Priyadarshan-starrer marked his introduction to the franchise, in which he played a contemporary version of the folklore character Chaathan.
Looking ahead, the actor will appear in a co-lead role in the film Athiradi, slated for release on May 14, 2026. Co-starring Basil Joseph and Vineeth Sreenivasan, the movie is expected to feature Darshana Rajendran, Zarin Shihab, and Sarvam Maya fame Riya Shibu as the female leads.
Directed by Minnal Murali co-writer Arun Anirudhan, the film has music composed by Premalu fame Vishnu Vijay.
Additionally, Tovino Thomas will headline Lokah: Chapter 2 and is also expected to play a pivotal role in Jr NTR’s tentatively titled NTRNeel.
Amidst a lowkey month for the South Film Industry, it was the Malayalam Film Industry that shone the brightest again. Despite initial setbacks, both Aavesham and Varshangalkku Shesham impressed the audience and won big at the box office.
With the start of May, the platter is diverse but it is the folks from Kerala who are making the most noise once again. So, what are these films? When are they releasing? Let’s find out!
Malayalee from India is a Malayalam language film starring Nivin Pauly as the ‘Malayalee’ from India. The film is an attempt at political satire and is more on the comical side as compared to Dijo Jose Anthony’s last political film Jana Gana Mana, which was more on the heavy side.
Slated as Nivin Pauly’s comeback film, Malayalee from India has been released on May 1st in theatres.
2. Nadikar (Malayalam)
Cast: Tovino Thomas, Soubin Shahir
Director: Lal Jr.
Release Date: May
Nadikar is a Malayalam film starring Tovino Thomas and Soubin Shahir in the lead roles. As the film’s title suggests, Nadikar (translating to actor) follows the story of David Padikkal, a superstar struggling to handle fame in an unforgiving industry.
The film was originally titled Nadikar Thilakam but was later revised to Nadikar due to a request from Prabhu, Sivaji Ganesan’s son, claiming that the original title had sentimental values associated with fans of Sivaji Ganesan.
3. Aranmanai 4/ Baak (Tamil/Telugu)
Cast: Tamannaah Bhatia, Raashii Khanna
Director: Sundar C
Release Date: May 3
Aranmanai 4 or Baak (Telugu) is the fourth installment in Sundar C’s Aranmanai franchise. The film boasts a stellar cast of Tamannaah Bhatia, Raashii Khanna, and Sundar C in the lead roles. Much like Sundar C’s previous Aranmanai films, Aranmanai 4 is also a horror comedy. The film has been released on May 3rd, with mixed reviews pouring in from the audience.
4. Aa Okkati Adakku (Telugu)
Cast: Allari Naresh, Fariah Abdullah
Director: Malli Ankam
Release Date: May 3
Aa Okkati Adakku is a Telugu language comedy drama starring Allari Naresh and Faria Abdullah in the lead roles. The film promises to bring back the ‘Allari’ Naresh of the past with the comic one-liners and the snappy dialogues. The film has been released on May 3rd with much hype and is directed by Malli Ankam, with music by Gopi Sundar.
5. Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil (Malayalam)
Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Basil Joseph
Director: Vipin Das
Release Date: May 10
Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil is a Malayalam language comedy-drama, directed by Vipin Das. Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil is about a wedding gone wrong as a young man marries a woman who hates him, making his life a living hell. As lengthy as the film’s title is its stellar list of actors in the film, from Prithviraj Sukumaran, Basil Joseph, Anaswara Ranjan to Yogi Babu and many others.
6. Star (Tamil)
Cast: Kavin
Director: Elan
Release Date: May 1
What is better than cinema? A film revolving around cinema, and Star offers exactly that. The film is an inspiring journey of an actor and his struggles as he embarks on an unforgiving journey to become a ‘Star’. The movie has been directed by Elan of Pyaar Prema Kaadhal fame, with Yuvan Shankar Raja composing the music.
7. Krishnamma (Telugu)
Cast: Satyadev, Athira Raj
Director: V.V. Gopala Krishna
Release Date: May 10
Krishnamma follows the story of three orphans who grow up together on the banks of the Krishna River in Vijayawada. When they get caught up in a case, they embark on a journey of revenge and crime. The film’s pre-release event saw chief guests and maverick directors SS Rajamouli, Koratala Siva and Anil Ravipudi on the same stage. As the film gears up for its release on May 10th, the expectations are sky-high.
8. Gangs of Godavari (Telugu)
Cast: Vishwak Sen, Hyper Aadi
Director: Krishna Chaitanya
Release Date: May 17
Gangs of Godavari is an upcoming Telugu film that chronicles the story of Lankala Rathna and his rise from a nobody to a revered individual in the coastal region of Godavari. The film is scheduled to hit the big screens on May 17th and has been directed by Krishna Chaitanya and bankrolled by Naga Vamsi under the Sithara Entertainments banner.
Prithviraj Sukumaran, the actor-filmmaker is one of the busiest actors in the Malayalam film industry right now. The multi-faceted talent, has an exciting line-up of films, in the Malayalam, Telugu, and Bollywood industries. The talented actor, who is best known for his unique movie choices and power-packed performances, is now set to play a negative role once again. As per the latest reports, Prithviraj Sukumaran is appearing as the lead antagonist in the upcoming comedy entertainer Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil, which features Basil Joseph as the protagonist.
Prithviraj Sukumaran v/s Basil Joseph in Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil
As per the latest reports, Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil, which is touted to be an out-and-out comedy entertainer, revolves around a wedding that happens in Kerala’s famous Guruvayoor Sri Krishna temple. Basil Joseph is playing the lead role in the project, which is helmed by Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey fame director Vipin Das. Prithviraj Sukumaran, on the other hand, is reportedly playing a negative role in the film. Reportedly, Prithviraj’s character in the film is not a cliche villain but will have layers of humour and emotions. Along with playing the lead antagonist in the film, the actor-filmmaker is also co-producing Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil under his home banner Prithviraj Productions, along with E4 Entertainment.
Check out the ‘Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil’ poster, below:
Prithviraj Sukumaran and Basil Joseph’s upcoming projects
The multi-faceted talent is set to make a comeback to Bollywood with the upcoming Akshay Kumar-Tiger Shroff project Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, in which he plays the lead antagonist Kabir. Prithviraj Sukumaran is also teaming up with senior Bollywood actress Kajol and star kid Ibrahim Ali Khan for the upcoming thriller, which has been titled Sarzameen. After wrapping up both projects, Prithviraj will kickstart the shooting of Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil, in April. Later, he will take a break from acting for his upcoming directorial venture, L2: Empuraan.
Basil Joseph, who enjoyed massive critical acclaim with his directorial venture Minnal Murali, is now concentrating on his acting career. The actor-director earned rave reviews for his performance in the much-loved film Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya He. He is reportedly set to team up with National award-winner Fahadh Faasil or Hridayam actor Pranav Mohanlal, for his upcoming directorial venture. Basil is also planning to direct a sequel to Minnal Murali, after his next directorial venture.
