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.
Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran are finally joining hands once again for the second installment of their film series Lucifer. The second installment called L2: Empuraan is now officially announced to release on March 27, 2024.
The official announcement made by the makers unveiled a special poster that featured a mysterious figure, donning a white shirt and has a red dragon symbol on his back.
See the official post by makers of L2: Empuraan
The movie L2: Empuraan marks as the second installment in the planned trilogy of the Lucifer series. The action film directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran would serve as both a prequel and sequel to the 2019 film Lucifer. The movie features Mohanlal once again as Khureshi-Ab’raam aka Stephen Nedumpally with an ensemble cast of actors like Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas, Indrajith Sukumaran, Saniya Iyappan, Arjun Das, Saikumar, Baiju Santhosh, and many more in key roles.
The 2019 movie was a political actioner that starts off with a power struggle after the demise of a prominent leader in Kerala. With various forces trying to subdue his apparent heir, things take a swift turn when they realize the person their dealing with is much more sinister than all of them.
Moving ahead, Mohanlal is also set to make his directorial debut with the movie Barroz. The upcoming movie is touted to be a fantasy flick that focuses on the story of a treasure guardian who is protecting the hidden treasure of Vasco da Gama for 400 years. The film also has actors like Maya, Cesar Lorente Raton, Kallirroi Tziafeta, Tuhin Menon, and Guru Somasundaram in prominent roles.
Moreover, the actor is also playing the lead role in the tentatively called L360, directed by Tharun Moorthy. The film was recently wrapped up with the director announcing the pack-up with a new post.
Furthermore, Mohanlal is also playing a key cameo in the movie Kannappa, starring Vishnu Manchu in the title role. The film also has actors Mohan Babu, R. Sarathkumar, Arpit Ranka, Kaushal Manda, and more in prominent roles with Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, and Kajal Aggarwal also making special appearances.
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.
The year 2023 was a mixed bag as far as Malayalam movies are concerned. Of course, there wasn’t any shortage of good and inventive cinema. But the quality of these films failed to replicate itself in their box office collections. There have been fewer than five clean hits in the industry this year. But the films that did attain commercial success turned out to be blockbusters. Take, for instance, Romancham, which became the surprise hit of the year, or 2018, which went on to become the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time.
Alas, the theatrical success of these films is a conversation for another day. Right now, let’s look at the best Malayalam movies that came out in the first half of this year, in no particular order.
Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam
Movie Genre: Comedy, Drama
Running Time: 1h 44m
Movie Star Cast: Mammootty, Ramya Suvi, Ramya Pandian, Ashokan
Director: Lijo Jose Pellissery
Writer: S Hareesh
Where to watch/OTT Platform: Netflix
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
As Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam brought together a cinematic legend and an out-of-the-box filmmaker, people had already rated the film very highly even before watching it. Lijo Jose Pellissery and Mammootty created a film that wasn’t as chaotic as the filmmaker’s previous directorial ventures but was intriguing nonetheless. Mammootty’s towering presence hooked the audience to the screens. Pellissery, one of the most exciting filmmaking voices in the country today, did not indulge in any spoon-feeding and let the audience think for themselves.
2018
Movie Genre: Survival thriller
Running Time: 2h 34m
Movie Star Cast: Tovino Thomas, Kunchacko Boban, Narain, Asif Ali, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Aparna Balamurali
Director: Jude Anthany Joseph
Writer: Akhil P. Dharmajan, Jude Anthany Joseph
Where to watch/OTT Platform: Sony Liv
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
The 2018 Kerala floods was a disastrous event for the people of the state. As the film was based on a true incident that impacted the lives of every person living in Kerala, in some capacity, people connected with the film in a way that was almost unprecedented. Jude Anthany Joseph crafted a film that pulled people’s heartstrings and spoke to the audience’s emotional core. To add to its success, 2018 was also a technically solid film.
Purusha Pretham
Movie Genre: Procedural drama, Satirical comedy
Running Time: 2h 33m
Movie Star Cast: Alexander Prasanth, Jagadish, Darshana Rajendran, Maala Parvathi
Director:Krishand
Writer: Ajith Haridas, Manu Thodupuzha
Where to watch/OTT Platform: Sony Liv
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
The police procedural movie featured the year’s breakout star, Alexander Prasanth. The film revolves around humorous commentary on the daily lives of police officers. With the intricate characterization of its lead character, SI Sebastian, Purusha Pretham was intriguing, inventive, and engaging. The film is a satirical take on a serious issue, and the way the narrative was explored was unique.
Iratta
Movie Genre: Drama, Thriller, Mystery
Running Time: 1h 52m
Movie Star Cast: Joju George, Anjali, Arya Salim, Srikant Murali
Director:Rohit M G Krishnan
Writer: Rohit M G Krishnan
Where to watch/OTT Platform: Netflix
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Featuring Joju George in dual roles, Iratta was haunting in every sense of the word. Joju played a huge role in pulling the audience into the world of Iratta with his masterful performance. The film keeps you wondering till the end, and the reveal is sure to give you literal chills. Also to note, this isn’t a preferred watch for anyone looking for a jovial time at the movies. Iratta is a disturbing watch that is sure to make you uncomfortable.
Thankam
Movie Genre: Crime, Drama
Running Time: 2h 25m
Movie Star Cast: Biju Menon, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Aparna Balamurali
Director:Saheed Arafath
Writer: Syam Pushkaran
Where to watch/OTT Platform: Amazon Prime Video
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Thankam is written by one of the most trusted writers in Malayalam cinema at the moment, who has consistently delivered quality content. Written by Syam Pushkaran, Thankam was an immersive watch that deserved more appreciation for what it did with an intriguing core plot. The well-acted and well-made film revolves around the world of gold dealing in Thrissur. What makes the film even more exciting is that it is based on true events.
Romancham
Movie Genre: Comedy, Horror
Running Time: 2h 9m
Movie Star Cast: Soubin Shahir, Arjun Ashokan, Sajin Gopu, Siju Sunny
Director:Jithu Madhavan
Writer: Jithu Madhavan
Where to watch/OTT Platform: Disney+ Hotstar
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Romancham may not be the most layered or intricate film on this list, but it definitely managed to connect with the Malayali audience in a way that no other film in recent times could. A relatable film about friendship and the Ouija board struck a chord with the general audience. It was a film made for theaters, as Romancham reminded everyone that movies are, at the end of the day, a collective experience. It is the kind of film that you watch with your friends to have a good time and relax.
Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum
Movie Genre: Comedy, Drama
Running Time: 2h 51m
Movie Star Cast: Fahadh Faasil, Anjana Jayaprakash, Dhwani Rajesh, Viji Venkatesh
Director:Akhil Sathyan
Writer: Akhil Sathyan
Where to watch/OTT Platform: Amazon Prime Video
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum, set in the Sathyan Anthikad universe of feel-good films, is anything but complex. That is also the beauty of it. With Fahadh Faasil’s incredible comic timing and three wonderful female characters from three generations, the film was successful in what it set out to achieve. Fahadh was back in his Njan Prakashan and Oru Indian Pranayakadha zone for this one. Anjana Jayaprakash as Hamsadhwani, Dhwani Rajesh as Nidhi, and Viji Venkatesh as Laila were magical in their respective roles.
2018, the upcoming survival drama which is helmed by the talented filmmaker Jude Anthany Joseph, is one of the most promising upcoming projects in Malayalam cinema. The movie, which revolves around the Kerala state’s survival of the extremely disastrous floods the state witnessed in 2018, has been under production for quite some time now. The highly anticipated project garnered the attention of audiences with both its stellar star cast, and the excellent official teaser which was released in December 2022.
Tovino Thomas and others announce the release date of 2018
Director Jude Anthany Joseph and the cast and crew members, including popular actor Tovino Thomas and other stars who play pivotal roles in the film, took to their official social media handles and announced the release date of 2018, on Wednesday. “Coming Soon!!!” wrote Tovino Thomas, as he shared the announcement poster on his official social media handles. The survival drama, which is currently in the final stages of its production, has been slated to hit the theatres on April 21, this year.
Check out Tovino Thomas’s Instagram post, below:
About 2018
As reported earlier, 2018 features a stellar star cast including Tovino Thomas, Kunchacko Boban, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Asif Ali, National award-winner Aparna Balamurali, Kalaiyarasan, Narain, Lal, Janardhanan, Indrans, Sudheesh, Aju Varghese, Thanvi Ram, Shivada, Gauthami Nair, and others. The highly anticipated project is scripted by director Jude Anthany Joseph himself.
Akhil George is the director Of Photography. Chaman Chakko has handled the editing. Nobin Paul has composed songs and original score. 2018 is bankrolled by Venu Kunnappilly, C K Padmakumar, and Anto Joseph under the banner of Kavya Film Company in association with P K Prime Production.
Tovino Thomas, the versatile actor is celebrating his 34th birthday on January 21, Saturday. The talented young actor is busy in his acting career with some highly promising projects in his kitty. This year, Tovino Thomas kickstarted his birthday celebrations by unveiling his first character poster from his ambitious project Ajayante Randam Moshanam. More exciting updates on the actor’s upcoming projects are expected to be unveiled on his birthday, as a special gift for his fans.
Tovino Thomas’s first look from Ajayante Randam Moshanam
The actor, who is set to essay the first triple role in his career in Ajayante Randam Moshanam, revealed his first character poster from the film on his social media handles. In the promising poster, Tovino Thomas is seen in a never-seen-before look, with long hair, a thick beard and eyebrows, kohled eyes tattooed arms, and costumes that reflect an ancient time period. In the poster, the leading man is seen standing in front of a mob, with a lighted torch in his hand, thus hinting that the project will have some high-voltage action sequences in store. “Unleashing the Master Thief of Chiyothikavu… Maniyan !!!” the talented actor captioned his Instagram post. Tovino’s new look has left both his fans and Malayalam cine-goers highly excited.
Check out Tovino Thomas’s post below:
About Ajayante Randam Moshanam
The highly anticipated project, which is touted to be a fantasy entertainer, is helmed by newcomer Jithin Lal. Ajayante Randam Moshanam, which features Tovino Thomas in a triple role, as the titular character Ajayan, Maniyan, and Kunji Kelu. The movie, which is reportedly being made in 3D format, started rolling in Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, in October 2022. Later, the makers also revealed a promising announcement teaser of the film on social media.
From the teaser, it is evident that Ajayante Randam Moshanam is going to be a never-seen-before theatrical experience for Malayalam cinema audiences. The Jithin Lal directorial reportedly unravels through three different periods – 1900, 1950, and 1990. The highly anticipated project, which is being made in 3D, will release in six languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, and English.
The South film industry keeps the fans hooked with its exciting updates every day. Today on November 2 as well, a lot happened in the world of the South film fraternity. From Megastar Chiranjeevi-led political drama GodFather making its OTT debut soon to Hansika Motwani being engaged to beau Sohail Kathuria, to Fahadh Faasil and Prithviraj Sukumaran’s big announcement tomorrow, see what all took place today.
Keeping you up to date with the latest happenings from the South film fraternity, we bring to you the major buzz of the day.
Hansika Motwani gets engaged
Hansika Motwani took to her Instagram and dropped some snippets from her filmy proposal by beau Sohail Kathuria under one of the seven wonders of the world, the Eiffel Tower. The reports suggest that the couple will be getting married in December this year. The nuptials are expected to take place between 2nd and 4th December. However, we still await the final wedding date announcement. According to the reports, the couple were close friends before getting romantically involved with one another and are also partners in a firm.
As soon as she uploaded the post, congratulatory messages started pouring in for the newly engaged couple. Baahubali actress Anushka Shetty reacted to the post with, “Congratulations”, along with a heart and evil eye emoji. Additionally, Khushbu Sundar commented, “Oh wow!! Congratulations my dear.. wishing you the best.”
Matti Kusthi first look poster OUT
Mass Maharaja Ravi Teja unveiled the first look poster for the forthcoming sports drama, Matti Kusthi today. The photo features Vishnu Vishal as a star wrestler, gearing up for a big fight. The actor poses in a wrestling attire, flaunting his toned abs.
Made under the direction of Chella Ayyavu, the film is being bankrolled by the production banner RT Teamworks in collaboration with Vishnu Vishal Studioz. With Vishnu Vishal as the protagonist, Aishwarya Lekshmi is playing the leading lady in the film. Set against a rural backdrop, the shooting for Matti Kusthi has been completed and the post-production work for the movie is currently underway
Rajinikanth remembers late Puneeth Rajkumar
Rajinikanth attended the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award function as the Chief Guest in Bengaluru yesterday. The late Power Star Puneeth Rajkumar was posthumously given the Karnataka Ratna Award during the ceremony. Addressing the gathering, the superstar remembered the Power Star with the following words in Kannada, “In Kali Yuga, Appu (Puneeth) is like Markandeya, Prahlada, Nachiketa. He was God’s child. That child lived among us for some time. He played with us and made us laugh. Later, that child went back to God. His aatma (soul) is with us.”
He further disclosed why he could not attend Puneeth’s funeral, “I had undergone an operation and was in the intensive care unit (ICU).” The actor added that even if he had known about Puneeth Rajkumar’s death, he would not have been able to travel given his health condition.
GodFather OTT release date
After ruling over the silver screens, Megastar Chiranjeevi’s political thriller GodFather’ is all set to make its mark on the OTT platform. The much-appreciated project will premiere on Netflix on 19th November. Sharing the news, the streaming giant Tweeted, “Netflix on Wednesday announced the news on its official Instagram page. The post read, “The megastar of Tollywood meets the megastar of Bollywood! #Godfather is coming to Netflix on the 19th of November!(sic)”
Fahadh Faasil- Prithviraj Sukumaran BIG ANNOUNCEMENT
Fahadh Faasil, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Tovino Thomas have raised the excitement of movie buffs with their latest social media post. Fahadh Faasil and Prithviraj Sukumaran will be making a big announcement regarding a venture of Tovino Thomas tomorrow on 3rd November. Sharing the news, Tovino Thomas Tweeted, “Tomorrow 6pm! Stay tuned!”
Recently, Tovino Thomas clocked 10 years in the entertainment industry. Marking the occasion, the actor penned a heartfelt note on social media, recalling his journey from a small-time actor and assistant director to one of the leading stars of Malayalam cinema.
His note went like this, “I believe each day has been an achievement because I was able to move forward. 10 years is of course special, but I sincerely hope there is more road ahead, more to grasp and deliver back to my dear folks. Keep the love coming. I’ll give my best to you, in return.”
