7 must-watch Onam 2023 Malayalam releases on OTT & theatres: King of Kotha, RDX to Madhura Manohara Moham

Onam has never been this bigger since the pandemic! This year, the festive season promises to be a treat for fans of Malayalam cinema with several big movies including Dulquer Salmaan’s King of Kotha and Nivin Pauly’s Ramachandra Boss & Co set to hit theatres, while family entertainers such as Dileep’s Voice of Sathyanathan and Rajisha Vijayan’s Madhura Manohara Moham are gearing up for their OTT releases.

With films of various genres including gangster-actioner, a madcap comedy featuring Vineeth Sreenivasan, a multi-starrer heist comedy and even a thriller set for release on OTTs and in theatres, this Onam surely marks the return of the celebratory ways for Malayalam cinema. And to make your job of what to choose to watch – from the comfort of your homes as well as in cinema halls - easier, here’s the list of seven must-see Malayalam movies that will be releasing in the last week of August.

King of Kotha

Dulquer Salmaan’s gangster-actioner, which is helmed by debutant director Abhilash Joshiy, is set in the fictional town of Kotha and spans the 80s and 90s. The film, which traces the rise, fall and revenge of a gangster named Raju, has a stellar cast including Aishwarya Lekshmi, Chemban Vinod Jose, Shammi Thilakan, Gokul Suresh and Prasanna as part of its cast. The film is also one of the biggest movies in the Guns and Gulaabs actor’s career.

Also read: King of Kotha to Empuraan: Upcoming Malayalam movies expected to break 2018's box office record 

Release date: August 24

Release platform: Theatre

RDX

Set in the 1980s, this multi-starrer action film features Shane Nigam, Antony Varghese, Neeraj Madhav and Babu Antony in the lead. RDX, which stands of the names of the protagonists – Robert, Doney and Xavier, revolves around the trio, who have the penchant for getting into fights, and how their past catches up to them years later when one of them gets into trouble. The movie is helmed by debutant Nahas Hidayath.

Release date: August 25

Release platform: Theatre

Ramachandra Boss & Co

Director Haneef Adeni and Nivin Pauly’s second collaboration after the ‘mass’ action-thriller Mikhael is a heist-comedy set in the United Arab Emirates. The movie revolves around an expatriate who bills himself as a “kind-hearted smuggler” and his motley crew as they assemble for the heist. Ramachandra Boss & Co also has Mamitha Baiju, Jaffer Idukki, Vinay Forrt and Arsha Chandini Baiju in pivotal roles.

Also read: Ramachandra Boss & Co teaser: Could Dubai prove lucky for Nivin Pauly again? 

Release date: August 25 (tentative)

Release platform: Theatre

Madhura Manohara Moham

After finding that his sister Meera is in love with a man from another religion, Manu, a proud member of the Nair community, decides to seek more details about the person that has stolen his sister’s heart. In the process, he ends up unraveling a deluge of unexpected truths about Meera. This comedy entertainer has Rajisha Vijayan, Sharafudheen, Bindu Panicker and Vijayaraghavan as part of the cast.

Also read: Madhura Manohara Moham review: Stephy Zaviour’s debut has bright ideas and laughs, but plays it too safe 

Release date: August 22

Release platform: HR OTT

Kurukkan

Debutant filmmaker Jayalal Divakaran’s madcap investigative comedy revolves around a publicity-hungry cop, an untrustworthy witness and a man who has been framed for a crime. The wild goose chase between the three form the plot of the movie, which stars Vineeth Sreenivasan, Shine Tom Chacko and Sreenivasan in the lead roles.

Also read: Vineeth Sreenivasan: For Varshangalkku Shesham, I had to decline films of several good directors 

Release date: August 25

Release platform: Manorama Max, OTTplay Premium

Dhoomam

Fahadh Faasil’s thriller, which revolves around the big tobacco industry, is helmed by Kannada filmmaker Pawan Kumar and marked the debut Malayalam production of Hombale Films. The movie, which stars Aparna Balamurali and Roshan Mathew in pivotal roles, centres around a couple who find themselves having to meet the demands of a kidnapper who is apparently seeking revenge.

Also read: Dhoomam review: Fahadh Faasil just about manages to keep the ember alive in this sluggish thriller about smoking 

Release date: August end (yet to be announced)

Release platform: Amazon Prime Video

Voice of Sathyanathan

Dileep’s first theatrical release post pandemic, revolves around a common man who gets entangled in big problems due to the slip of his tongue. One such incident spirals out of control when he is mistakenly arrested for endangering the Indian President’s life. What happens next, forms the plot of this entertainer, which also has Joju George and Anupam Kher in pivotal roles.

Release date: August 25 (tentative)

Release platform: Disney+ Hotstar