Aaraattu director B Unnikrishnan issues clarification on Mohanlal starrer’s theatrical release date

Kerala Minister of Culture Saji Cheriyan’s statement that it’s an ideal time for theatres to reopen has sent a wave of hope to filmmakers in the Malayalam film industry who have been waiting to release their movies in cinema halls. However, it has also come with its set of speculations, with many reporting release dates of much-anticipated films such as Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham, Kurup and Aaraattu.

This has forced Aaraattu’s director and FEFKA official B Unnikrishnan to issue a clarification regarding his movie, which was initially set for an Onam 2021 release in August but was pushed due to the theatres not opening after the second wave of COVID-19 cases in Kerala.

In a social media post, Unnikrishnan said that reports of Aaraattu’s release in theatres in October are false, and that the release date is yet to be decided. Marakkar’s producer Antony Perumbavoor too had said that he had no plans of releasing the Mohanlal-starrer right after the theatres reopen in Kerala.

With the reopening of theatres being in the agenda for the next legislative assembly meeting, audiences and filmmakers can be assured of a positive action from the government in that regard, with the COVID-19 cases in Kerala also reducing.

Apart from Mohanlal’s Marakkar and Aaraattu, Dulquer Salmaan’s Kurup, Vineeth Sreenivasan’s Hridayam, Asif Ali’s Elaam Sheriyaakum and Kunjeldho, Nivin Pauly’s Thuramukham and Manju Warrier’s Lalitham Sundaram are some of the Malayalam movies that are looking at a theatrical release.

The producers of Tovino Thomas’ Minnal Murali had earlier opted for a direct-to-OTT release on Netflix. The streaming platform is set to announce its release date soon. Nivin Pauly’s Kanakam Kamini Kalaham and Asif Ali’s Kuttavum Shikshayum are other movies that are rumoured to release on OTT platforms.

Also read: Exclusive! Nivin Pauly set for OTT debut, Kanakam Kamini Kalaham to release on streaming platform