Alone, Thankam to Saturday Night: All you need to know about this week’s Malayalam releases on OTT & theatres

Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan has already got fans raving and it’s sure to get more screens in Kerala too. While other industries have shifted the release dates of big films due to SRK’s much-anticipated actioner, Mollywood has offered two big releases in Mohanlal’s Alone and Vineeth Sreenivasan, Biju Menon’s Thankam for the theatrical audience. Unni Mukundan’s Malikappuram, Mammootty’s Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam and Antony Varghese’s Poovan are also playing in select theatres.

For those unwilling to step out of their homes and have already watched Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Kaapa on Netflix, Nivin Pauly’s comedy-entertainer Saturday Night is gearing up to drop on a leading OTT platform. Here’s all you need to know about this week’s Malayalam releases.

Alone

Release platform: Theatre

Mohanlal’s single-actor lockdown thriller is helmed by Shaji Kailas and scripted by Rajesh Jayaraman. The movie has the actor’s character Kalidasan stuck in an apartment due to the nationwide pandemic lockdown. As the period of isolation increases, he begins to hear noises and that leads to him investigating its source as well as its secrets. The film also features voices of Prithviraj Sukumaran, Manju Warrier, Siddique, Mallika Sukumaran and Janardhanan.

Also read: Alone review: Mohanlal’s one-actor thriller needed more intriguing elements than stars’ voices to be engaging 

Thankam

Release platform: Theatre

Vineeth Sreenivasan and Biju Menon play the male leads in this crime drama, scripted by Kumbalangi Nights and Maheshinte Prathikaram writer Syam Pushkaran. Helmed by Theeram filmmaker Saheed Arafath, the movie revolves around a group of goldsmiths in Thrissur and their journey to Coimbatore and Mumbai. Syam had said that the film was his most cinematic yet. National Award-winners Girish Kulkarni and Aparna Balamurali also star in the film.

Saturday Night

Release platform: Disney+ Hotstar

Nivin Pauly and director Rosshan Andrrews’ second collaboration after Kayamkulam Kochunni is a fun comedy entertainer, which revolves around friendships. Nivin essays the titular character, who forms the mainstay of his friends circle that also comprises characters played by Saiju Kurup, Siju Wilson and Aju Varghese. After an incident causes all of them to go separate ways, the group comes together years later to fulfil a long-cherished plan of Stanley, who is still stuck in the past. The film, scripted by Naveen Bhaskar, will be streaming on Disney+ Hotstar from January 27.

Also read: Saturday Night movie review: Nivin Pauly's movie tries hard to be fun but works sparingly 

Aanandham Paramaanandham

Release platform: Manorama Max

Director Shafi's comedy entertainer revolves around a retired postal worker, who spends his time at the local toddy shop, and meets his match in another alcoholic with a Gulf returnee Girish PP. Things between the duo turn topsy turvy when the latter falls in love with the former's daughter and gets married. Sharafudheen, Indrans, Aju Varghese, Anagha and Baiju Santosh are part of the movie.