Kaapa, Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam to Poovan, Ayisha: All you need to know about this week’s Malayalam releases

After the first few weeks of 2023 saw no big Malayalam releases, this week has plenty in store for the audience with movies of superstars such as Mammootty, Prithviraj Sukumaran and Manju Warrier hitting theatres as well as OTT.

Mammootty will be looking to continue his winning run from 2022 with his much-awaited collaboration with Lijo Jose Pellissery while Manju Warrier will have back-to-back theatrical releases with Ayisha. Fans of comedy too will have enough to cheer for in Super Sharanya team’s Poovan, which is helmed by debutant Vineeth Vasudevan and has Antony Varghese in the lead. Here’s a look at this week’s biggest Malayalam movies releasing on OTT and in theatres.

Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam

Release platform: Theatre

The Lijo Jose Pellissery directorial revolves around a group of theatre artistes travelling back to Kerala from Velankanni, when one of them, James, asks to halt near a village in Tamil Nadu. James soon begins to behave like Sundaram, a villager who had gone missing a few years ago. How the two parties come together to find a solution to James’ predicament form the plot of this movie, starring Mammootty, Ramya Pandian, Ashokan and Poo Ram.

Also read: Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam review: Mammootty's film is a tranquil ode to social acceptance in uncertain times 

Kaapa

Release platform: Netflix

Prithviraj Sukumaran, Asif Ali, Aparna Balamurali and Anna Ben star in this gangster drama, helmed by Shaji Kailas. The film revolves around the gang wars that happen in Thiruvananthapuram and how an IT engineer and his wife get caught in between, in a bid to clear the latter’s name from the police list of criminals wanted as per Kerala Anti-Social (Activities) Act.

Also read: Kaapa movie review: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Asif Ali’s gangster-drama lacks emotional heft to be engaging enough 

Ayisha

Release platform: Theatre

Manju Warrier stars in this female-centric entertainer about a domestic help, who works in a palace in Saudi Arabia. The film, helmed by Aamir Pallikal, shows Indo-Arab relationship in a positive light and about 80% of its cast are foreign actors, speaking in their own language. Krishna Sankar and Radhika are also part of the film, which was shot entirely in Ras Al Khaimah.

Also read: Manju Warrier: Ayisha portrays Indo-Arab relationship in a positive light, which is often the reality | Exclusive 

Vanitha

Release platform: Theatre

The thriller, which is written and directed by Rahim Khader, depicts a day in a police station. Lena essays the central character of a police officer in this film, which also has Salim Kumar, Sreejith Ravi, Navas Vallikunnu and Sajitha Madathil as part of its supporting cast.

Poovan

Release platform: Theatre

Super Sharanya actor Vineeth Vasudevan’s directorial debut is a feel-good comedy drama that is set against the backdrop of Christmas and revolves around a neighbourhood. Antony Varghese, Varun Dhara, Vineeth Vishwam and Sajin Cherukayil are part of the film, which also has a rooster as a pivotal character around which a series of incidents happen that take the plot forward.