Malaikottai Vaaliban: Mohanlal joins Lijo Jose Pellissery’s much-awaited movie in Jaisalmer, pooja function held

Mohanlal’s much-awaited collaboration with Jallikattu and Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam director Lijo Jose Pellissery is officially underway. The actor reached Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, last evening and joined the team for the film’s pooja function on Wednesday.

The team also shared images from the switch-on function. Lijo and his team have been in Jaisalmer for the past few weeks, working on the sets as well as planning the shoot. The event was attended by Mohanlal, Lijo, Tinu Pappachan and producers Shibu Baby John and Anoop.

Touted to be a big-budget period entertainer, the film will reportedly have Mohanlal essaying the role of a wrestler. There were also rumours that the team had approached Kamal Haasan to essay a pivotal role – that of Mohanlal’s father in the movie – but this has not been officially confirmed. Bollywood actors Vidyut Jammwal and Radhika Apte were also others who were reportedly in talks to act in the film, which is scripted by Amen writer PS Rafeeque.

Malaikottai Vaaliban, meanwhile, marks the Malayalam debut of Kannada actor and comedian Danish Sait as well as Marathi actress Sonalee Kulkarni. Rajpal Yadav is also rumoured to be part of the film, which is expected to have a stellar cast and is Lijo’s biggest film yet.

The filmmaker, meanwhile, will have his latest movie Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam hitting theatres on January 19. The movie has Mammootty in the lead and revolves around a Malayali theatre artiste who starts behaving as a Tamil villager after his group stops at a village to rest on their way back from Vellankanni.

Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam also has Ashokan and Ramya Pandian as part of the cast. Scripted by S Hareesh, the film is also produced by Mammootty and is the debut production of the banner Mammootty Kampany. The movie had its world premiere last year at the IFFK and received rave reviews from those who could watch it during its three screenings at the film festival.