Mohanlal: OTT deal for Marakkar was never signed, didn’t want to clarify speculations

A major announcement that shook the Malayalam film industry this month was producer Antony Perumbavoor claiming that Mohanlal and Priyadarshan’s Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham will release directly on OTT. While the makers decided against it and has opted to release the movie in theatres on December 2, Mohanlal today clarified that an OTT release was never in question for Marakkar.

The superstar, talking at a press meet in Kochi organised ahead of the film’s release, said that the the OTT deal for Marakkar was never signed. The actor mentioned that he never said that the movie is heading directly to OTT and it was the others who made that claim. He didn’t want to clarify the speculations.

The actor had come under for his decision to support Antony’s decision to release the movie in OTTs with many claiming that he puts business ahead of art and the film industry. Replying to this, Mohanlal said that he has always been a “businessman” and had produced movies such as Kaalapani and Vanaprashtham in his 43-year-old career that didn’t make him any money. He asked what’s wrong in expecting Rs 105Cr when you spend Rs 100 Cr.

After Antony Perumbavoor had announced that they had no plans in releasing the movie in theatres after discussions with FEUOK officials had broken down, the theatre exhibitors had said in a press meet that Malayalam industry continued even after the death of stars such as Prem Nazir and Jayan and Mohanlal should understand that. Responding to this, Mohanlal said that he knows fully well that the industry will go on even without him and the theatre owners too should be aware of it.

Also read: Exclusive! Priyadarshan: My conviction is in the emotional thread of Marakkar rather than on its grandeur