Priyadarshan: Even if I have to wait for six more months, Marakkar will be a theatrical release

Director Priyadarshan has no plans of releasing his magnum opus Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham on OTTs. The filmmaker said that he was willing to wait as long as he can so that the movie, which has Mohanlal in the lead, will release in theatres.

Marakkar was initially set to release by the end of March 2020. But with the nationwide lockdown announced a week before its release, the makers were able to stave off the loss they would have suffered otherwise by releasing the period entertainer, which is reportedly the most expensive Malayalam movie ever.

The makers had then announced that the movie would release on May 13, but the second wave of COVID-19 cases had once again dashed those plans. Right now, the release date has been moved to August 12, with Marakkar being the only Malayalam film to release in Kerala theatres on the said date, ahead of Onam.

With health experts warning the outbreak of a third wave, talking to Sify.com, Priyadarshan said that even if he has to wait for another six months, he will ensure that the movie will be released in theatres. The film’s producer Anthony Perumbavoor and Mohanlal too agree on this.

Earlier, in an interview, Priyadarshan had confirmed that the movie’s overseas rights too have been sold at a record price and a digital release would mean returning the money to the investors, which was not viable. Rumours are also rife that Amazon Prime Video is in talks with the makers of the National Award-winning film for its digital rights after the theatrical run.