Prithviraj returns to the director’s chair after L2: Empuraan for what he calls “my most expensive and personal vision.” Set in 11th-century Kodungallur, Kulasekhara chronicles the rise of the Chera Perumal dynasty’s last great king. The film focuses not on battlefields but on with the Srivijaya Empire (modern-day Indonesia). Sources say the film is shot mostly on water-based sets, with CGI used to reconstruct the legendary port of Muziris. The casting of a major Bollywood actor as the antagonist—a Javanese chieftain—has fueled pan-Indian buzz. Expect political scheming, Sanskrit-laced dialogue, and a synth-infused folk score. 3. "The Legend of Kayamkulam Kochunni" (Director: Rosshan Andrrews) Expected Release: October 2026 (Deepavali)
This is not a remake of the 2018 Nivin Pauly film. Instead, it is a take on the 19th-century outlaw. The script is reportedly based on court records and folk ballads ( vadakkan pattukal ) that portray Kochunni as a complex figure—part Robin Hood, part violent feudal rebel. Newcomer Shane Nigam plays the lead, undergoing a drastic physical transformation. The film’s highlight is a 15-minute single-take heist sequence set in a Travancore treasury. Unlike its predecessor, this version does not romanticize thievery; it explores caste oppression and the blurred lines between heroism and banditry. 4. "Ottanthullal" (Director: Lijo Jose Pellissery) Expected Release: Early 2026 (Art house circuit, then OTT) history malayalam released shows 2026
True to form, Lijo Jose Pellissery takes the most unconventional approach. Ottanthullal is not a war epic but a set in 18th-century Malabar. It follows a traveling performer of the Ottanthullal art form (a satirical dance-theater) who becomes an accidental spy for the French against the British East India Company. Shot in high-contrast black and white, with no musical score except the performer’s bells and drum, this film is expected to be 2026’s awards-season darling. While not a mainstream blockbuster, it will be the most critically discussed Malayalam historical of the year. 5. "Pazhassi Raja: The Guerrilla" (Director: Amal Neerad) Expected Release: August 2026 Prithviraj returns to the director’s chair after L2: