Malikappuram: Allu Arjun to distribute Unni Mukundan’s film on Sabarimala in Telugu, release date out

Unni Mukundan’s Malikappuram has already become the first superhit in Malayalam this year

A still from Malikappuram and (right) Allu Arjun

After capturing hearts and theatre footfalls in Malayalam, Unni Mukundan’s Malikappuram is all set to have a big theatrical release in Telugu next. The producers of the Malayalam film has also found Allu Arjun’s company to distribute the movie in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Geetha Arts, owned by Allu Aravind, has bagged the distribution rights for Malikappuram, which is a family entertainer revolving around two children’s journey to Sabarimala. Unni essays the character of a stranger named Ayyappadas, who helps him fulfil their desire to seeing Lord Ayyappa at the Sabarimala temple.

Also read: Malikappuram emerges as the first Malayalam superhit of 2023, becomes Unni Mukundan’s highest-grossing film

The movie, which is directed by Vishnu Sasi Shankar, is scripted by Abhilash Pillai, who had written Amala Paul’s investigative thriller Cadaver last year. Malikappuram will also be released in Tamil soon. There were reports that Ponniyin Selvan actor Jayaram has offered to dub portions in the movie that was narrated by megastar Mammootty in the Malayalam version.

The Telugu version of the film is expected to rake in decent money at the Andra Pradesh and Telangana box office with the number of Ayyappa devotees in the two states. The film, which has already collected over Rs 10 crore in the Kerala box office, also has Sampath Raj, Ramesh Pisharody, TG Ravi, Sreejith Ravi and Manoj K Jayan in pivotal roles.

Another reason the movie is expected to do well in other States is that despite being a family entertainer, Malikappuram has also ‘mass’ elements that has been aimed at such an audience. The film’s scriptwriter Abhilash had earlier told us that the movie has one of the lengthiest action sequences in Malayalam. The said sequence also resembles portions in RRR as well as Mohanlal’s Pulimurugan, which had done well in the Telugu states. The Telugu version of Malikappuram is set to hit theatres on January 20.

Unni has a good fanbase in the Telugu industry with him being part of films such as Samantha’s Yashoda, NTR Jr’s Janatha Garage and Ravi Teja’s Khiladi in the past few years. The actor is also set for a major solo outing in Telugu this year, apart from Vysakh’s ‘mass’ action entertainer Bruce Lee.

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