Alone to Malaikottai Vaaliban: Upcoming Mohanlal movies to release in theatres and OTT in 2023

After a string of direct-to-OTT releases as well as theatricals during the pandemic, Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has opted to continue with the trend. The Drishyam actor has a long list of films coming up for release and a look at his upcoming movies also reveal that the superstar is using the available platforms of release to experiment. Some of the movies have him teaming up with filmmakers whom he has worked with before and delivered superhits with. Here’s a look at his upcoming films:

Malaikottai Vaaliban

Lijo Jose Pellissery's big budget period film Malaikottai Vaaliban is already one of the most-anticipated movies in Mollywood. The movie, which will go on floors in January 2023, will be shot extensively in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Apart from Mohanlal, it will also feature Danish Sait, Sonalee Kulkarni and Rajpal Yadav. Vidyut Jammwal is rumoured to play the villain in the film, which is expected to hit theatres in 2023. 

Alone

The movie marks the first collaboration of Mohanlal and Shaji Kailas after more than a decade. Scripted by Rajesh Jayaraman, Alone is a single-actor film set in the COVID-19 pandemic, with the rest of the characters featuring in the film through phone calls. Mohanlal said the film has an intriguing story and is a “great thriller”. Set to release on January 26, 2023, the film will also feature the voices of Prithviraj Sukumaran, Manju Warrier, Mallika Sukumaran and Siddique.

Spadikam 4K

The 4K version of Spadikam, which is one of Mohanlal's biggest hits of the 90s, will hit theatres on February 9, 2023. The film's director Bhadran said that the movie has been remastered in 4K and Dolby Atmos, and the team has also included a few new shots that wasn't part of the original. Mohanlal recently re-recorded his track Ezhimala Poonchola for the film. Spadikam 4K is aimed at presenting the theatrical experience that the 1995 movie did, to the new generation.

Barroz

Mohanlal’s directorial debut Barroz: The Guardian of D’Gama’s Treasure is a 3D children’s fantasy film that is mounted on a big scale. The film is touted to be the actor's most-expensive movie till date. It revolves around 300-year-old Barroz, who has been guarding Vasco D’Gama’s treasure, to pass it to the latter’s true heir. The film’s protagonists are Barroz and a girl named Isabella. Barroz, which is expected to have pan-Indian release, is also co-scripted by Mohanlal along with TK Rajeevkumar. Minnal Murali actor Guru Somasundaram also essays a pivotal role in the film, which is expected to hit theatres on March 2023.

Empuraan

The much-awaited sequel of Prithviraj Sukumaran’s directorial Empuraan, scripted by Murali Gopy, will focus on Ab’Ram Khureshi aka Stephen Nedumpally’s character. Prithviraj’s character Zayed Masood too will be getting a longer screentime compared to Lucifer. The project is expected to go on floors by mid of 2023 and will only be a 2024 release. Prithviraj, who will be helming the film, had said that the movie will have portions before and after Lucifer's timeline and will have extensive portions shot abroad.

Ram

Mohanlal and Jeethu Joseph's big-budget action-thriller boasts of a star-studded cast featuring Trisha, Adil Hussain and Indrajith Sukumaran in pivotal roles. Jeethu, in a recent interview with us, said that the team decided to make the movie a duology as Mohanlal's Ram is a "pan-world" character and limiting his adventures to just one film wouldn't do it any justice. The team has already wrapped up the shoot in Morocco and Tunisia, and will next head to the UK and Israel. Ram's first instalment is expected to hit theatres by mid of this year and the second by the end of the year.

Vrushabha

The Telugu-Malayalam period action drama, which is helmed by Nanda Kishore, is expected to go on floors later in 2023. The story of the film spans generations and has several battle sequences, while also telling the tale of a relationship between a father and a son. A major Telugu star is expected to be playing the latter in the movie, produced by AVS Studios.