4 new Malayalam movies releasing in theaters this week (May 26 - June 1): Soothravakyam, Shaman to Moonwalk
Malayalam theatrical releases this week
1. Soothravakyam
Cast: Shine Tom Chacko, Vincy Aloshious, Deepak Parambol
Release date: May 30, 2025
The film follows the life of Christo Xavier, a circle inspector known for his unique approach to policing. Alongside his duties, he takes on the role of a mentor to a group of 11th-grade students. He turns his police station into a space that serves the children of the town. However, things take a serious turn when a person goes missing. This incident leads to an intense investigation.
2. Once Upon A Time There Was A Kallan
Cast: Sreenath Bhasi, Kottayam Nazeer, Tini Tom
Release date: May 30, 2025
Once Upon A Time There Was A Kallan tells the story of an elderly man living all alone in a big and quiet house. One night, a thief sneaks into his home but ends up getting trapped inside. Instead of reacting with fear or anger, the old man chooses not to call the police. He decides to talk to the thief, and an unexpected friendship begins.
3. Shaman
Cast: Pious Paul, Athulya S
Release date: May 30, 2025
Shaman revolves around the life of a woman who, after facing a personal loss, goes on a trip with her friends to find peace. However, her dreams start to reflect strange real-life events. As the mystery deepens, she struggles to tell what is real and what is illusion. The truth seems to exist beyond her own imagination.
4. Moonwalk
Cast: Anunath VP, Siddharth Babu, Sujith Prapanchan
Release date: May 30, 2025
Moonwalk is set in a remote Kerala village during the late 1980s. The film draws inspiration from true events. It follows a group of young people who want to learn and perform breakdance. The story shows the challenges they encounter on their journey to master the dance.
Stay tuned to Pinkvilla for more updates!
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Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
John Abraham at Idea Exchange: ‘In the name of being secular, you can't be making controversial films. But biased films finding an audience is worrisome'
Actor-producer John Abraham on Tehran, his interest in geopolitics, the thin line between patriotism and jingoism and why the best films are coming out of the Malayalam industry. This session was moderated by Devyani Onial, National Features Editor Devyani Onial: You debuted in films in 2003. It has been a long journey… Devyani Onial: Your latest film, Tehran, on Zee5 is topical with all that has played out between Israel and Iran. But you also have a personal connection with Iran — your mother traces her roots to the country. Tehran came to me as a typically good guy India and bad guy Iran, and I said, hey, wait a second. So my father's a Malayali and my mother and my grandfather from my mother's side came from Iran. So obviously I said Iran can't look so bad. There has to be something nice about this country. So we wrote a story about Iran, Israel, India, and how India was affected by the whole Iran-Israel conflict. Of course, you had another player in Palestine, and not topically so, because this film was made way before the war. The war happened later and we said this is a very interesting premise, and how do we project this film? So we kept this film very neutral, we kept this film very true to what actually happened. It's not your typical patriotic film. It shows the good and bad that happened, that exists within this country, which we're very scared today to show in this kind of hyper-political atmosphere. Devyani Onial: There's a very thin line between patriotism and jingoism. Do you worry about crossing that line when you are making a film or acting in one? Yes, totally. What's very worrisome for me is that in the present political climate, when you make films that aren't really true to the grain of what's really secular, and they find a massive audience, that gets you thinking and worried. I'm not saying they're good or bad films. They're impactful films, which is why they worked. But then you wonder what your responsibilities are as a producer, as a filmmaker, as an actor. And I've chosen to take the path that's probably very real. I'm not right-wing. I'm not left-wing. I am apolitical in my views. I'll probably call myself a socialist capitalist. So I want to stick to the path that actually is true. Shubhra Gupta: You started with Jism and then you did Kabul Express, two completely different kinds of films. So my idea of looking at you as an actor was that you were actually looking at a spectrum from one to the other. And as a producer, you seem to have been an outlier. What are the things that you look for when you are looking to back a movie and when you're looking at acting? I think my career is defined more by my failures than my successes. I believe the films that have stood out for me are the ones that have failed, be it Water, Kabul Express, No Smoking (2007), Madras Cafe, even The Diplomat. I have understood that where I have a voice is when I'm an outlier, when I make the kind of stuff I want to. In fact, Vicky Donor was a film that no one wanted to touch but we made it with a lot of conviction. So that's one part of me. The other part of what you said was, yes, I do films that have a lot of action, that have a lot of testosterone. You fight, you break, you bang. You have a large audience for that. But what I am hoping for through my films is to marry craft with content. Right now, they're parallel streets. Shubhra Gupta: Not too many people will remember a film that you'd done, Viruddh (2005). There was a very interesting texture to your part. So would you look at those kinds of very specific, not so much action, but more emotional kind of roles now, going forward, given the fact that you are now being associated with this muscular, macho hero kind of films? I think it's the other way around where I was always associated with the muscular, macho image. I'll tell you where I get my feedback from. I get my feedback from when I travel on flights, because as an actor I am very insulated from people. So when I travel, the impression I get from an audience that sits next to me generally is that, we love the films that you're doing now, the stuff that you're doing now makes a lot more sense. So when we see a John Abraham film, we expect something different. So there's an honest attempt to… like I said, geopolitical stuff is something that's very close to my heart. Do I want to make films that are more thought-provoking? Yes, that's the idea. But does that mean I alienate and give up what has also worked for me? No, I won't. I would never be apologetic about it. So you have to draw that balance and do both. But in the process of doing both, you shouldn't end up making a mess. Divya A: I heard you once say that you have geopolitical anxiety. I think in this Trump era we all have it, maybe to some degree. But for you personally, where did this interest in geopolitics start from and how did it become an anxiety or something that consumed you because all your films are coming out of that space now? From childhood, we were always drawn to watching the news. With the advent of the internet, my interest in the geopolitical space kept growing. In fact, recently I did an interview with Oksana Boyko of Russia Today on the whole Russia-Ukraine conflict and then the bureau called me and said, 'How do you know so much about Russia?' So I think it's my Mallu roots of having something about a Marxist, politically. But I think it just adds to whatever I kind of enjoy indulging in. So, I have developed this fondness for space has always excited me. Rinku Ghosh: OTT came up as an alternative platform for content-driven films but now we see the same bigness of commercial cinema on it. Do you feel there has been a blurring of lines between OTT and the big screen? Second, you are championing causes like the wildlife reserve in Telangana. You have also taken up the Northeast United FC, promoting football. Do these pursuits keep you grounded or are you carving out a new path for yourself? The lines are blurred a bit. But if you ask me if there should be a demarcation, I don't think so. On the animal front, I campaign for the cause of animals across this country and I am going to continue to do so because I think they're voiceless and they need a voice and some of us are doing it. Some of us mean well for the cause and whether it's writing letters to chief ministers or whatever it takes, I will do in my capacity because if there's a calling in my life, it's for animals. Without offending any human beings, animals are very important to me. I am very passionate about football. I'm opening a 15-acre academy in Shillong, where we want to get kids aged eight to 10. We can get one Messi or Ronaldo in this world from India and that's my aim. Owning a team for the sake of vanity doesn't exist in my scheme of things. But again, I'm not that actor who's going to sit with black glasses in a stadium and just look around. I want to see results. Devyani Onial: Aamir Khan recently launched his film Sitaare Zameen Par on YouTube. What do you think of that model? I think Aamir is a flag-bearer for some of us. That said, films need to be on screen for a longer period of time. I understand that YouTube is a great disruptor, so that's great. But I question the window, I'm confused. I've just been hit by a truck. So I guess I'll wait and think about it. But I think it's a disruptor and I think he's done something very differently. So kudos to him. I think you've got another platform that people would be buying for tomorrow saying, if not XYZ, then you have another option, it's fantastic. Shiny Varghese: Your mom is from Iran. It has such a different history from what we see in Iran today. So do you have stories of that time that your mom has told you about? My mom has 21 cousins in Iran—in Yazd, in Shiraz. It has always been my dream to take mom there. Unfortunately, she has dementia now. She can speak Farsi and I think the most beautiful thing that I did was to learn the language for Tehran. Also, I think Iran is probably the most misrepresented country in the world. Culturally, artistically, they're so fantastically rich. You get some of the most beautiful films out of Iran. Shiny Varghese: There's a dialogue in Madras Cafe where the journalist says that just because I criticise what's happening around, it doesn't make me anti-national. Is that a statement the film was trying to make? If you see, in The Diplomat also, we've shown the good and the bad there (in Pakistan). You've got to be honest to your process, which is why I said what's really dangerous is that certain radical views are finding a massive audience. It's really scary. So it's important for us as filmmakers to get the right message across. I want to believe that India is a secular country, that we're a fantastic democracy, and I want us to stay that way. Devyani Onial: Addressing the media in 2023 after Pathaan's release, Shah Rukh Khan said that Deepika Padukone was Amar, he was Akbar and you were Anthony. That perhaps sums up the film industry and India in one line. But do you sometimes feel that idea is under assault? I don't think there's a secret about the fact that we're making our views very clear as actors and directors. So, yes, a lot of us pretend to be secular. That's very good. And as long as we pretend, it's also very good. And people who don't get the fact that we pretend, it's even better. So that's the way I put it. But, everybody is entitled to their view. And so do filmmakers, and if they have a particular view, then so be it. In the name of being secular, you can't just be making films that could possibly be controversial. But there are films that are openly biased that are finding an audience. That's what is worrying. That's all. So there's a difference between the two. Ivinder Gill: You said India is not really the good guy in Tehran. So did you face any regulatory hurdles because of that? Do you think that is the reason why the film did not get a theatrical release? I give all credit to the Ministry of External Affairs for viewing this film and for passing it because they've been fantastic. This is the kind of film you get into with your eyes open. And when you see the film, you won't find anything particularly controversial except for what's really happening in the world. So yes, we did face a lot of hurdles. But that's the idea, right? When you do something creative, when you want to make a statement, when you want to do something that you believe is different, you are going to face some amount of restriction. It goes with the territory. I'm not wearing it on my sleeve. I'm not complaining. It's absolutely fine. Devyani Onial: You have produced a Malayalam film (Mike, 2022) and you also have a writer's room in Kerala. Is this an exciting space for you? At least as of today, I think the best films in this country come from the Malayalam film industry. If you ask me who my favourite actor is I will say Mohanlal, by light years — I love Meryl Streep also! The industry is very brave. Look at Mammootty playing a politician, and then you find out in the film (Kaathal) that he's gay. I mean, it's brave for that man to do a film like that. So I thought that maybe I could borrow from some of their ideas. I set up a writer's room in Kerala and I said, listen, let's generate ideas out of there and see films that could be made nationally or only in Malayalam. I want to make all kinds of films but it's the right time to make good Malayalam films. 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A lot of women who feel post menopause life is over, please throw that out of your head. You can get fit at any point of time in your lives. Most of the people I train with or I train or I give advice to are women. Contrary to the image I have that I hang around with only dudes, I don't. I just speak about living a good life. If you want longevity, quality of life, you've got to eat the right things, think about the right things and be very, very disciplined.
Pink Villa
7 hours ago
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Box Office: Coolie and War 2 ensure a bumper opening weekend in India; Rajinikanth, Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR contribute Rs 430 crore in 4 days
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Pink Villa
8 hours ago
- Pink Villa
Box Office: Mahavatar Narsimha puts strong foot against War 2 and Coolie, adds Rs 16 crore in 4th weekend with an eye on Rs 200 crore finish
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