Onam has traditionally been one of the biggest theatrical seasons for Malayalam cinema, and 2026 is shaping up to be another important period for the industry. With major releases from Prithviraj Sukumaran, Dulquer Salmaan and Nivin Pauly, along with competition from Tamil and Kannada films, Kerala’s theatres are set for a busy festival season.
This Onam season, only two prominent Malayalam releases are expected to lead the race — Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Khalifa and Nivin Pauly’s Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, after Dulquer Salmaan's I'm Game bowed out of the race and moved to an early September date. Interestingly, the two films belong to distinctly different genres, giving exhibitors a chance to cater to different sections of the audience.
Khalifa: Prithviraj returns with a big-scale action thriller
Khalifa is one of Prithviraj Sukumaran’s major Malayalam projects amid his commitments across multiple industries. Directed by Vysakh, the film is an action thriller revolving around a notorious gold-smuggling kingpin who inherits a multi-million-dollar criminal enterprise from a lineage of gangsters. It releases in theatres on August 20, 2026.
The story reportedly spans the Middle East and India, with Prithviraj playing Ameer, a key figure in the gold-smuggling mafia. The film also features Mohanlal in a key cameo role, according to the makers. Khalifa marks a reunion of Vysakh with Prithviraj after 15 years. The filmmaker made his directorial debut with Pokkiriraja, which featured Mammootty and Prithviraj in the lead roles.
Written by Jinu Abraham, Khalifa has cinematography by Jomon T John and music by Jakes Bejoy. Yannick Ben has choreographed the action sequences. The film carries considerable expectations because of its scale, genre and star cast. Prithviraj will also be looking to deliver a strong theatrical success with the film after the underperformance of Vilayath Budha.
Bethlehem Kudumba Unit: Can Girish AD deliver another winner?
While Khalifa is positioned as an action-oriented entertainer, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit is expected to target family audiences and fans of romantic comedy. The Nivin Pauly-Mamitha Baiju starrer is directed by Girish AD, who is returning after the blockbuster success of Premalu. That success has naturally raised expectations around his next film.
The story revolves around Ashley (Mamitha Baiju), whose return home from abroad takes an emotional turn when a wedding next door brings back memories of her first love, Justin. The film has been positioned as a romantic comedy exploring first love, second chances and relationships.
Mamitha Baiju has expressed her excitement about being part of the project and indicated that the film will have the signature elements associated with a Girish AD movie. Bethlehem Kudumba Unit is produced by Bhavana Studios, headed by Dileesh Pothan, Fahadh Faasil and Syam Pushkaran. The banner previously backed Premalu, making the reunion of Girish AD and Bhavana Studios another major talking point.
Nivin Pauly, meanwhile, will be looking to maintain his theatrical momentum. His 2024 Christmas release Sarvam Maya emerged as a blockbuster, but his subsequent releases Baby Girl and Prathichya failed to make a significant impact. A successful Bethlehem Kudumba Unit could give him another boost to his box-office standing.
Thudakkam opened the Onam season
The Onam movie race has already begun with Vismaya Mohanlal’s acting debut Thudakkam, which hit theatres on August 7. Directed by Jude Anthany Joseph, the film has generated considerable interest primarily because it marks Vismaya Mohanlal’s entry into acting.
The film also carries the Mohanlal connection, with the veteran actor having an association with the project. Its August release means “Thudakkam” gets an opportunity to establish itself before the bigger Onam weekend releases arrive.
Interestingly, the film has also shown encouraging early theatrical momentum, with reports indicating strong initial collections in Kerala and overseas markets.
Vishwanath and Sons adds Suriya factor
The competition is not restricted to Malayalam cinema. Suriya’s Tamil-Telugu bilingual Vishwanath and Sons released on August 14. Directed by Venky Atluri, the film stars Suriya alongside Mamitha Baiju, Radhika Sarathkumar and Raveena Tandon. Suriya plays Sanjay Vishwanath, an international pistol shooter whose personal and professional life forms the centre of the story.
The presence of Suriya makes Vishwanath and Sons particularly significant in Kerala, where the actor has a strong fan base. The film is also notable for the pairing of Suriya and Mamitha Baiju, giving it an additional Malayalam connection. The August 14 release also places it directly in the middle of the festival-season competition, with the film expected to target family and youth audiences.
Toxic brings Yash and Geetu Mohandas
The Onam-season competition will get even bigger towards the end of August with Yash’s Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups, directed by Malayalam filmmaker Geetu Mohandas. The film is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on August 26 after undergoing multiple postponements. It features Yash alongside Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth.
For Kerala exhibitors, Toxic is particularly interesting because of Geetu Mohandas’ involvement and the film’s strong pan-Indian appeal. The Yash factor could bring another section of the audience into theatres during the extended Onam period.
A crowded festival, but a potentially rewarding one
With Thudakkam and Vishwanath and Sons already in theatres, the festival window is becoming increasingly competitive. The key question for exhibitors will be how screens and shows are divided among these films. The answer may ultimately depend less on star power and more on the content and audience response during the opening days.
Trade experts feel that all the films have huge expectations as the films have big actors. For Kerala’s exhibition sector, it could be one of the most crowded and closely watched Onam seasons in recent years because Tamil movie DC is also doing very well in Kerala. And for Malayalam cinema, the biggest winner could once again be the film that manages to turn audience expectations into sustained word-of-mouth.
