History Malayalam Released Shows — 2026 Extra Quality

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)

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 history malayalam released shows 2026

A spiritual successor to the 2019 Mammootty starrer, this standalone epic shifts focus to the final, failed Mamankam festival of 1755. Sources indicate the film follows , a young warrior from the Valluvakonathiri clan, who prepares for a suicide mission against the Zamorin’s heavily guarded palace. With action choreography by international stunt teams (rumored to be from South Korea), the film promises a raw, unfiltered look at the Chaver Pada (suicide squad) rituals. Early teasers suggest a desaturated, rain-soaked visual palette—closer to The Revenant than a typical period masala. 2. "Kulasekhara" (Director: Prithviraj Sukumaran) Expected Release: December 2026 This is not a remake of the 2018 Nivin Pauly film

Here is a look at the most anticipated historical and period-release Malayalam films of 2026. (Director: Mahesh Narayanan) Expected Release: Summer 2026 Newcomer Shane Nigam plays the lead, undergoing a