Odiyan: Prithviraj, Manju Warrier join Karan Johar's first Malayalam film
Filmmaker Karan Johar announced Dharma Productions' first Malayalam film on Tuesday. The banner will back Rahul Sadasivan's Odiyan, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Manju Warrier.
Filmmaker and producer Karan Johar on Tuesday announced that Dharma Productions will back filmmaker Rahul Sadasivan's new Malayalam film, Odiyan: The Age of Illusion, marking the banner's entry into Malayalam cinema. The film stars Prithviraj Sukumaran and Manju Warrier. It is planned as a pan-Indian release in multiple languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Tamil.
The announcement was accompanied by a poster comprising of the title, the primary cast and crew. The film centres on a shape-shifter from a Kerala legend whose fury descends on a powerful matriarchal household, setting off a battle between truth and illusion. The project brings together Dharma Productions and Prithviraj Productions for the Malayalam venture.
Sharing the news on social media, Johar wrote: "We at @dharmamovies are taking our first step into the world of Malayalam cinema, and I am proud to announce that we have the best partners to do it with. Prithviraj, we've come such a long way with multiple collaborations behind us and hopefully many more ahead of us too (sic)."
He added, "It gives us great pride to announce our film - Odiyan, directed by the supremely talented @rahulsadasivan_. His knack for eerie storytelling rooted in folklore is a feat in this age of cinema. Bringing this to life on screen is the exceptional @manju.warrier & of course, our favourite Prithviraj himself. Coming soon! (sic)"
Rahul Sadasivan is known for his share of mind-bending horror films such as Bhoothakalam, Bramayugam and Dies Irae. With Odiyan, he is set to take on what has been described as his most ambitious project yet, with backing from Dharma Productions.
What the makers said
In an official statement, Karan Johar, said, “I have been a great admirer of Malayalam cinema for a long time, and have always wanted to be part of that world. The craft, the courage, the way its filmmakers trust their audiences - it is something I have watched with genuine awe."
He expressed that when this story came to him, with Rahul’s vision and Prithviraj at the helm, it felt like exactly the right moment. "Odiyan: The Age of Illusion is the kind of film that deserves the biggest possible canvas, and I am glad we get to give it just that,” he added.
Prithviraj Sukumaran said, “The Odiyan is not just a myth, it is a piece of Kerala’s identity, a legend that has travelled through generations and continues to hold a powerful place in our cultural consciousness."
He added that bringing this story to the screen in a way that honours its mythology and the culture it comes from, has been a pursuit very close to his heart.
The title Odiyan has also been used before for another film starring Manju Warrier and led by Mohanlal. Released in 2018, the film received mixed reviews from critics and earned Rs 54 crore worldwide.