{{Short description|Upcoming Indian Malayalam-language film}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}} {{Use Indian English|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox film | name = Kattalan | image = Kattalan_First_Look_Poster.png | caption = Theatrical Release Poster | director = Paul George | writer = Paul George<br>Joby Varghese<br>Jero Jacob {{Infobox | decat = yes | child = yes | label1= Dialogues by | data1 = Unni R. }} | producer = Shareef Muhammed | starring = Antony Varghese <br/> Sunil<br>Jagadish <br/> Kabir Duhan Singh <br/> Dushara Vijayan<br/>Hanan Shah | cinematography = Renadive<br>'''Additional Cinematography:'''<br>Chandru Selvaraj<br>Sudeep Elamon | editing = | music = '''Songs:'''<br>B. Ajaneesh Loknath<br>Ravi Basrur<br>Nihal Sadiq<br/>'''Score:'''<br>Ravi Basrur | studio = Cubes Entertainments | distributor = Cubes Entertainments (India)<br/> Phars Films (Overseas) | released = {{Film date|2026|05|28|df=y}} | runtime = 120 minutes <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/search-result.php?recid=Q0EwOTI5MDQyMDI2MDAwMjA=|title=CBFC | Search Film|website=cbfcindia.gov.in}}</ref> | country = India | language = Malayalam | budget = {{INR|50 crore}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 September 2025 |title=Antony Varghese's Kattalan goes on floors |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2025/Sep/30/antony-vargheses-kattalan-goes-on-floors |website=Cinema Express |access-date=15 April 2026}}</ref> | gross = {{INR|10 crore}} }}
'''''Kattalan''''' ({{Translation|Forest Ruler/Forest dweller}}) is a 2026 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film written and directed by Paul George, and produced by Shareef Muhammed under the banner of Cubes Entertainments. The film is a standalone spin-off and the third installment in the ''Mikhael Extended Universe,'' following ''Mikhael'' (2019) and ''Marco'' (2024) and stars Antony Varghese, Sunil, Jagadish, Kabir Duhan Singh, Dushara Vijayan and Hanan Shah.<ref>{{Cite news |title='Kantara' fame Ajaneesh Loknath makes Malayalam debut with 'Kattalan'|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/music/2025/05/24/kantara-musician-ajaneesh-loknath-makes-malayalam-debut-with-kattalan.html|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250604154112/https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/music/2025/05/24/kantara-musician-ajaneesh-loknath-makes-malayalam-debut-with-kattalan.html|archive-date=4 June 2025 |access-date=24 May 2025 |website=Manorama |language=en}}</ref> The music is composed by Ravi Basrur, B. Ajaneesh Loknath, and Nihal Sadiq,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmfare.com/news/south/kattalan-brings-in-ravi-basrur-as-composer-after-last-minute-shake-up-82852.html|title=Kattalan Brings in Ravi Basrur As Composer After Last-Minute Shake-Up | Filmfare.com|website=www.filmfare.com}}</ref> with the background score composed by Basrur, cinematography by Renadive, and editing by Shameer Muhammed.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Antony Varghese Pepe's fiery look in 'Kattalan' released|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/antony-varghese-pepes-fiery-look-in-kattalan-released-rlht3oe2|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251013172536/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/antony-varghese-pepes-fiery-look-in-kattalan-released-rlht3oe2|archive-date=13 October 2025 |access-date=11 October 2025 |website=Mathrubhumi |language=en}}</ref>
The film was officially announced on 2 March 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Antony Varghese's new actioner with Marco producer titled Kattalan|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2025/Mar/03/antony-vargheses-new-actioner-with-marco-producer-titled-kattalan|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250303174551/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2025/Mar/03/antony-vargheses-new-actioner-with-marco-producer-titled-kattalan|archive-date=3 March 2025 |access-date=3 March 2025 |website=Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Principal photography began on 28 September 2025 in Thailand,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Kattalan Movie Update: Antony Varghese Starrer Begins Thailand Schedule|url=https://news.abplive.com/entertainment/south-cinema/kattalan-thailand-schedule-update-1803330|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001154305/https://news.abplive.com/entertainment/south-cinema/kattalan-thailand-schedule-update-1803330|archive-date=1 October 2025 |access-date=1 October 2025 |website=ABP News |language=en}}</ref> with additional shooting taking place in Vagamon, Kollam, Colombo, Dhanushkodi, Tirunelveli and Rameswaram. It was released on 28 May 2026 in standard, Dolby Cinema, IMAX, and EPIQ formats and received mixed to negative reviews from critics.
== Plot == {{AI-generated section|date=May 2026}} The film is set against the rugged and unforgiving landscape of Aanakolli, a remote hamlet situated along the dense forest border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Initially plagued by recurring, fatal wild elephant attacks that leave the local population entirely terrified, the desperate villagers seek the assistance of a notorious hunter named Maari. While Maari successfully hunts down the rogue tuskers and positions himself as the village’s saviour, he uses the opportunity to seize absolute control over Aanakolli. He cuts off the settlement's ties with the outside world, relocates other hunters and their families into the territory, and establishes a brutal criminal syndicate centred around illegal elephant poaching and ivory trafficking.
Two decades after seizing the territory, Maari rules over Aanakolli as the feared kingpin of a massive ivory smuggling cartel, commanding a vast network of henchmen to enforce his will. However, total dominance over the lucrative "white gold" market remains elusive due to a bitter, long-standing rivalry with his primary competitor, Eddy. Following a severe fallout between the two rival cartels, Eddy and his influential associates launch a violent campaign to dismantle Maari's empire. To protect his turf and strengthen his syndicate's armed resistance, Maari forms an alliance with George D'Peter—the head of the Adattu family and elder brother of the famous gangster Marco—who sends Antony, a highly skilled and fearless ruffian, to reinforce Maari's operations.
Upon entering the Aanakolli syndicate, Antony quickly earns the trust of the local hunting families and aggressively rises through the criminal ranks by leading high-stakes counter-operations against Eddy's faction. As the turf war escalates into brutal, blood-soaked clashes deep within the wilderness, Antony witnesses the severe exploitation and suffering inflicted upon both the local villagers and the forest ecosystem. It gradually becomes evident to the syndicate that Antony harbors his own hidden, alternative agenda for infiltrating Maari's inner circle.
The narrative builds toward a series of massive, hyper-stylised combat sequences as Antony navigates betrayals from within the cartel. Antony systematically dismantles Maari's operations from the inside, revealing that his true allegiance lies with the preservation of the land and a personal vendetta against Maari's tyranny. In the film's climax, a final, violent confrontation leaves Maari's empire in ruins, exposing Antony's direct structural connection to the broader ''Mikhael Cinematic Universe,'' setting up a larger war over the control of the forest's illicit trade.
* '''First Mid-credits Scene:''' The sequence addresses the immediate narrative continuity of ''Marco''. It unravels the underlying mystery behind the kidnapping of Marco's nephew{{efn|As depicted in the post-credits scene of ''Marco''.}}, establishing the exact timeline bridge and narrative connection that links the events of ''Kattalan'' directly to the plot of ''Marco'' and that to ''Mikhael''. The film sets up a new larger and broader ''Mikhael Cinematic Universe,'' connecting ''Marco, Kattalan'' and ''Mikhael.'' * '''Second Mid-credits Scene:''' The sequence features a cameo by Tamil film director Lokesh Kanagaraj, making an acting appearance as Leo Cabral. Operating in the shadows of the neon-drenched criminal underworld, Cabral is introduced as a gritty and enigmatic figure seeking to seize control of the power vacuum left behind by the collapsed Aanakolli ivory cartel. * '''Post-credits Scene:''' The final scene, which plays after the completion of the rolling credits, leaves the narrative open-ended. It reveals that Antony's structural disruption of the forest's illicit ivory trade has triggered a massive domino effect. His actions position him as a direct target for the deep-rooted forces of the D'Peter crime family, laying the foundation for an impending, larger-scale war over territory.
==Cast== {{div col begin}} *Antony Varghese as Antony{{efn|In the film and its promotional materials, the actor is credited under his screen name, "Pepe", and his character for this film uses his real name.}} *Sunil as Maari ** Raj Thirandasu as Young Maari *Jagadish as Ali *Kabir Duhan Singh in a dual role as: ** Eddy ** Joseph, Eddy's Father *** Niranjan T Nithin as young Eddy * Dushara Vijayan as Lucy * Hanan Shah as Malik * Shon Joy as Mano * Anson Paul as Stanley * Parth Tiwari as Roby * Harishankar Narayanan as SP Nelson Nadar * Hipster as Alokah * Sandeep as Naadhu * Shanood Ebrahim as Hakkim * Shibin Raghav as Marudhu * Shaji Shahid as MLA Ishwar * Bibin Perumpilly as Eapen Mathew * Vijay Jacob as Minister Ilavarasu * Arun Sunny as Dr. Sanjay * Ali Shifas as Aadhi * Farry as Naveen * Yadhu Krishna as Amir * Deepu G Panicker as Raghav Chandra IAS * Ajin John as SI Velraj * Sabeer EH as Salim * Binu Manambur as Kaiser * Hari Namboothiri as Alex Tharakan * Chandran as Ilankovan * Prathapan KS as Aravindan * Gilu Joseph as Ramla * Ankitha Vinod as Rekha * Indu Gopalakrishnan as Janaki * Indira Kozhikode as Leelamma * Vedhika Sreekumar as Sainu * Vismaya Prasobh as Meenakshi * Mohammad Nadal as Aju * Freya Mariam as Aami * Ayah Mariam as Anna * Amaya Paru as Maaya * Sumith Kammara as Vasu Annan ;Cameo appearances *Siddique as George D'Peter{{efn|Siddique reprises his role from ''Marco'' and ''Mikhael''.}} *Alphonse Puthren as Mendis *Lokesh Kanagaraj as Leo Cabral{{div col end}}
==Production== ===Development=== On 22 August 2025, the production of ''Kattalan'' began with a traditional pooja ceremony held at Chakkolas Pavilion in Kochi, Ernakulam. The event was attended by the film’s cast and crew, as well as members of the film industry.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Mollywood News Update: Actor Antony Varghese suffers major accident during elephant fight sequence for 'Kattalan'|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/entertainment/2025/10/10/mollywood-news-update-actor-anthony-varghese-suffers-major-accident-during-elephant-fight-sequence-for-kattalan.html|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251013175930/https://www.theweek.in/news/entertainment/2025/10/10/mollywood-news-update-actor-anthony-varghese-suffers-major-accident-during-elephant-fight-sequence-for-kattalan.html|archive-date=13 October 2025 |access-date=10 October 2025 |website=The Week |language=en}}</ref>
===Filming=== The principal photography began on 28 September 2025 and wrapped on 24 February 2026. Majority of filming took place in Thailand<ref>{{Cite news |title=Antony Varghese's Kattalan goes on floors|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2025/Sep/30/antony-vargheses-kattalan-goes-on-floors|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251013181120/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2025/Sep/30/antony-vargheses-kattalan-goes-on-floors|archive-date=13 October 2025 |access-date=30 September 2025 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}</ref> and Kothamangalam. The film was shot entirely with Sony's VENICE 2 8K cameras.
===Marketing=== Antony Varghese plays the lead role in ''Kattalan''. The marketing for the film began with the release of the first look poster on 11 October 2025. Further promotional activities and updates about the cast and production continued in the following months leading up to the scheduled release.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Antony Varghese Pepe's Kattalan first look on the way|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2025/Oct/10/antony-varghese-pepes-kattalan-first-look-on-the-way|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251013174412/https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPv3cxmk8ic/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=658&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cinemaexpress.com&rp=%2Fmalayalam%2Fnews%2F2025%2FOct%2F13%2Fkalyani-priyadarashan-starrer-lokah-becomes-the-most-watched-malayalam-film-in-uae|archive-date=13 October 2025 |access-date=10 October 2025 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}</ref>
==Music== The film's songs were composed by B. Ajaneesh Loknath, Ravi Basrur and Nihal Sadiq while the background score was composed by Ravi Basrur, under the label of T-Series. The first single "Majako Mallika" was released on 14 February 2026, which the original Malayalam version received an average response while the Telugu version became a hit.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 April 2026 |title=Jungle Beast Theme (From "Kattalan") - by Ravi Basrur |url=https://music.apple.com/in/song/jungle-beast-theme-from-kattalan/1890810478 |website=Apple Music International}}</ref>
=== Track listing === {{Track listing | extra_column = Singer(s) | title1 = Majako Mallika | length1 = 3:30 | lyrics1 = Vinayak Sasikumar | music1 = B. Ajaneesh Loknath | extra1 = Anand Sreeraj, Bhadra | title2 = Jungle Beast Theme | length2 = 1:50 | lyrics2 = Chethan Handattu | music2 = Ravi Basrur | extra2 = Rohith Sidappa | title3 = Ocean Beast Theme | length3 = 2:14 | lyrics3 = Instrumental | music3 = Ravi Basrur | extra3 = Instrumental | title4 = Wild Beast Theme | length4 = 1:45 | lyrics4 = Instrumental | music4 = Instrumental | extra4 = Ravi Basrur | title5 = Hunter Anthem | length5 = 4:24 | lyrics5 = Suhail Koya, Vignesh Ramakrishna | music5 = Nihal Sadiq | extra5 = Hanan Shah, SVDP | title6 = Blood On Tusk | length6 = 2:47 | lyrics6 = Chethan Handattu | music6 = Ravi Basrur | extra6 = Santhosh Venky, Rohith Sidappa, Siddharth Basrur, chorus }}
==Release== ''Kattalan'' was released on 28 May 2026 in its original Malayalam language alongside versions in the Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and Tamil languages in the standard, IMAX, Dolby Cinema, and EPIQ formats.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Kattalan First Look Poster OUT: Antony Varghese Dons Intriguing Never-Seen-Before Avatar For Malayalam Actioner|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/malayalam/kattalan-first-look-poster-out-antony-varghese-dons-intriguing-never-seen-before-avatar-for-malayalam-actioner-article-152983195/amp|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251013180549/https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/malayalam/kattalan-first-look-poster-out-antony-varghese-dons-intriguing-never-seen-before-avatar-for-malayalam-actioner-article-152983195/amp|archive-date=13 October 2025 |access-date=11 October 2025 |website=Times Now |language=en}}</ref>
== Notes == {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb title|tt35668756}}
Category:2026 Malayalam-language films Category:Action thriller films Category:Films set in Thailand Category:Films shot in Kerala Category:2026 Indian films Category:Films shot in Ramanathapuram Category:Films shot in Tirunelveli Category:Indian IMAX films Category:Dolby Cinema films