It’s been a weirdly quiet start to the year in Kerala, but that’s about to change. If you've been scrolling through BookMyShow or tracking the Reddit threads on r/MalayalamMovies, you know the vibe is shifting. We're finally moving past the post-New Year slump.
Honestly, everyone is talking about the massive announcements for April, specifically that Drishyam 3 and Vaazha 2 clash, but there is so much happening right now that people are completely overlooking.
The Big Shifts Happening This Friday
Tomorrow, January 16, 2026, is a massive day for both theaters and OTT platforms. It's a "pick your poison" situation. You’ve got Kanimangalam Kovilakam hitting the big screen. It's a horror-comedy set in a college hostel. Yeah, we’ve seen that trope before. But director Raajesh Mohan is promising a more "localized" feel, moving away from the polished jumpscares of recent years to something that feels a bit more like the 90s classics.
On the digital side, Kalamkaval is finally dropping. This one is a Mammootty and Vinayakan starrer, which basically means you’re in for a masterclass in acting. It's a crime thriller that starts with a simple inquiry in Kottayikonam and spirals into a cross-border mystery involving Tamil Nadu. The buzz says it’s gritty. Like, really gritty.
Then there is Bha. Bha. Ba. (Bhayam, Bhakthi, Bahumanam). Dileep, Vineeth Sreenivasan, and Dhyan Sreenivasan are all in this together. It’s an action-comedy, and if you know the Sreenivasan brothers' track record lately, it’s probably going to be chaotic. The early word is that it shifts from small personal stakes to a massive public spectacle.
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Why You Shouldn't Ignore the "Small" Films
People always wait for the Mohanlals and Mammoottys of the world. I get it. But look at Pennu Case. It’s out now, starring Nikhila Vimal and Aju Varghese. It’s a drama-comedy that clocks in at just over two hours. Critics have been a bit mixed—some giving it a 2.0 rating—but audiences are finding the social commentary surprisingly sharp.
Malayalam cinema new release schedules are getting crowded, and it's easy for these mid-budget experiments to get lost.
The Fort Kochi "Wrestling" Fever
Next week is when the real madness starts. January 22 is the date for Chatha Pacha: The Ring of Rowdies.
Basically, it's a WWE-style wrestling movie set in the streets of Fort Kochi. Arjun Ashokan and Roshan Mathew are leading the charge. This isn't your typical sports drama; it’s being described as a "wild, flamboyant spectacle." If the soundtrack by Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy hits the way people expect, this could be the first genuine sleeper hit of 2026.
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It’s interesting because it’s a Pan-India release. Mollywood is clearly done staying inside the borders of Kerala.
What’s Actually Coming in the Next Few Weeks
- January 23: Baby Girl. Nivin Pauly is back in a suspense thriller. He plays a hospital attendant, Sanal Mathew. The story revolves around a newborn baby and a high-stakes conflict within the hospital. This feels like the kind of role Nivin thrives in—vulnerable but intense.
- January 23: Magic Mushrooms. Directed by Nadirshah. Expect Vishnu Unnikrishnan to bring the laughs, but the title suggests something a bit more trippy than his usual fare.
- January 30: Valathu Vashathe Kallan. This is a big one. Jeethu Joseph is directing Biju Menon and Joju George. When Jeethu isn't doing Drishyam, he usually delivers these tight, atmospheric thrillers.
The "Georgekutty" Elephant in the Room
We have to talk about the announcement that happened on Wednesday. The makers of Drishyam 3 officially slated the release for April 2, 2026.
The internet exploded.
But then, just a few hours ago, the team behind Vaazha 2 (the sequel to the 2024 hit Biopic of a Billion Boys) decided to drop their release date on the exact same day. It's a bold move. Vaazha 2 is banking on the "Billion Bros" vibe to capture the youth, while Drishyam 3 is... well, it’s the king of thrillers.
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Director Jeethu Joseph has been very tight-lipped about the plot, but rumors from the Thodupuzha sets suggest this is the final chapter. Will Georgekutty finally get caught? Or is he going to bury the truth even deeper? We'll have to wait until Easter to find out.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're trying to keep up with the chaos of the Malayalam cinema new release calendar, here is how you should play it:
- Watch Kalamkaval on OTT first. It’s the safest bet for quality if you’re a fan of the Mammootty-Vinayakan combo.
- Book early for Chatha Pacha. The Fort Kochi crowd is going to turn the first-day-first-show into a carnival. If you want a quiet movie experience, this isn't it.
- Keep an eye on January 23. That Friday is a "clash of genres" between Nivin Pauly's thriller and Nadirshah's comedy. Usually, the thriller wins the long-term box office in Kerala, but the family audience might tilt toward Nadirshah.
- Follow Tharun Moorthy’s updates. He just teased a new project with Mohanlal (working title L or Thudarum 2 vibes) that starts filming on January 23. This industry never sleeps.
The landscape is changing. We’re seeing more fantasy, more high-concept action, and definitely more "Pan-India" ambition. Whether it’s wrestling in Kochi or a heist in I, Nobody (Prithviraj’s big upcoming project), Mollywood is swinging for the fences this year.
Don't just wait for the big festival releases in April. The real gems are often the ones dropping on a random Friday in January when nobody is looking.