Mohanlal's 'Malaikottai Vaaliban' to release in Japan in 2026
What's the story
The visually stunning film Malaikottai Vaaliban, starring Mohanlal and directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery, will be released in Japan on January 17, 2026. Despite its lukewarm box office response initially, the movie has been embraced by fans as a cult classic for its unique aesthetics and vision. Pellissery confirmed this news on his Facebook account recently.
Marketing strategy
'Malaikottai Vaaliban' to be marketed as 'maximum visual poetry'
The Japanese poster for Malaikottai Vaaliban features the words "maximum visual poetry," suggesting that the film will be promoted as such to appeal to a market that appreciates experimental and stylized cinema. However, Pellissery did not specify if this version would receive a full theatrical release in Japan or if it would be part of a festival circuit.
Fan reactions
Fans expressed excitement and defended the film's artistic value
The announcement of Malaikottai Vaaliban's Japanese release has reignited fan excitement. Comments on Pellissery's post show a devoted cult following that has developed over time. One user called it "the biggest cult classic ever made in Malayalam," while another said, "This is a fabulous movie! A special LJP visual Treat! ML performed extremely well a herculean task!" Another user said, "It had an anime comic feel. Good decision."
Box office struggle
Mohanlal previously spoke about 'Malaikottai Vaaliban's underperformance
In March, Mohanlal candidly spoke about the film's box office failure. He told Galatta Plus that during the filming, they decided to expand the universe of the film for a sequel. This decision, along with some production miscalculations, affected the final product. The movie was released in theaters in January 2024.