People leave a cinema after watching the movie, Khalifa, an Onam release on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT
The movie buff in 34-year-old Dinesh, a marketing professional, wakes up to increased expectation every Onam. For the past 10 years, he has never missed watching the movies of his favourite actors on the big screen in the festival season. It was no different this time as he was among those who turned up at Kavitha Theatre in Kochi, Keralam, to be part of the celebrations that marked the release of Vysakh’s Prithviraj-starrer Khalifa on Thursday (August 20, 2026).“The festive feel in cinemas is something different. You need to be a part of it to experience it real time,” he said as actors, including Prithviraj, Tovino Thomas, Soubin Shahir and the movie crew entered the cinema to watch the first day first show. His friend Aravind Anil says they have also booked tickets for A.D. Girish’s Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, starring Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju in the lead, releasing on Friday (August 21, 2026).With the Onam mood reaching its peak, Malayalam film industry is keeping its fingers crossed amidst hopes of a bumper festival this time. The battle for the top slot in box office has narrowed down to Khalifa and Bethlehem Kudumba Unit after actor Dulquer Salmaan pushed his movie I’m Game directed by Nahas Hidhayath to September 3, 2026 from its earlier release date of August 20, 2026.The exhibitors seem to be in a buoyant mood as they hope that the audience response to the two movies will brighten up the industry that had witnessed a mixed run in the first half of 2026.“Unlike in the past when there used to be at least three movie releases during Onam, we have only two releases this time. But it would benefit both the movies as the audiences need not worry about deciding on which one to pick from the multiple releases,” said P.V. Basheer Ahamed, president of the Kerala Cine Exhibitors’ Association.Advanced bookingsExpectations are running high as both the movies have garnered the expected advanced bookings. “The advanced booking figures for Khalifa are higher than Prithviraj’s previous release I Nobody. For Nivin Pauly’s Bethlehem Kudumba Unit too the advanced collections remain high compared to his recent releases,” said Suresh Shenoy, executive member of the Film Exhibitors’ United Organisation of Kerala.For the multi-crore Malayalam film industry, festival release window has always remained crucial in igniting its overall revenue earnings. “Traditionally, lead actors have always made it a point to ensure their movies in the festival season. There used to be even five to six movies reaching the cinemas during Onam on earlier occasions,” pointed out B. Rakesh, president of the Kerala Film Producers’ Association.“A similar release pattern was evident last Onam and this Easter-Vishu festival season as producers expect increased footfall, especially family audiences, during the holidays,” he said.However, the fluctuating fortunes for new Malayalam releases at the box office seem to have resulted in lesser number of movies reaching cinemas in the festival season. Anil Thomas, president of the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce, pointed out that the overall dip in success rate of movies in recent times as one of the key reasons for producers not trying to make the festival window getting crowded with new releases.Aishwaraya Prathap, 28, an ardent movie fan who binge watches films whenever her demanding job as a law professional permits it, is ecstatic about this Onam season. “This time around I am spoilt for choice. I always make it a point to watch big releases before reviewers spoil the experience,” she said. Published - August 21, 2026 07:30 am IST
