Malaikottai Vaaliban ( Youngster from the Mountain Fort) is a 2024 Indian Malayalam-language epic period fantasy action drama film directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery and written by P. S. Rafeeque from a story by Pellissery. The film stars Mohanlal in a dual role, alongside Sonalee Kulkarni, Hareesh Peradi, Danish Sait, Manoj Moses, Katha Nandi and Manikandan R. Achari in supporting roles. It was jointly produced by John & Mary Creative, Century Films, Maxlab Cinemas and Entertainments, Saregama and Amen Movie Monastery.
Pellissery wrote the initial story during the COVID-19 pandemic and later expanded it to a narrative that transcends time and space. He worked with P. S. Rafeeque to develop the script. The film was announced on 25 October 2022 by Shibu Baby John, marking the first collaboration between Pellissery and Mohanlal. Tinu Pappachan served as the associate director. Principal photography spanned approximately 130 days from January to June 2023, covering locations in Rajasthan, Chennai, and Pondicherry. The music was handled by Prashant Pillai, while the editing and cinematography were handled by Deepu S. Joseph and Madhu Neelakandan respectively.
Malaikottai Vaaliban was released in theatres worldwide on 25 January 2024, coinciding with the Republic Day weekend. The film received mixed reviews from critics and praised the cinematography, art direction, production values and performances (especially that of Mohanlal), while criticism was aimed at the direction, screenplay, editing and fight sequences. It was a box office bomb.
Plot Malaikottai Vaaliban, an undefeated aged drifting warrior, establishes himself as a hero reigning over a vast desert region. Vaaliban travels with mentor/father figure, Ayyanar, and his son, Chinnappaiyyan, who energizes the crowd with drums and chants during Vaaliban's arena fights. Vaaliban is an orphan, whom Ayyanar had adopted when he was a newborn from the hands of his deceased mother. Vaaliban proceeds to Adivaarithur for his next fight, where they encounter a lady named Jamanthipoovu, who limps in front of them and requests for a ride on their cart since she cannot walk.
Chinnappaiyyan and Ayyanar agree to take her with them and she accompanies them on their journey. In Adivaarithur, Vaaliban defeats the reigning champion following the customary practice of claiming the ex-champion's house and wife as his own house and wife. After a brief stay there, Vaaliban encounters a dancer, Rangapattinam Rangarani, at a betting parlour in Nooraanathalayur. Vaaliban also clashes with Chamathakan, blocking his advances. Angered and humiliated, Chamathakan challenges Vaaliban to a fight in his village, Mangodu, against their most powerful fighter, Mangottu Mallan. The next morning, Vaaliban arrives at Mangodu to fight him. Despite Chamathakan's family's deceitful tactics, Vaaliban emerges victorious, stripping them of their honor. In retaliation, Chamathakan embarks on a killing spree out of shame, seeking revenge against Vaaliban.
Meanwhile, Vaaliban returns to Ambathoor Malaikottai, where he began his journey, and challenges the Portuguese fighter king, Macaulay Maharaj, to take over his reign. However, Chamathakan, seeking vengeance, poisons Vaaliban before the fight with Maharaj and Lady Macaulay as a duo, temporarily blinding him, which leads to him being captured by the Portuguese soldiers. Miraculously, he recovers the next day and defeats the Portuguese, with the help of the slaves of Ambathoor, who were liberated by Rangarani's aid, Thenamma. Later that night, outside of Malaikottai, Rangarani proposes to Vaaliban, who rejects her proposal and tells her that he cannot love anyone. Hearing this, she becomes heartbroken and reveals this to Thenamma, who starts scheming evil things in her mind and promises to help her make Vaaliban fall in love with her.
Celebrating their victory, they all stop for the Thiruchenthooru festival, where Jamanthi reveals to Vaaliban that she is pregnant with Chinnappaiyyan's child. He is overjoyed when he hears this and wishes good health and prosperity to the child and Jamanthi. Rangarani eavesdrops and hears the conversation, but misunderstands the child's father to be Vaaliban, judging by the way Vaaliban spoke to Jamanthi. Rangarani reports this to Thenamma, who puts her plan in action. She speaks to Chinnappaiyyan and tells him that Jamanthi is pregnant with Vaaliban's child, which angers him and sets out to kill Vaaliban.
During the temple festivities, while they are all celebrating, Vaaliban senses Chamathakan's presence in the crowd and attempts to find Chamathakan, but in vain. Vaaliban senses that he might be near Jamanthi and races towards her to protect her, but due to the huge crowd present there, Vaaliban is not able to make it in time and he kills her. While mourning Jamanthi's death, Vaaliban senses Chamathakan's presence in the crowd once again. He sees a person coming to attack him and stabs the person multiple times. Though Vaaliban thinks that he has killed Chamathakan, it is revealed to be Chinnappaiyyan, whom Vaaliban could not recognise as they were all wearing face masks.
Chamathakan considers his revenge fulfilled and leaves the area. These events drive a wedge between Vaaliban and Ayyanar. Ayyanar pledges vengeance and declares him as his sworn enemy. While wandering away, Ayyanar comes across Chamathakan and they share a drink. He reveals to Chamathakan that Vaaliban is not an orphan as he was previously made to believe, but the son of his mutant fighter rival, Malaivettai Vaaliban. Malaivettai had defeated Ayyanar and took his wife with him, as a result of which, he became Malaivettai's servant. Soon, Ayyanar's ex-wife became pregnant with Vaaliban; Malaivettai left her to conquer the world, leaving her under the care of Ayyanar in the monsoon season. As soon as he was born, Ayyanar murdered his ex-wife and abducted him to train him as a weapon against his own biological father. Ayyanar poisons Chamathakan and wanders off into the desert. The film ends with the revelation of Ayyanar revealing that the fighter, which he will bring to fight against Vaaliban will be his own father, paving way for the sequel.
Cast
Production Development
On 25 October 2022, John & Mary Creative, the newly launched production house of former minister Shibu Baby John, announced their debut film which brought together director Lijo Jose Pellissery and actor Mohanlal for the first time. The title was announced on 22 December. At that time, media reported that the film is a period drama in which Mohanlal portrays the role of a wrestler. The screenplay was written by P. S. Rafeeque. Pellissery retained most of the technical crew from his previous films. Tinu Pappachan was appointed as the associate director. The film credits Shibu Baby John and Achu Baby John from John & Mary Creative, Kochumon Century from Century Films, Jacob K. Babu from Maxlab Cinemas and Entertainments, and Vikram Mehra and Siddharth Anand Kumar from Yoodlee Films as producers. Additionally, Pellissery's Amen Movie Monastery also joined the production.
Pellissery conceived the initial story during the COVID-19 lockdown and later expanded it into a narrative that blurs time and space. He collaborated with Rafeeque to develop the screenplay. Pellissery chose him for his belief that Rafeeque could contribute to a language and vocabulary "rooted in the soil". The film was originally planned in Tamil. In the scripting process, Pellissery transformed the concept into a broader canvas, particularly in terms of characters and landscape. He drew inspirations from around the world, incorporating elements from Japanese folklore and Samurai culture to Westerns, among other sources.
According to John, Malaikottai Vaaliban is a "complete action cinema". Mohanlal stated that the film is crafted in the style of a Western film, and the storyline is not confined to any specific time period. The narrative unfolds in its own world, transcending space and time, blending philosophical and spiritual elements. The film allows for individual interpretations, with Mohanlal stating, "each viewer's perspective would be as diverse and unique as strokes of a painting". Additionally, he suggested that it could also be perceived as a cinematic zen story. Pelissery added that the film is without any particular genre and can be perceived as a cinematic rendition of an Amar Chitra Katha. According to producer Siddharth Anand Kumar, "it is the kind of epic story we have grown up reading", it may look like a mythological story, "but it is outside of the mythological space".
Casting Commenting on Mohanlal's casting, Pellisserry emphasized that, "this is a period film which demanded someone with the gravitas of Mohanlal". Describing the character, Mohanlal said that there is an anonymity surrounding Vaaliban, as he can be anyone and possess any ability. In November 2022, the team entered into discussions with actress Radhika Apte for the lead female role, according to reports. There were also reports of Vidyut Jammwal and Rajpal Yadav being considered for roles in the film. In December, Kannada actor and stand-up comedian Danish Sait confirmed that he would make his Malayalam cinema debut in the film, growing a beard for his role, which contrasts with his typical clean-shaven appearance. Sait's character was designed to emulate the traits of a hyena, a concept developed during discussions between Mohanlal and Pellisery. Sait underwent specific preparations for his role. He was asked to watch hyena videos to capture the character's behaviour and laughter. In the film, he spots a half-shaven head and beard look. Sait himself dubbed his voice in Malayalam, Hindi, Kannada, and Tamil language versions of the film. He was first considered for another Pellissery film, which was postponed, prior to his casting in Malaikottai Vaaliban.
Marathi actress Sonalee Kulkarni also made her Malayalam debut with the film, describing it as a "musical period drama". She plays Rangapattinam Rangarani, an actress and dancer. Pellissery discovered Kulkarni from a Marathi film, Natarang (2010), where she played a lavani dancer, which she performs in Malaikottai Vaaliban as well. Describing her character, Kulkarni said that Rangarani has "a touch of Maharashtra" but comes from somewhere else; her outfit and looks are a fusion of many Indian cultures, "there is far too much diversity in this film because every character, not just Rangarani, is from distinct lands". In January 2023, reports suggested that the team was in talks with Tamil actors Kamal Haasan and Jiiva for two brief roles. It was later reported that Haasan declined the role as he wanted to focus on his work in Indian 2. Kannada actor Rishab Shetty dismissed reports about his casting, clarifying that although he was approached for a role, he turned down the role in favor of a Kannada film. In the turn of events, Mohanlal himself was cast in a second role that unfolds during the film's climax, originally considered for either Haasan or Shetty.