Latest news with #LijoJosePellissery
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
From Narivetta to Moonwalk: Watch these Malayalam OTT releases on Netflix, Prime Video, JioHotstar
If you're a fan of Malayalam cinema, July brings a diverse mix of stories—from the charm of 1980s Kerala breakdancers to a murder mystery featuring a 'boogeyman' haunting a quiet village. Whether you're looking for nostalgic journeys, intense drama, or light-hearted romance, these OTT releases have something for every mood. Moonwalk – JioCinema & Disney+ Hotstar – July 8 Directed by A K Vinod and backed by Lijo Jose Pellissery, Moonwalk is inspired by real events. Set in 1980s Kerala, it follows a group of small-town youth obsessed with Michael Jackson and determined to master breakdancing. Despite juggling school and odd jobs, they push through barriers to enter a dance competition. The cast features mostly newcomers, including Shersha Sherief and Anunath. Narivetta – SonyLIV – July 11 Tovino Thomas stars as Varghese, a directionless young man whose life takes a drastic turn after joining the CRPF. He finds a mentor in Officer Bashir (Suraj Venjaramoodu), and the story evolves into an investigation linked to the real-life 2003 Muthanga tribal protest. Directed by Abin Joseph and produced by Indian Cinema Company, the film had a strong theatrical run, screening for over 40 days. Mr & Mrs Bachelor – ManoramaMAX – July 11 Starring Indrajith Sukumaran and Anaswara Rajan, this rom-com follows an unlikely road trip after a bride, Stephy, runs away on her wedding day and ends up hitching a ride with an older bachelor. While it didn't fare well in theatres, Mr & Mrs Bachelor is now making its digital debut. Despite minor controversies, the film promises a light-hearted, humorous journey filled with unexpected moments. According to OTTPlay, the movie is all set to stream Detective Ujjwalan – Netflix – Date TBA Part of the Weekend Cinematic Universe, Detective Ujjwalan stars Dhyan Sreenivasan and Siju Wilson in a quirky murder mystery set in the supposedly peaceful village of Plaachikkaavu. A mysterious 'boogeyman' unleashes chaos, prompting Ujjwalan and his police team to uncover the truth. The movie is directed by Indraneil Gopikrishnan and Rahul G. The streaming date is yet to be confirmed.
News18
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Narivetta, Madras Matinee And Moonwalk: Must-Watch Regional Films On OTT This Week
Last Updated: Explore top South Indian OTT releases this week including Narivetta, Moonwalk, Paramasivan Fathima & more on platforms like SonyLIV, Aha, and Prime Video. The world of South Indian cinema continues to surprise and stir with stories steeped in local roots, yet expansive in their emotional and cinematic ambition. This week, the OTT space is rich with regional gems—from courtroom battles to adolescent awakenings, spiritual comedies to political thrillers. Here's a curated look at what to stream and why these titles matter. This coming-of-age Telugu comedy dives into the mind of a small-town student obsessed with cracking the top spot in competitive exams. AIR blends school humor, social expectations, and teenage aspirations, offering a charming portrait of the exam-obsessed Indian middle class. Its earnest tone and relatable storytelling make it a quiet but delightful watch for anyone who's ever stared down a syllabus with dreams bigger than reality. Paramasivan Fathima – Aha A bold legal drama rooted in contemporary social discourse, Paramasivan Fathima follows the titular character—a young Muslim woman—who finds herself in the eye of a political storm. Battling bias inside and outside the courtroom, Fathima's fight is both personal and ideological. The film fearlessly explores themes like religious identity, gender injustice, and the loneliness of integrity, making it one of the week's most thought-provoking releases. Madras Matinee – Prime Video & Sun NXT A deeply nostalgic and emotionally textured drama, Madras Matinee celebrates cinema itself through the story of an old, now-defunct single-screen theatre in Chennai. As three different characters revisit the theatre space—each for a very different reason—the film gently unfolds stories of lost love, artistic ambition, and the tender echo of reel-life in real-life. It's a warm, slow burn made for lovers of old-school movie magic. MALAYALAM Set in a small-town Kerala school, Moonwalk centers on a group of teenagers who find refuge and rebellion in dance. Directed with sensitivity and humor, the film captures the bittersweet chaos of adolescence—the longing to belong, the thrill of movement, and the sting of social rejection. Produced by Lijo Jose Pellissery, this teen dramedy is an ode to freedom, expression, and the rhythmic defiance of youth. Narivetta – SonyLIV Tovino Thomas leads this hard-hitting political thriller about a CRPF constable who accidentally finds himself in the middle of a violent conspiracy. As corruption unfurls around him, he's forced to choose between silence and justice. Suraj Venjaramoodu lends strong support in a film that doesn't just thrill—it indicts. The visuals are taut, the drama sharp, and the political commentary biting. In this offbeat fantasy-comedy, a mischievous Grim Reaper—'Shinigami"—visits a sleepy village in Kerala, upending the lives of its oddball residents. Starring veterans Indrans and Jaffer Idukki, the film strikes a rare balance between whimsy and wisdom. It flirts with the concept of death but chooses laughter as its lens, making for a warm, philosophical and culturally grounded tale. First Published: July 07, 2025, 18:55 IST
Indian Express
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Lijo Jose Pellissery dismisses Joju George's claim of unpaid remuneration for Churuli
The remark by Malayalam actor Joju George that he was not given remuneration for his cameo appearance in the 2021 film Churuli by celebrated director Lijo Jose Pellissery, was denied by the filmmaker in a Facebook post on Thursday. In a recent interview to an English daily, George claimed that he was upset with Churuli's producers due to unpaid dues. Clarifying the issue in his post, Lijo Jose Pellissery, who is also the co-producer of Churuli, also attached the details of the payment made to the actor for his three-day call sheet. The director said the explanation was being given based on the emotional distress caused to his co-producers. He said Churuli was given an 'A' certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and a release in theatres was difficult. Based on a writ petition, the Kerala High Court had also made a mention about the use of expletives in the film which had prevented the producers to go for a theatrical release, he said. See Lijo Jose Pellissery's post here: Churuli was later released on SonyLIV in November 2021, after its premiere at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) in February. Lijo Jose Pellisseery also denied Joju George's claim that he did not know the character well before agreeing to act in the movie. 'Thankan (his character in the film) knew exactly what he was supposed to do in the film,' he said. The director also gave the details of payment made to George for his guest appearance in the movie. Reacting to the Facebook post, Joju George said he had no issues with Lijo Jose Pellissery, but he was misled by the team that the film was only meant for the festivals. 'Otherwise, I would not have acted in such a film in which I had to use abusive language,' he said. He said after the producers got big profit by selling it on an OTT platform, he had approached them and complained about the remuneration, but there was no response. Also Read | Churuli movie review: Lijo Jose Pellissery's visually rich commentary on the human condition Joju George said two versions were dubbed for the film, one of which was without expletives. However, the version with abusive language was released on OTT. 'I had to face a lot of personal problems after I acted in that role. I was getting trolled by social media with the language I used in the film,' he said. It was not merely a question of payment, but the lack of proper communication between friends, he said, adding that he had great respect for Pellissery as a director. Lijo Jose Pellissery, in his post, also said the film will be released in theatres if an opportunity comes. Churuli had won critical acclaim for its visuals and complex storyline, while the use of extreme profanity in the film drew negative responses.
Hindustan Times
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Lijo Jose Pellissery's must-watch movies to stream on OTT: Churuli, Jallikattu and more
Lijo Jose Pellissery has established himself as one of the unique voices from Malayalam cinema, carving a space for his brand of movies with his trademark filmmaking. Considered one of the most prolific among the new-age directors from Malayalam, Lijo Jose Pellissery has made several notable films such as Jallikattu, Ea Ma Yau, Churuli and more. Let's take a look at some of Malayalam director Lijo Jose Pellissery's must-watch movies and where to stream them on OTT. Jallikattu, Churuli From Jallikattu to Season, discover stellar movies from maverick filmmakers in Malayalam on OTTplay Premium This action-packed film follows the chaotic events after one of the bulls of butcher Kalan Varkey's escapes and causes mayhem in the rural village. Antony Varghese and Chemban Vinod Jose lead this film, along with Sabumon Abdusamad and actress Santhy Balachandran. Highly acclaimed, the film was also selected as the country's official entry for the Academy Awards. This Lijo Jose Pellissery movie on OTTplay Premium deserves your attention. Churuli Another intriguing film from LJP's repertoire that transports us to a mysterious village named Churuli. Two cops are on an assignment to catch hold of a culprit, believed to be in the remote village. As they cross over to the village, the cops are startled to find the hostile villagers who do not shy from using swear words in their every other sentence. Vinay Forrt and Chemban Vinod Jose play the cops in the film, which also features Joju George. This Lijo Jose-directed film is currently the hot topic of discussion in Kerala media after Joju George made some allegations. Amen Amen tells the charming story of Solomon and his childhood sweetheart Soshanna, the daughter of the village's wealthy man. Solomon also plays clarinet for the village's band, and after certain events, the fate of his love story and the band get entangled. Fahadh Faasil headlines this LJP film, which also features Indrajith Sukumaran in a key role along with Kalabhavan Mani and Swathi Reddy Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam James along with his family are on their way back after visiting the church in Velankanni. En route, when their bus stops near a village in Tamil Nadu, James steps out and enters the village. Then on, he behaves as Sundaram, claiming to be a localite and refusing to acknowledge his wife or son. Mammootty leads this film, which is available for streaming on Netflix. Double Barrel Lijo Jose Pellissery has written and directed this quirky film. The plot of the film revolves around two precious stones, a don in Goa, and gangsters Poncho and Vinci. But the gangsters attempt to land a deal goes wrong, and chaos erupts. Prithviraj Sukumaran and Indrajith play the gangsters in this film, which features an ensemble cast, including Arya, Chemban Vinod Jose and Sunny Wayne.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Premalu' director Girish AD praises ‘Moon Walk'—‘It ll attain cult status'—shares post
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) The superhit film 'Premalu' director Girish AD seems to be highly impressed by the recently released dance movie 'Moon Walk,' which is unfortunately having a tough run in theaters. Taking to his Facebook handle, Girish AD shared a poster for 'Moon Walk' and said that he is highly impressed by the movie. The 'Thanneer Mathan Dinangal' director also mentioned that 'Moon Walk' will attain cult status in the future. Nice padam!—says Girish AD Girish AD's Facebook note read, 'Nice padam!' Will attain cult status in the future.' The post was soon flooded with comments from movie buffs who were also agreeing with with the director's opinion. One comment read, 'Sure…It will attain cult status.' Another one wrote, 'Booked! A third one wrote, 'What you said is true; it will attain a cult status in the future.' Lijo Jose Pellissery reacts Director Lijo Jose Pellissery took to his Facebook handle to share a post regarding the movie, saying that the theater screens have been reduced for 'Moon Walk.' His note read, 'മലയാള സിനിമയിലെ ഏറ്റവും മുന്തിയ നിർമ്മാതാവും വിതരണക്കാരനും തിയേറ്റർ മുതലാളിയും കൂടി മുന്നിൽ നിന്ന് നയിച്ച "മൂൺവാക്ക്" എന്ന ചലച്ചിത്രത്തിന്റെ മഹത്തായ രണ്ടാം വാരാഘോഷം. . മലയാളം ചലച്ചിത്ര മേഖലയിലെ പ്രതിസന്ധിക്കെതിരെ ഇതിലും വലിയ പോരാട്ടമുണ്ടോ? സബാഷ് 1st week—140 stations 2nd week—12 theaters NB: സിനിമ തിയേറ്ററിൽ കണ്ടവർ ദയവായി അഭിപ്രായം കുറിക്കണം. (The grand second-week celebration of Moonwalk—a film led from the front by one of Malayalam cinema 's most prominent producers, distributors, and theater owners. Could there be a bigger fightback against the crisis facing the Malayalam film industry? Sabash's 1st week—140 stations 2nd week—12 theaters Note: Those who watched the film in theaters, please share your feedback. Moonwalk - Official Teaser 'Moon Walk' faces a hard time in theaters Since the movie has fresh faces and also there were fewer promotions, 'Moon Walk' is facing a tough time in getting much traction from the audiences. According to the Sacnilk website, 'Moon Walk' has only managed to collect Rs 83 lakhs net in India, and the worldwide gross amounts to only Rs 95 lakhs in 7 days.
