Eid with Malayalam cinema: Here are the five films releasing this week

If in the past few weeks, there were very few Malayalam movie releases, this week, there are quite a few of them coming out. 

With the festival of Eid falling on June 6, there are releases beginning from June 5, Wednesday, through June 7, Friday.

However, Unda, starring Mammootty in the lead, has been pushed to June 14 because the post production work is yet to be completed. This has come as a huge disappointment to Mammootty fans. 

Thottappan:

The film with Vinayakan in the lead, is based on a short story by Francis Nerona. Director Shanavas K Bavakutty, known for his debut film Kismath, has said it is centred on a man who becomes guardian to a girl he is not related to.  Other actors in the film include Priyamvada, Roshan Mathew, Lal, writer Raghunath Paleri and director Dileesh Pothan. Thottappan releases on June 5.

Thamasha

The film with Vinay Forrt in the lead and had grabbed attention when the names of the producers were revealed – director Lijo Jose Pellissery, actor Chemban Vinod, cinematographers Shyju Khalid and Sameer Thahir. Thamasha will see Vinay in the role of a Malayalam professor, but it will supposedly be very different from the teacher character he had played in Premam. The film, a romantic comedy directed by debutant Ashraf Hamza, will also address the issue of body shaming. Thamasha releases on June 5.

Mask

Mask, a movie starring Shine Tom Chacko and Chemban Vinod in prominent roles, is also coming out for Eid. It is a romantic comedy thriller directed by Sunil Hanif. The trailer also shows actor Vijayaraghavan reprising his title role in Ramji Rao Speaking. Mask releases on June 5.

Children’s Park

Children’s Park is a comedy drama involving three men who end up in an orphanage in Munnar and the events that happen there. Vishnu Unnikrishnan, Sharafudheen and Dhruvan play the male leads in the film. Gayathri Suresh, Manasa Radhakrishnan and Soumya Menon play the female leads. There are also 75 child artistes in the film. Children's Park releases on June 5.

Virus

Virus, directed by Aashiq Abu, has been one of the most anticipated films of the year, ever since it was announced last year as a movie that will be about the Nipah outbreak in the state. With a number of eminent actors in the cast – including Revathy, Rima Kallingal, Kunchacko Boban, Tovino Thomas, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Remya Nambeesan, Asif Ali and others – the movie would deal with the real-life stories behind the virus attack. Unfortunately, the movie release happens at a time there is a confirmed case of Nipah in Kerala, after a year, in Ernakulam. Virus is expected to release on June 7 but there is a possibility that it might be postponed because of the new case detected in Kerala.