Cinema VinesAntony Varghese’s latest Malayalam action thriller, Kattalan, made its theatrical debut on May 28, 2026, and is now poised for a digital launch. The film, written and directed by Paul George, follows Varghese in the title role, joined by a strong ensemble that includes Sunil, Kabir Duhan Singh, Dushara Vijayan, Jagadish, Siddique, Hanan Shaah, Parth Tiwari, Hipzter, Anson Paul, Raj Tirandasu and Shon Joy.
Set against the grim backdrop of organized ivory smuggling, Kattalan pits two rival criminal empires—Maari and Eddy—against one another while law‑enforcement agencies try, and often fail, to bring them down. Corruption within the system and a relentless cycle of violence further complicate the pursuit of justice. At the centre of this turmoil is the character known as Kattalan or “The Hunter,” an elephant hunter who kills animals for their tusks and operates within the same underworld that the rival groups dominate.
The film was produced by Shareef Muhammed under the Cubes Entertainments banner. The screenplay was a collaborative effort by Paul George, Joby Varghese and Jero Jacob, with dialogues penned by Unni R. Renadive handled the primary cinematography, assisted by Chandru Selvaraj and Sudeep Elamon, while Shameer Muhammed took charge of editing. Ravi Basrur composed the score, and B. Ajaneesh Loknath added an additional track to the soundtrack.
In the larger context of Malayalam cinema, Kattalan is a standalone spin‑off and the third installment in the Mikhael Extended Universe, following Mikhael (2019) and Marco (2024). The film’s digital distribution has been confirmed for ManoramaMAX, as announced on the streaming service’s social media channels. The platform also shared the official trailer in its announcement.
While the exact OTT release date remains undisclosed as of August 2, 2026, fans can expect a separate update from ManoramaMAX detailing when the movie will be available for streaming. The announcement solidifies ManoramaMAX as the destination for viewers eager to watch Kattalan online.
