Malaikottai Vaaliban

Story:

Malaikottai Vaaliban is a 2024 Indian Malayalam-language epic action drama film directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery and written by P. S. Rafeeque, based on a story by Pellissery. The film stars Mohanlal in a dual role, with 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 conceptualized the initial story during the COVID-19 pandemic and later expanded it into a narrative that spans time and space. He collaborated with P. S. Rafeeque to develop the script. The film’s announcement was made on October 25, 2022, by Shibu Baby John, marking the first collaboration between Pellissery and Mohanlal. Tinu Pappachan served as the associate director. Principal photography took place over 130 days from January to June 2023, with locations in Rajasthan, Chennai, and Pondicherry. The music was composed 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 January 25, 2024, coinciding with the Republic Day weekend. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the cinematography, art direction, production values, and Mohanlal’s performance, but criticized the direction, screenplay, editing, and fight sequences. Despite the praise, the film underperformed at the box office.

Plot

Malaikottai Vaaliban tells the story of an undefeated, aging warrior named Vaaliban, who rules over a vast desert region alongside his mentor and father figure, Ayyanar, and his son, Chinnappaiyyan, who energizes crowds with his drumming during Vaaliban’s arena fights. Vaaliban, an orphan adopted by Ayyanar after the death of his mother, travels with them on their journey. They encounter a woman named Jamanthipoovu, who limps and asks for a ride, and they agree to take her along.

In Adivaarithur, Vaaliban defeats the reigning champion and claims his house and wife as per tradition. Afterward, he meets the dancer Rangapattinam Rangarani in a betting parlour in Nooraanathalayur and clashes with Chamathakan, who challenges him to a fight in his village, Mangodu. Despite deceitful tactics from Chamathakan’s family, Vaaliban defeats their strongest fighter, Mangottu Mallan. Chamathakan, humiliated, seeks revenge by going on a killing spree.

Vaaliban later returns to Ambathoor Malaikottai and challenges the Portuguese fighter king, Macaulay Maharaj. However, Chamathakan poisons him before the fight, temporarily blinding him. With help from the slaves of Ambathoor, Vaaliban recovers and defeats the Portuguese forces. That night, Rangarani proposes to Vaaliban, but he rejects her, saying he cannot love anyone. She becomes heartbroken and conspires with Thenamma to make Vaaliban fall in love with her.

During the Thiruchenthooru festival, Jamanthi reveals that she is pregnant with Chinnappaiyyan’s child, and Vaaliban is overjoyed. Rangarani, overhearing this, mistakenly thinks Vaaliban is the father. She tells Thenamma, who manipulates Chinnappaiyyan into believing that Jamanthi is carrying Vaaliban’s child, leading him to seek revenge on Vaaliban.

While celebrating at the temple, Vaaliban senses Chamathakan’s presence in the crowd and races to protect Jamanthi but arrives too late and accidentally kills her in the chaos. Believing he has killed Chamathakan, Vaaliban later discovers he has stabbed Chinnappaiyyan instead, whom he could not recognize due to the face masks everyone was wearing.

This event creates a rift between Vaaliban and Ayyanar, who swears revenge. Ayyanar eventually reveals to Chamathakan that Vaaliban is not an orphan but the son of his former rival, Malaivettai Vaaliban. Malaivettai had defeated Ayyanar, taking his wife and leaving Ayyanar as a servant. Ayyanar then trained Vaaliban to become a weapon against his own biological father. The film ends with Ayyanar’s revelation that he will bring Malaivettai Vaaliban to fight against Vaaliban, setting the stage for a sequel.