Malayalam cinema, thanks to Mohanlal’s resurgence, is finally breaking through commercially on a pan-Indian level. 

After a rocky 2024 with two underwhelming releases, Malayalam cinema icon Mohanlal bounced back in spectacular fashion, rewriting box office history in 2025. With L2: Empuraan and Thudarum, the veteran actor has single-handedly pushed Malayalam cinema’s global cumulative gross past the Rs 500 crore mark this year, a feat previously unthinkable for the regional film industry. 

Last year saw Malaikottai Vaaliban and Barroz 3D hit theatres with high expectations but fall short of making a mark. Vaaliban managed Rs 29.75 crore globally, and Barroz 3D brought in Rs 15.1 crore, but the latter’s weak CGI and storytelling failed to meet the hype it generated. While these numbers were respectable for modest Malayalam productions, both films were big-budget ventures, and their lukewarm reception raised questions about whether Mohanlal was losing his Midas touch. 

But Lalettan had other plans.  

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In March 2025, L2: Empuraan, the highly anticipated sequel to Lucifer, stormed into theatres, grossing an unprecedented Rs 265.5 crore worldwide. It not only became the highest-grossing Malayalam film ever but also the second highest-grossing Indian film of the year so far. While some fans were left unsatisfied with the sequel, it didn’t take long for them to hail the actor’s “comeback”.

Barely a month later, the surprise hit Thudarum followed suit, collecting Rs 234.5 crore globally and emerging as the fourth highest-grossing Indian film of 2025. Fans across generations couldn’t help but swoon over the actor who gave a worldclass performance in the Tharun Moorthy film. The cumulative earnings of these two blockbusters, over Rs 500 crore, mark a watershed moment for Malayalam cinema.

Even a re-release of Mohanlal’s 2007 hit Chotta Mumbai added to the celebratory numbers, earning Rs 1.05 crore in just two days. 

For an industry long celebrated for its nuanced storytelling rather than box office clout, this year’s numbers signal a paradigm shift. Malayalam cinema, thanks to Mohanlal’s resurgence, is finally breaking through commercially on a pan-Indian level. 

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The momentum doesn’t stop here. The actor’s upcoming slate includes Hridayapoorvam, a family drama set to release on August 28, and the epic action film Vrusshabha, slated for an October 16 release. Rumours are also swirling around a potential all-star Malayalam film featuring Mohanlal, Mammootty, and Fahadh Faasil, a project that could well push the envelope even further. 

45 years into his career, Mohanlal has proven once again why he remains the heart and soul of Malayalam cinema, not just as an actor, but now as a box office juggernaut. Safe to say, 2025 is the year of Mohanlal’s redemption.