Karan Johar Announces Malayalam Debut With Rahul Sadasivan’s 'Odiyan' Starring Prithviraj, Manju Warrier
Filmmaker Karan Johar is set to make his Malayalam cinema debut as a producer with Odiyan: The Age of Illusion, an ambitious folklore-based film starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Manju Warrier.
The project marks the first Malayalam production venture for Dharma Productions, one of Bollywood’s most successful production houses. The film will be directed by acclaimed filmmaker Rahul Sadasivan, known for critically acclaimed films such as Bhoothakaalam and Bramayugam.
Announcing the project on social media, Karan Johar expressed his excitement about entering the Malayalam film industry and collaborating with Prithviraj Productions.
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“We at Dharma Productions are taking our first step into the world of Malayalam cinema, and I am proud to announce that we have the best partners to do it with,” Karan wrote.
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The film is being jointly produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta and Supriya Menon.
It brings together Dharma Productions and Prithviraj Productions for what is being described as a major cinematic venture rooted in Kerala’s folklore.
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Set in 19th-century Kerala, Odiyan: The Age of Illusion draws inspiration from the legendary Odiyan folklore, one of the most intriguing myths from Kerala’s oral traditions.
According to local legends, Odiyans were believed to possess supernatural powers and the ability to shapeshift into animals, often striking fear into villagers under the cover of darkness.
Karan Johar also praised director Rahul Sadasivan’s unique storytelling style.
“It gives us great pride to announce our film Odiyan, directed by the supremely talented Rahul Sadasivan. His knack for eerie storytelling rooted in folklore is a feat in this age of cinema,” he said.
The film will feature Malayalam stars Prithviraj Sukumaran and Manju Warrier in the lead roles. Referring to the cast, Karan added, “Bringing this to life on screen is the exceptional Manju Warrier and, of course, our favourite Prithviraj himself.”
Rahul Sadasivan has established himself as one of Malayalam cinema’s most exciting filmmakers.
After gaining recognition with Bhoothakaalam, he earned widespread acclaim for Bramayugam, the Mammootty-starrer folk horror film that explored Kerala’s myths and social history.
Interestingly, the Odiyan legend was previously adapted into the 2018 fantasy drama Odiyan, starring Mohanlal, Manju Warrier and Prakash Raj.
While the film generated massive pre-release buzz, it received mixed reviews from critics and audiences.
The new project, however, is expected to offer a fresh interpretation of the folklore under Rahul Sadasivan’s vision. Apart from Malayalam, the film is also expected to release in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi.
