The film is set in the 16th century, narrating the story of Kunjali Marakkar IV, known for defending the Malabar Coast against the Portuguese invasion.
Malayalam film Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham (Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea), starring South Indian superstar Mohanlal is set to release in the UAE on its National Day.
Coming to UAE cinemas on December 1, the Malayalam film, directed by Priyadarshan, has had a tumultuous journey to the big screen.
Earlier reports had stated that after many rounds of discussion with theatres owners in India, the makers of the film had to settle by striking a deal with streaming platform Amazon Prime Video.
However, on November 11, it was again announced by Kerala Minister for Culture Saji Cherian that the film will be screened in theatres in India, starting December 2.
The movie, according to industry sources, is one of the costliest productions ever in Malayalam cinema, made at a budget of Rs1bn.
The film traces the life of the naval chief captain of the Zamorin of Calicut (present name Kozhikode) Kunjali Marakkar IV, who is essayed by Mohanlal, and is based on the 16th-century warrior who mobilised the country’s first naval force to battle the Portuguese invasion.
Marakkar: Lion Of The Arabian Sea stars Mohanlal as a decorated commander in Zamorin’s naval force. The film also stars the superstar’s son Pranav Mohanlal, who plays the younger version of the superstar.
Apart from Mohanlal and his son Pranav, the film boasts a star-studded cast including Arjun Sarja, Sunil Shetty, Prabhudheva, Prabhu, Manju Warrier, Keerthy Suresh and Kalyani Priyadarshan among others.
