iWorld
ZEE5 unveils new Malayalam slate spanning films, originals and sport
Malayalam line-up includes Mammootty-led Panthadikkam and football reality show Kerala Underground
MUMBAI: Kerala’s content cup is running over. ZEE5 has unveiled a new Malayalam slate spanning drama, romance, sport, music and contemporary storytelling, with the platform betting on both familiar names and newer voices to broaden its offering for audiences in the state.
The line-up includes highly anticipated titles such as Panthadikkam, featuring Mammootty and Vyshakh Perambra, and Malabar Cup, starring Ashwant Lal and Vineeth Vasudevan. The slate also features originals A Queen and Secrets of Vellimala, both produced by TrendsAd.
Other titles include Bangalore Boys, produced by Aroma Movies and featuring Shabin Shahul, Rishi Kaini, Pranav and Amrutha, and Sathyameva, also produced by Aroma Movies and starring Rony David Raj. Corporate Love Story, Muthassi and Yakobinte Koodaram further expand the fiction offering.
Football gets a prominent place in the slate, reflecting the sport’s deep following in Kerala. Alongside the football-themed titles, ZEE5 will offer global sporting properties including FIFA, Bundesliga, Serie A, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana and ILT20.
The platform is also stepping into Kerala’s hip-hop scene with Kerala Underground, a ZEE5 original reality show featuring The Imbachi, Dabzee, Parimal Shais and MC Cooper.
The Malayalam slate extends beyond originals to post-theatrical releases, including Balan: The Boy, featuring Chidambaram, and Uyir, starring Roshan Andrew.
Lloyd C Xavier, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Business Head, Tamil & Malayalam, ZEE5, said the platform is looking to balance established audience interests with stories and creators that offer something different.
The wider offering also includes premium animation titles such as Aiyappan, Garuda, Vikram Vetal, Shiv Sati, Chandrakanta, Tirupati Balaji, Narmada and Ram Anjanay Yudh, alongside kids’ content including Barbarik and Kundaka Mandakka.
With films, originals, reality, animation and live sports sharing the same slate, ZEE5 is widening its Malayalam canvas rather than sticking to a single genre or audience.
