Shemaroo Entertainment bags global rights for Malayalam action thriller Kattalan

MUMBAI: The Malayalam action wave is travelling further afield, and Shemaroo Entertainment wants a front-row seat.

The company has partnered with Cubes Entertainment for the worldwide digital and satellite distribution of Kattalan, a pan-India Malayalam action thriller set for theatrical release on May 28, 2026.

The deal marks another step in Shemaroo’s growing syndication strategy as it looks to take regional Indian cinema to wider international audiences across multiple platforms.

The company recently handled the global distribution of Malayalam titles including Lokah and is continuing to strengthen its footprint in international content syndication.

Produced by Shareef Muhammed, Kattalan arrives with sizeable expectations following the success of Marco, which crossed the Rs 100 crore mark globally and significantly expanded the commercial reach of Malayalam cinema.

Directed by Paul George, the film unfolds against the backdrop of illegal ivory trading networks operating across forests, ports and international smuggling routes extending to Sri Lanka.

Blending large-scale action with emotional drama, the story centres on survival, buried secrets and violent power struggles within a dangerous criminal underworld.

The film stars Antony Varghese, Suneel, Dushara Vijayan and Kabir Duhan Singh in key roles.

Adding further scale to the production is the music by composers Ravi Basrur, known for KGF and Marco, along with B. Ajaneesh Loknath of Kantara fame.

Speaking about the partnership, Shemaroo Entertainment head of international business and India digital syndication Nishith Varshneya said the company’s focus remains on scaling strong regional stories across markets and platforms.

“Our syndication strategy is focused on expanding the reach of strong stories across markets and platforms. Kattalan is a natural extension of that approach,” Shemaroo Entertainment head of international business and India digital syndication Nishith Varshneya said.

Meanwhile, Cubes Entertainment producer Shareef Muhammed said the film was designed as a larger and more ambitious cinematic experience following the commercial success of Marco.

“Partnering with Shemaroo Entertainment allows us to take this story to a wider audience across the world,” Cubes Entertainment producer Shareef Muhammed said.

With Malayalam cinema increasingly finding pan-India and international audiences, Kattalan is positioning itself as another regional action spectacle hoping to roar far beyond its home market.