Paul George’s Kattalan storms into theatres on May 28, 2026, as the boldest entry yet from Cubes Entertainments — the production house that put Malayalam action cinema on the pan-India map with Marco. Set against the shadowy, morally bankrupt world of illegal ivory trade, Kattalan is a visceral action-crime thriller that doubles down on scale, spectacle, and a sprawling ensemble cast to deliver a film that is ambitious in every sense of the word. With Ravi Basrur’s thunderous score shaking the walls and a story rooted in power, vengeance, and survival, Kattalan arrives as one of the most eagerly awaited Malayalam releases of 2026.
Kattalan is a large-scale Malayalam action-crime thriller set in the brutal world of the ivory cartel. Directed by Paul George, it boasts a massive ensemble, impressive production values, and relentless action sequences that make it a worthy theatrical experience. A solid entertainer for fans of raw, stylised action cinema.
Cast & Crew
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Director | Paul George |
| Writers | Paul George, Jero Jacob, Unni R. |
| Production Company | Cubes Entertainments |
| Music | Ravi Basrur |
| Cast | Antony Varghese, Dushara Vijayan, Sunil, Jagadish, Kabir Duhan Singh, Siddique, Parth Tiwari, Baby Jean, Habish Rahman, Hipzster, Shon Joy, Anson Paul, Hanan Shaah, Raj Tirandasu, Call Me Venom, Harishankar Narayanan, Shibin S Raghav, Shanood Ebrahim |
| Release Date | May 28, 2026 |
| Runtime | 2 Hours |
| Genre | Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller |
| Language | Malayalam (also in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada) |
Plot Summary
Kattalan is set in the fictional village of Aanakkolli, a place entirely under the grip of a ruthless gangster named Maari, whose empire is built on the illegal slaughter of elephants for their ivory tusks. As rival forces begin to circle Maari’s operation, a mysterious man named Antony walks into the picture — and the entire power structure of the cartel begins to shake. What follows is a fierce, bloody war for control where loyalty is a liability and only the most ruthless survive. The film is set within the expanding Cubes Entertainments universe, connecting threads from Marco into this sprawling, cartel-driven narrative.
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Performances
Antony Varghese commands the screen as Antony, the brooding, physical protagonist at the centre of the storm. His imposing build and screen presence make him a thoroughly convincing force of nature, and he carries the weight of the film’s action sequences with raw conviction.
Sunil delivers an extensive, committed performance as the antagonist Maari — the iron-fisted don who rules Aanakkolli with cold authority. He brings a menacing gravity to the role that anchors the film’s conflict.
Dushara Vijayan makes a fierce impression in the second half, arriving with striking screen presence and attitude. She handles her action moments with confidence and brings a sharp energy every time she appears on screen.
Jagadish is effortlessly watchable, as always — his natural ease with character work shines through, and he adds a layer of depth and credibility to every scene he occupies.
Kabir Duhan Singh as the villain Eddy brings an intimidating physicality and a cool menace to the role, adding to the film’s gallery of compelling antagonists.
Siddique lends his trademark reliability and screen gravitas to the ensemble, delivering exactly the kind of solid, grounded performance that elevates every project he’s part of.
Parth Tiwari makes a memorable mark with his stylised entry and screen persona — his portions have energy and keep the audience invested whenever he appears.
Baby Jean brings charm and warmth to the proceedings, providing some of the film’s more emotionally grounded moments amid the chaos.
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Habish Rahman contributes a confident, assured turn that fits neatly into the film’s intense world and adds texture to the supporting ensemble.
Hipzster brings his natural charisma and screen-friendly energy to the mix, proving that his following translates well to the big screen.
Hanan Shaah, the celebrated singer-turned-actor, has an effortlessly cool screen presence — his physicality and look make him a standout even in a largely non-verbal role, and his sequences behind the wheel carry a distinct swagger.
Anson Paul holds his own in the ensemble, delivering a performance that is both earnest and committed, making his presence felt in every frame he inhabits.
Call Me Venom makes an entertaining appearance that is sure to excite his fanbase and adds a fun, youthful pulse to the film’s universe-building ambition.
Shon Joy, Raj Tirandasu, Harishankar Narayanan, Shibin S Raghav, and Shanood Ebrahim all round out a rich ensemble, each contributing to the grand tapestry of characters that populate Aanakkolli and its dangerous underworld.
Technical Craft
Ravi Basrur’s music is one of the film’s most consistent strengths — his signature style of heavy, atmospheric scoring gives Kattalan a thematic identity and keeps the energy elevated through the film’s more intense stretches. The cinematography leans into a shadow-heavy, warm visual palette with a higher frame rate approach that gives every frame a stylised, cinematic quality distinctly suited to the genre. The production design is impressively large-scale — authentic locations, massive sets, and the sheer ambition of sequences like the elephant set piece speak to the enormous effort invested in crafting a world that feels real and dangerous. Cubes Entertainments once again demonstrates that Malayalam cinema can compete with the biggest productions across Indian languages in terms of scale and production value.
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Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- Massive production scale with authentic locations and impressive set design
- Ravi Basrur’s thunderous, atmospheric background score
- Entertaining action sequences and stunt choreography
- A sprawling, energetic ensemble with standout performances
- Confident universe-building that connects to the Marco world
- Pan-India release scope with multilingual appeal
Weaknesses
- Screenplay stays surface-level and could have used sharper writing
- Some character arcs feel underutilised given the talent on screen
- The climax rushes through its resolution
- A few action sequences lose clarity in editing
Final Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
Kattalan is a loud, ambitious, large-scale action thriller that swings for the fences and largely delivers on the promise of spectacle. Paul George brings a confident directorial vision to a film that clearly has its sights set on building something much bigger than a single story — and that ambition is genuinely exciting. Backed by Ravi Basrur’s electrifying score, impressive production craft, and a massive ensemble giving it their all, Kattalan is the kind of theatrical experience that earns its place on the big screen. If you enjoy raw, stylised action cinema with universe-building ambitions, Kattalan is absolutely worth your time this weekend.
What is the age rating of Kattalan?
Kattalan carries an adult certification due to its intense action sequences, violence, and mature themes centred on the illegal ivory trade and cartel warfare.
Can we watch Kattalan with kids?
No, Kattalan is not recommended for children.
Is Kattalan based on a true story?
No, Kattalan is not based on a true story.
