Few actor–director partnerships in Indian cinema enjoy the legacy, longevity, and emotional connect of Mohanlal and Priyadarshan. Over four decades, the duo has delivered an extraordinary range of films that span genres, emotions, and eras — from rib-tickling comedies to intense tragedies and ambitious historical epics. Their collaborations have not only shaped Malayalam cinema but also produced some of its most rewatchable classics.
Timeless comedies such as Boeing Boeing, Aram + Aram = Kinnaram, Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu, Vellanakalude Nadu, Chithram, Vandanam, Kilukkam, Thenmavin Kombath, and Chandralekha continue to enjoy cult status. The duo also ventured into darker, layered storytelling with films like Thalavattam and Minnaram, crime dramas such as Aryan and Abhimanyu, the political thriller Adhwaytham, and the epic historical Kaalapani. Many of these films still rank high on all-time favourite lists among Malayalam moviegoers.
Given this track record, expectations soared when Mohanlal and Priyadarshan announced another collaboration following the success of Oppam. The excitement intensified when it was revealed that the project would be a large-scale historical epic inspired by Kunjali Marakkar IV, the legendary naval commander of the Zamorin of Calicut.
Titled Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea, the film promised spectacle on an unprecedented scale for Malayalam cinema. Produced by Antony Perumbavoor under the Aashirvad Cinemas banner, the project featured a sprawling ensemble cast including Pranav Mohanlal, Arjun, Suniel Shetty, Prabhu, Manju Warrier, Suhasini, Keerthy Suresh, Kalyani Priyadarshan, Siddique, Nedumudi Venu, Innocent, and Ashok Selvan.
Behind the camera, the film assembled some of the industry’s best technicians. National Award-winner Sabu Cyril handled the production design, Thiru served as the cinematographer, and Ronnie Raphael composed the music. With massive sets, visual effects-heavy sea battles, and an ambitious narrative, Marakkar was mounted on a reported budget of ₹100 crore — the most expensive Malayalam film ever made at the time.
Even before its theatrical release, Marakkar made history. At the 67th National Film Awards, announced in March 2021, the film won three major honours, including the prestigious Best Feature Film award. Sujith Sudhakaran and V Sai won Best Costume Design, while Siddharth Priyadarshan received the award for Best Special Effects. With three wins, Marakkar emerged as the most-awarded film of that year’s ceremony — months before audiences had seen a single frame on the big screen.
“The awards validated years of hard work and belief in the story,” Priyadarshan said in an earlier interview. “It was a moment of pride for the entire team.”
The accolades pushed expectations even higher. Amid the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the makers briefly considered a direct-to-OTT release but eventually opted for a theatrical debut, positioning Marakkar as the biggest big-screen release of the pandemic era. A day before its worldwide release on December 2, 2021, the producers announced that the film had already entered the ₹100 crore club through pre-release business.
The opening day numbers appeared promising. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, Marakkar collected ₹6.37 crore net in India on day one. However, the momentum quickly fizzled out. Average to negative word-of-mouth, criticism over pacing, storytelling, and emotional depth, and comparisons with earlier classics led to a sharp drop in collections after the initial weekend.
Despite minor weekend recoveries, the film failed to sustain audience interest. By the end of its theatrical run, Marakkar had grossed approximately ₹45.4 crore worldwide — less than half of its reported budget — cementing its status as a major box office failure.
What surprised many was that even Mohanlal’s most loyal fans expressed disappointment. Unlike Kaalapani, which earned critical acclaim despite underperforming financially, Marakkar struggled to find defenders and became a frequent subject of online trolling and debate.
Yet, the setback appears to have done little to dent the enduring bond between Mohanlal and Priyadarshan — a friendship that predates their film careers. The duo is now set to reunite once again, with Priyadarshan confirming that Mohanlal will headline his 100th directorial venture. The filmmaker has previously hinted that this milestone project could mark his final film before retirement.
“Mohanlal has always been my first choice,” Priyadarshan once remarked. “Our journey is personal, not just professional.”
Whether their next collaboration will recapture the magic of their golden era remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: few partnerships in Indian cinema have weathered both historic highs and spectacular failures with such resilience.
