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{{Infobox film
| image          = Malikappuram film poster.jpg
| caption        = 
| director       = Vishnu Sasi Shankar
| writers        = Abhilash Pillai
| producer       = {{Unbulleted_list|[[Anto Joseph#via Aan Mega Media|Neeta Pinto]]|Priya Venu}}
| starring       = {{Unbulleted_list||[[Unni Mukundan]] |[[Saiju Kurup]] |Deva Nandha|Sreepath |[[Ramesh Pisharody]] |[[Manoj K. Jayan]] |[[Sreejith Ravi]] |[[T.G. Ravi]] |[[Sampath Ram]]}}
| narrator       = [[Mammootty]]
| cinematography = Vishnu Narayanan
| editing        = [[Shameer Muhammed]]
| music          = [[Ranjin Raj]]
| studio         = 
| distributor    = {{plainlist|
* Kavya Film Company {{Small|(Malayalam)}}
* [[Geetha Arts]] {{Small|(Telugu)}}
* [[Trident Arts]] {{Small|(Tamil)}}
}}
| released       = {{Film date|2022|12|30|df=yes}}
| runtime        = 121 minutes
| country        = India
| language       = Malayalam
| budget         = <!--Must cite a reliable published source with a reputation for fact-checking. No blogs, no IMDb. no fan-sites.-->
| gross          = <!--Must cite a reliable published source with a reputation for fact-checking. No blogs, no IMDb. no fan-sites.-->
}}
'''''Malikappuram''''' is a 2022 Indian [[Malayalam]]-language [[Action film|action-adventure drama film]]<ref>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-reviews/malikappuram/movie-review/96847648.cms Malikappuram Movie Review : Kids' movie on faith]. Times of India. 9 January 2023</ref> directed by Vishnu Sasi Shankar, written by Abhilash Pillai and starring [[Unni Mukundan]], Alphy Panjikaran, Deva Nandha and Sreepath in the lead roles.<ref name="Malikappuramrolls">{{cite news |title=Unni Mukundan's next 'Malikappuram' starts rolling |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/unni-mukundans-next-malikappuram-starts-rolling-watch-video/articleshow/94147235.cms |access-date=22 January 2023 |agency=The Times of India |date=12 September 2022}}</ref> 

''Malikappuram'' was released theatrically on 30 December 2022. The film received positive reviews from audiences.<ref>{{cite news |title='Malikappuram' Twitter review: Netizens call the Unni Mukundan starrer 'Mollywood's 'Kantara' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/malikappuram-twitter-review-netizens-call-the-unni-mukundan-starrer-mollywoods-kantara/articleshow/96621137.cms |access-date=22 January 2023 |agency=Times of India |date=30 December 2022}}</ref>

== Plot ==
Kalyani alias Kallu is a devotee of god [[Ayyappan]], and is enthusiastic to visit the [[Sabarimala temple]]. As per the religious beliefs, Kallu has a small window of two years to visit the temple as she is 8 years old. Her grandmother narrates legends and stories of Lord Ayyappan to her, which she loves a lot. Her father, Ajayan, has mortgaged their house, and it is on the verge of being seized by the bank. Furthermore, he has also borrowed a big sum from a local usurer and acquitance, Ambadi. He is unable to repay both the loans.

The bank has issued a seizure notice, which Ajayan hides from his family. Ajayan promises Kallu to take her to Sabarimala and that both will do the initial rituals for the pilgrimage, which is supposed to happen a few weeks from thereon. Ambadi publicly harasses and roughs up Ajayan, which is witnessed by Kallu. A humiliated Ajayan subsequently commits suicide out of disgrace. The bank eventually seizes Ajayan's house, and Kallu’s grandmother moves in with Ajayan’s elder sister. Kallu and her mother move in with Ajayan’s friend and neighbor, Unni. Kallu becomes frustrated with the fact that she is unable to go to Sabarimala, and yells at her good friend and classmate Piyoosh, Unni’s son. 

Piyoosh finds that it is impossible to dissuade Kallu from pursuing her journey to Sabarimala, and decides to accompany her. Both the kids board a bus to [[Pamba River|Pamba]], and en route they meet Mahi, a local goon who is also a [[paedophile]] and [[trafficker]]. Under the pretense of heading to Sabarimala, he is on the lookout for young kids. His eyes fall on both Kallu and Piyoosh. Piyoosh senses that something is off and tries to persuade Kallu to stop the journey and go back home, but to no avail. Meanwhile, Unni and Kallu's mother inform the police about the missing duo.

Later, a man named Ayyappan boards the bus, who also seems to be heading to Sabarimala, and gets acquainted with the kids. Mahi introduces himself as the kids’ guardian uncle to Ayyappan, which Ayyappan later finds out to be false and suspects that he has some malicious intentions. After hearing their story, Ayyappan promises the kids that he will accompany them to Sabarimala. Ayyappan intimidates Mahi and an infuriated Mahi is determined to incapacitate Ayyappan and kidnap the girl. On reaching Pamba, from where they have to walk by foot to reach the shrine, the trio discover that the police have restricted entry for the remainder of the day, as a measure to control the crowd, and they will not be able to visit the temple. But an adamant Kallu leaves Ayyappan with no choice except to take a route through the forest. 

Mahi’s accomplice who has been following them, informs Mahi about their movements, and he sends all of his henchmen to beat up Ayyappan and kidnap Kallu. During the journey, Ayyappan is alerted, he successfully overpowers Mahi and his people. During the fight, Kallu is shown to be hallucinating about Ayyappan being the actual embodiment of Ayyapan, and later reveals to him that she has seen him in her dreams, and shows him the drawings she made about them, which show a man who looks just like Ayyappan. The following day, Ayyappan disappears into the crowd and the kids enter the shrine. As Kallu begins to worry and look for him, he shows up and encourages her to climb the steps, to fulfill her father's wish. Later, the police hands the kids over to Unni and they are taken home.

It is then revealed that Ayyappan is actually CPO D. Ayyappadas, working at the police station in Pamba. He was alerted of the missing children and knowingly boarded the bus after having seen Kallu's photo. Later by hearing out their stories, he decided to make their wish come true of visiting Sabarimala temple. Circumstances that followed made the kids believe that he was Ayyappan, himself. The police meanwhile apprehended Mahi and his men, who happened to be on [[Tamil Nadu]] criminal records.

==Cast==
{{Cast listing|
*[[Unni Mukundan]] as [[Civil_Police_Officer_(Kerala)|CPO]] D. Ayyappadas
*Deva Nandha as Kalyani "Kallu" Ajayan 
*Sreepath Yan as Piyush Unni
*[[Saiju Kurup]] as Ajayan / Ajayakumar 
*[[Ramesh Pisharody]] as Unni
*[[Manoj K. Jayan]] as [[Inspector of Police#Kerala|CI]] Haneef
*[[Renji Panicker]] as Head Master Chandrappan Pillai
*Alphy Panjikkaran as Saumya, Ajayan's Wife and Kallu's Mother 
*Manohari Joy as Ajayan's Mother and Kallu's Grandmother 
*[[T. G. Ravi]] as Pattada
*[[Sreejith Ravi]] as Ambadi
*[[Sampath Ram]] as Mahi
*[[Ajay Vasudev]] as Chettiyar
*Thushara Pillai as Jaya, Ajayan's Sister
*Kalabhavan Jinto as [[Inspector of Police#Kerala|SI]]
*Aswathy Abhilash as Lakshmi Teacher
}}

==Production==
The shooting of the film began on 12 September 2022 after the pooja ceremony at [[Erumely Sree Dharmasastha Temple]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Makers of 'Malikappuram' launch the first look poster on Unni Mukundan's birthday! |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/makers-of-malikappuram-launch-the-first-look-poster-on-unni-mukundans-birthday/articleshow/94373258.cms |access-date=22 January 2023 |agency=The Times of India |date=22 September 2022}}</ref> The film was censored with a U-certificate one week prior to its release.<ref>{{cite web |title=Unni Mukundan's Malikappuram With A Clean U Certificate; Film All Set To Hit Theatres | url=https://www.xappie.com/entertainment-view/unni-mukundans-malikappuram-with-a-clean-u-certificate-film-all-set-to-hit-theatres-47466 |agency=xappie News |date=23 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=ക്ലീൻ യു സർട്ടിഫിക്കറ്റ് നേടി ഉണ്ണി മുകുന്ദൻ ചിത്രം 'മാളികപ്പുറം' ; ഡിസംബർ 30നു തിയേറ്ററുകളിൽ |url=https://zeenews.india.com/malayalam/movies/unni-mukundan-film-malikappuram-won-clean-u-certificate-in-theaters-on-december-30-119688 |access-date=22 January 2023 |agency=Zee News |date=24 December 2022}}</ref>

==Music==
{{Infobox album
| name       = Malikappuram
| type       = Soundtrack
| artist     = [[Ranjin Raj]]
| cover      =
| alt        =
| released   = {{Start date|df=yes|2022|12|17}}
| recorded   = 
| venue      = 
| studio     = 
| genre      = [[Film soundtrack|Feature Film Soundtrack]]
| length     = 
| label      = [[Anto Joseph|Anto Joseph Film Company]]
| producer   = [[Ranjin Raj]]
}}

The [[film score]] and the songs are composed by [[Ranjin Raj]].<ref>{{cite news |title=History of Malikappuram: Mammootty lends his voice to the Unni Mukundan starrer |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/history-of-malikappuram-mammootty-lends-his-voice-to-the-unni-mukundan-starrer/articleshow/96248373.cms |access-date=22 January 2023 |agency=India Times |date=15 December 2022}}</ref> The lyrics are written by Santhosh Varma and B.K.Harinarayanan.<ref name="Malikappuramrolls" /> The album consists of eight songs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Malikappuram (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |url=https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nbpS8H_Nvon-m37kpYMWqrzPJaam6GerY |website=Youtube Music |access-date=22 January 2023}}</ref> The first song "Ganapathi Thunayaruluka" was released on 17 December 2022.<ref>{{cite news |title=NEWSFirst song of Unni Mukundan movie Malikappuram released |url=https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=968486&u=first-song-of-unni-mukundan%E2%80%99s-movie-malikappuram-released |access-date=22 January 2023 |agency=Kerala Kaumudi |date=17 December 2022}}</ref>

{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Kaliyuga
| extra1 = [[Ranjin Raj]]
| length1 = 1:04
| title2 = Ayyappan - Intro
| extra2 = [[Ranjin Raj]]
| length2 = 1:07
| title3 = Boothanaadha
| extra3 = [[Ranjin Raj]]
| length3 = 1:00
| title4 = Ganapathi Thunayaruluka
| extra4 = [[Anthony Daasan]], [[Madhu Balakrishnan]]
| length4 = 3:39
| title5 = Harivarasanam
| extra5 = Prakash Puthoor
| length5 = 5:46
| title6 = Ambadi Thumbi
| extra6 = [[Vineeth Sreenivasan]], Theertha Subash, Vaiga Abhilash
| length6 = 3:11
| title7 = Nangeli Poove
| extra7 = [[Ranjin Raj]]
| length7 = 3:46
| title8 = Onnam Padi Mele
| extra8 = [[Vineeth Sreenivasan]]
| length8 = 2:00
| total_length = 21:33
}}

==Release==
The film was released in theatres on 30 December 2022.<ref>{{cite news |title=Unni Mukundan Announces Release Date Of His Next Malayalam Film Malikappuram |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/unni-mukundan-announces-release-date-of-his-next-malayalam-film-malikappuram-6687307.html |access-date=22 January 2023 |agency=News 18 |date=24 December 2022}}</ref> The [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and [[Tamil language|Tamil]] language dubbed versions were released on 26 January 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Unni Mukundan starrer 'Malikappuram' Telugu version gets a release date |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/unni-mukundan-starrer-malikappuram-telugu-version-gets-a-release-date/articleshow/96961247.cms |access-date=2023-02-07 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> The film premiered on [[Disney+ Hotstar]] on 15 February 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Malikappuram, The Romantics, African Queens, The Night Manager, Unlocked: OTT releases this week |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/entertainment/2023/02/14/the-romantics-african-queens-the-night-manager-lost-unlocked-ott-releases-this-week.html |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=[[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]] |language=en}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Box office===
The film collected {{INRConvert|15.8|c|lk=on}} on its 11th day.<ref>{{cite news |title='Malikappuram' box office day 11: Unni Mukundan starrer mints Rs 15.8 crores |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/box-office/malikappuram-box-office-day-11-unni-mukundan-starrer-mints-rs-15-8-crores/articleshow/96883263.cms |access-date=22 January 2023 |agency=The Times of India |date=10 January 2023}}</ref> In its fourth week, the film grossed ₹50core(US$6.3million) and became the biggest hit of Unni Mukundan's career.<ref>{{cite news |title='മാളികപ്പുറം' 50 കോടി ക്ലബ്ബില്‍; ഉണ്ണി മുകുന്ദന്റെ കരിയറിലെ ഏറ്റവും വലിയ ഹിറ്റ് |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/unni-mukundan-movie-malikappuram-enters-50-crore-club-1.8240920 |access-date=22 January 2023 |agency=Mathrubhumi |date=21 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='Malikappuram' box office collection: Unni Mukundan starrer enters the 50- crore club |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/box-office/malikappuram-box-office-collection-unni-mukundan-starrer-enters-the-50-crore-club/articleshow/97224824.cms |access-date=22 January 2023 |date=22 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=മുടക്ക് 3.50 കോടി; ബോക്സ്ഓഫിസിൽ 50 കോടി വാരി മാളികപ്പുറം |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2023/01/21/malikappuram-reached-50-crore-club.html |access-date=22 January 2023 |agency=Manorama |date=21 January 2023}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|tt22037066}}

[[Category:2020s Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:Indian action adventure films]]
[[Category:2022 action adventure films]]
[[Category:2022 films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Kerala]]
[[Category:Films set in Kerala]]
[[Category:Films about God]]