Marco star Unni Mukundan shares why Malayalam films don't get theatrical success in Hindi market

Unni Mukundan has shared his take on the box office fate of Malayalam films in the Hindi market. He shared what needs to change to fix the issue.

Updated on: Jan 16, 2025, 06:39:51 IST

By Santanu Das

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Unni Mukundan is basking in the success of his latest Malayalam release, Marco. The actor has been vocal about better distribution of Malayalam films in the Hindi-speaking regions, so that the films can do better business. In a new interview with Anmol Jamwal on his YouTube channel, Unni shared that the ‘budget’ of these films needs to be addressed as soon as possible. (Also read: Marco star Unni Mukundan reacts to contrasting audience reactions, says he's sure film won't do good on an OTT platform)

What Unni said

When Unni was asked about this issue during the interview, he said: “I think, primarily, it is because of the budget. Then, you need to also have successful examples to support it. When you want a movie to reach a commercial level, it’s typically action because action is easier to take to a wider audience.”

He added, “Now, when one wants to shoot a high-end action movie, you need to have a star who is willing to do it. The star also needs to be protected, backed up and present the movie in a manner that doesn't make it feel regionally bound. Have a script that can possibly entertain a bigger audience. Then, one needs to entertain a larger audience, which requires a dynamic producer who is as thrilled as the actor to take the film forward. It comes from a cumulative effort from a lot of factors.”

Last month, IE reported that the Kerala Film Producers’ Association released a statement in which they shared that in 2024, only 26 of the 199 Malayalam films produced were successful. With the total production cost of these films hitting ₹1000 crore, only ₹300 crore was recovered, resulting in a ₹700 crore loss.

About Marco

Marco, which raised eyebrows among audiences for its depiction of brutal violence on screen, has been running successfully in theatres ever since it was released on December 20. The film revolves around the titular character, played by Unni Mukundan, on a path of vengeance after the murder of his brother, Victor. A sequel of the film is already in the works.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Santanu Das
Santanu Das is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over 5 years of experience, writing on films, pop culture and film festivals. He has a keen interest in writing about South Asian independent films and has covered several film festivals, including Sundance and CPH: Docx. He also brings a sharp perspective to the monthly column called The Fault in Our Stars, where he writes about a recent film/series and what stops the ‘good’ from becoming ‘great’. A gold medalist from Banaras Hindu University, Santanu completed his postgraduate studies in English from Jadavpur University. He is also a Rotten Tomatoes-certified film critic. When not watching films or speaking to celebrities, Santanu can be found reading a book. Some of his favourite films are Aparajito, Ponyo and The Double Life of Veronique. His favourite books include The Corrections, The God of Small Things and A Room of One's Own. Santanu continues to write passionately about films and celebrity culture. He brings a relatable, as well as critically informed, lens to entertainment and culture for a wide audience. Find him on LinkedIn: santanudasfilm Instagram: @santupechaRead More

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