Mammootty's crime thriller Puzhu — like Dulquer Salmaan's Salute — will skip theatres and be released directly on the over-the-top (OTT) platform SonyLiv.
The announcement of the film's OTT premiere was made by the streaming platform, and its release date will be announced soon.
Puzhu, which marks the directorial debut of Ratheena Sharshad and also stars Parvathy Thiruvothu, has been produced by Dulquer Salmaan's production house Wayfarer Films. It was supposed to arrive in theatres in the first half of 2022.
The film has been written by the screenwriter duo Suhas-Sharfu and Harshad, who penned the script of Mammootty's critically acclaimed Telugu film Unda (2019). Puzhu features Nedumudi Venu, Athmiya Rajan, Malavika Menon and Vasudev Sanjeesh.
Speaking about the film, Mammootty said, "The story of Puzhu excited me the most. As an actor, it has always been my aim to keep reinventing myself, and to take up newer, more exciting projects. Puzhu marks another step in that direction. We tried to tell a story that we believed in and put our hearts into. Hope the viewers like what they see."
Meanwhile, Dulquer is now awaiting the release of his crime drama Salute, helmed by Rosshan Andrews, and written by screenwriter-duo Bobby and Sanjay. The film tells a story of a disgraced cop, Aravind Karunkaran, who is aching for a shot at redemption after paying a price for being a lawful cop.
Speaking about the film, Dulquer said, "It was a great experience working on Salute. I have always been drawn to roles that push me beyond my comfort zone and challenge me as an actor. Bobby and Sanjay have done a remarkable job with the script. It is an intriguing and taut thriller with the characters going through various emotional conflicts and bearing the consequences of their actions. I have always admired Rosshan Andrews’ craft, and it was an honour to work with him. This is very different from the other films I have done so far, and I cannot wait for the audiences to watch it."
Salute will be streamed on SonyLiv from 18 March.