Naslen's 'Mollywood Times' teaser out: coming-of-age film hits screens June 5
Synopsis
The teaser for Naslen's 'Mollywood Times' is out — and it's a love letter to filmmaking ambition. Playing Vineeth Madhavan, a Class 11 student from Kuttikanam who wants to be Malayalam cinema's answer to M. Night Shyamalan, Naslen anchors what looks like a charming, self-aware coming-of-age story from the director of 'Mukundan Unni Associates'. The film releases on 5 June 2025.
Key Takeaways
The official teaser for 'Mollywood Times' starring Naslen has been released.
The film is directed by Abhinav Sunder Nayak and is now scheduled to release on 5 June 2025 , shifted from the original date of 14 May 2025 .
Naslen plays Vineeth Madhavan , an aspiring horror filmmaker and Class 11 student from Kuttikanam .
The character draws inspiration from M.
Night Shyamalan and dreams of making Malayalam cinema history.
The film is produced by Ashiq Usman , with story by Ramu Sunil and music by Jakey Bejoy .
Actor Naslen's upcoming Malayalam film 'Mollywood Times', directed by Abhinav Sunder Nayak, has dropped its official teaser, generating significant buzz among fans and Malayalam cinema enthusiasts. The film is now set to release on 5 June 2025, following an earlier postponement from its original date of 14 May 2025.
What the Teaser Reveals
The teaser opens with a charming exchange between a young boy and his father. The child references filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, arguing that a video camera gifted in childhood made Shyamalan a Hollywood director. His father's wry response — 'In this small state of Kerala, we only have a small wood — Mollywood' — is met with the boy's determined retort: 'That is enough, Mollywood is enough.'
The clip then cuts to Naslen as a teenage protagonist declaring, 'The first will always be recorded and remembered in history. I want my first film to be remembered forever and for that, simply scaring the audience will not be enough. The fear should create history and that history celebrated.' The teaser firmly establishes Naslen's character as an ambitious aspiring horror filmmaker with dreams far larger than his circumstances.
Naslen's Character: Vineeth Madhavan
An earlier release-date announcement video had already revealed that Naslen plays Vineeth Madhavan, a Class 11 student at a government school in Kuttikanam. Vineeth is shown writing a letter to his future self, addressing him as an Oscar winner — a detail that underscores the film's blend of self-belief and humour. The character's philosophy, as teased, centres on the idea that self-love is the foundation of ambition.
The teaser makes clear that Vineeth's immediate dream is to shoot a horror short film in the style of M. Night Shyamalan — complete with an unpredictable twist — and ultimately become Malayalam cinema's finest horror filmmaker.
Director and Production Team
Expectations for 'Mollywood Times' run high largely because of director Abhinav Sunder Nayak's previous outing, 'Mukundan Unni Associates', which earned widespread appreciation from audiences and critics alike. The film is produced by Ashiq Usman, with story credits going to Ramu Sunil.
The technical crew includes cinematographer Viswajith Odukkathil, music composer Jakey Bejoy, editor Nidhin Raj Arol, and sound designer Vishnu Govind. Lyrics have been penned by Vinayak Sasikumar, art direction handled by Ashik S, costumes by Mashar Hamsa, and song choreography by Shobi Master.
Release and Anticipation
The film's release was pushed back from 14 May to 5 June 2025, a delay that has only extended the anticipation. With a likeable premise, a proven director, and a lead actor who has already demonstrated range in Malayalam cinema, 'Mollywood Times' arrives as one of the more eagerly tracked mid-year Malayalam releases. Whether Vineeth Madhavan's cinematic dreams translate into box-office success will be known when the film opens next month.
Point of View
Which has shown a growing appetite for self-referential, industry-aware storytelling. Abhinav Sunder Nayak's 'Mukundan Unni Associates' worked precisely because it subverted audience expectations about likeable protagonists — a sensibility that appears intact here. The M. Night Shyamalan thread is a smart hook: it gives the film an internal logic around twist-driven storytelling while keeping the humour grounded in Kerala's cultural self-awareness. The real question is whether the film can sustain that tonal balance across its full runtime, or whether the teaser's charm is its peak.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When does 'Mollywood Times' release in cinemas?
'Mollywood Times' is scheduled to release on 5 June 2025. The film was originally set for a 14 May 2025 release before the date was pushed back.
Who is Naslen's character in 'Mollywood Times'?
Naslen plays Vineeth Madhavan, a Class 11 student at a government school in Kuttikanam who dreams of becoming a celebrated horror filmmaker in Malayalam cinema. The character draws inspiration from Hollywood director M. Night Shyamalan.
Who directed 'Mollywood Times' and what is his previous work?
'Mollywood Times' is directed by Abhinav Sunder Nayak, who previously made 'Mukundan Unni Associates', a film that earned considerable appreciation from audiences and critics.
What is 'Mollywood Times' about?
The film is a coming-of-age story centred on an ambitious teenager who aspires to direct horror films and become Malayalam cinema's finest filmmaker in that genre. The teaser suggests a heartwarming and humorous tone, with the protagonist modelling his ambitions on M. Night Shyamalan.
Who are the key crew members behind 'Mollywood Times'?
The film is produced by Ashiq Usman, with story by Ramu Sunil, cinematography by Viswajith Odukkathil, music by Jakey Bejoy, and editing by Nidhin Raj Arol.
