Sunil plays Maari in Antony Varghese's 'Kattalan', out May 28
Synopsis
With each character reveal, 'Kattalan' is shaping into one of the most ambitious pan-Indian Malayalam releases of 2026. Telugu star Sunil's casting as Maari adds to a multilingual ensemble that includes Dushara Vijayan, Kabir Duhan Singh, and Raj Tirandasu — all anchored by Antony Varghese in a high-octane thriller from the producer of 'Marco'.
Key Takeaways
Telugu actor Sunil plays a character named Maari in the pan-Indian Malayalam film 'Kattalan' .
The film releases worldwide on 28 May 2026 , directed by Paul George and produced by Shareef Muhammed of Cubes Entertainments.
Tamil actress Dushara Vijayan plays Lucy ; Kabir Duhan Singh plays Eddt ; Parth Tiwarii plays Roby .
Raj Tirandasu of Pushpa fame plays a character called Maari 95 .
Music composer changed from Ajaneesh Loknath to Ravi Basrur ; shoot wrapped in February 2026 .
Telugu actor Sunil has been confirmed to play a character named Maari in the upcoming pan-Indian Malayalam action thriller 'Kattalan', directed by Paul George and featuring Antony Varghese (Pepe) in the lead role. The film is set for a worldwide release on 28 May 2026.
Character Reveals So Far
Production house Cube Entertainments has been rolling out character reveals in succession. In its latest announcement, the team confirmed Sunil's role as Maari, sharing the update on its official Instagram handle. Tamil actress Dushara Vijayan has been revealed as Lucy, while Kabir Duhan Singh plays Eddt and Parth Tiwarii plays Roby.
Additionally, Raj Tirandasu — who earned widespread recognition for his performance in the pan-Indian blockbuster Pushpa — will appear as a character named Maari 95 in the film.
Star-Studded Ensemble Cast
Beyond the lead pair of Antony Varghese and Rajisha Vijayan, the film features an expansive multilingual cast. Sunil, known for his roles in Pushpa: The Rise (2021), Pushpa 2 (2024), and Jailer (2023), brings significant cross-regional appeal. Veteran Malayalam actors Jagadeesh and Siddique also appear in pivotal roles, alongside Rapper Baby Jean.
Music Director Change and Production Updates
The film's music will be composed by Ravi Basrur, replacing Ajaneesh Loknath — the composer behind Kantara 2 — who was originally announced for the project. The change came as a surprise to many film followers. Principal photography was wrapped up in February 2026, with the release date shifted from the originally announced 14 May 2026 to 28 May 2026.
The Team Behind 'Kattalan'
The film is produced by Shareef Muhammed of Cubes Entertainments, the production house behind the blockbuster Marco. The screenplay has been written by the trio of Paul George, Joby Varghese, and Jero Jacob, marking their writing debut. Cinematography is handled by Renadive, editing by Shameer Muhammed, costumes by Dhanya Balakrishnan, and action choreography by Sharief.
The production house also drew appreciation late last year for publicly honouring the stuntmen on the film, releasing footage of a high-risk stunt sequence and saluting the crew's courage. With its pan-Indian scale, multilingual cast, and high-octane premise, 'Kattalan' is shaping up as one of the more anticipated Malayalam releases of mid-2026.
Point of View
A multilingual cast built for cross-market reach, and a producer (Shareef Muhammed) with a proven blockbuster on his slate. The mid-shoot music director swap from Ajaneesh Loknath to Ravi Basrur is the one detail that warrants watching: Loknath is tied to the Kantara universe, and his exit could signal creative realignment or simply a scheduling conflict. Either way, Basrur's track record with high-energy action films makes him a credible replacement. Whether 'Kattalan' can match the cultural crossover of 'Marco' remains the real question.
NationPress
3 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does Sunil play in 'Kattalan'?
Telugu actor Sunil plays a character named Maari in 'Kattalan', the pan-Indian Malayalam action thriller directed by Paul George. The announcement was made by production house Cube Entertainments on Instagram.
When is 'Kattalan' releasing?
'Kattalan' is set for a worldwide release on 28 May 2026. The release date was shifted from the originally announced 14 May 2026.
Who are the other cast members in 'Kattalan'?
The film features Antony Varghese and Rajisha Vijayan in the lead, alongside Dushara Vijayan, Kabir Duhan Singh, Parth Tiwarii, Raj Tirandasu, Rapper Baby Jean, and veteran Malayalam actors Jagadeesh and Siddique.
Why was the music director of 'Kattalan' changed?
The production house replaced originally announced composer Ajaneesh Loknath with Ravi Basrur. No official reason was given for the change, which came as a surprise to many film followers.
Who is producing 'Kattalan'?
'Kattalan' is produced by Shareef Muhammed under the Cubes Entertainments banner, the production house behind the blockbuster Malayalam film 'Marco'. The screenplay is written by Paul George, Joby Varghese, and Jero Jacob.
