Dharma Productions is stepping into Malayalam cinema with scale, folklore and serious star power. On June 16, the banner announced Odiyan: The Age of Illusion, a new Malayalam epic that brings together Karan Johar’s production house, Prithviraj Productions and filmmaker Rahul Sadasivan, with Manju Warrier and Prithviraj Sukumaran leading the cast.
The choice of subject gives the announcement its real charge. Rooted in the folklore and cultural mythology of 19th century Kerala, the film revolves around a terrifying shape shifter whose fury descends on a powerful matriarchal household, setting off a battle between truth and illusion. It is the kind of premise that demands atmosphere, conviction and scale, and the team behind it suggests the makers are aiming for all three.
The Collaboration Behind Odiyan: The Age Of Illusion
The producers positioned the collaboration as a creative alignment built on shared belief in rooted storytelling. Karan Johar said, “I have been a great admirer of Malayalam cinema for a long time, and have always wanted to be part of that world. The craft, the courage, the way its filmmakers trust their audiences, it is something I have watched with genuine awe. When this story came to us, with Rahul’s vision and Prithviraj at the helm, it felt like exactly the right moment. Odiyan: The Age of Illusion is the kind of film that deserves the biggest possible canvas, and I am glad we get to give it just that.”
Apoorva Mehta framed the move as part of a broader creative and business direction for the company. He said, “Malayalam cinema represents everything we respect in storytelling, fearless creative ambition, deep cultural rootedness, and a connection with audiences that is genuinely earned. For Dharma, foraying into Malayalam cinema is a natural and exciting expansion, the industry has the talent, the audiences, and the storytelling muscle that make it a market we absolutely want to be in. Collaborating with Prithviraj Productions and Rahul Sadasivan on Odiyan: The Age of Illusion is a proud moment for us, and one that signals exactly where we are headed.”
From the Malayalam film industry side, the partnership has been presented as a meeting point between cultural memory and mainstream reach. Prithviraj Sukumaran said, “The Odiyan is not just a myth, it is a piece of Kerala’s identity, a legend that has travelled through generations and continues to hold a powerful place in our cultural consciousness. Bringing this story to the screen in a way that honours its mythology and the culture it comes from, has been a pursuit very close to my heart. Having Dharma Productions come on board as our partner brings together two shared visions and I’m excited to see how it takes shape.”
Supriya Menon added, “As a company that’s been consistently trying to improve Malayalam cinema, where storytelling is championed by its audience and work on different genres, we are happy to welcome Dharma Productions into the disruptive world of Malayalam cinema. We hope to continue our efforts with Odiyan to bring world class cinema to screens of Malayalam and offer our audience a great viewing experience.”
Rahul Sadasivan Brings Kerala Myth Into A Larger Cinematic Arena
The creative spine of the project is Rahul Sadasivan, whose work in Bhoothakaalam, Bramayugam and Diés Iraé has built a distinct screen language around dread, folklore and mood. With Odiyan: The Age of Illusion, he is moving that sensibility onto a much larger canvas while staying rooted in the emotional and psychological pull that defines his filmmaking.
Sadasivan said, “Folklore has always been a powerful source of fear because it exists in the space between memory, belief, and imagination. With Odiyan: The Age of Illusion, I wanted to revisit one of Kerala’s most enduring legends and bring it to life through a cinematic language rooted in atmosphere, mystery, and emotion. After the love and recognition audiences gave my previous films, this project represents an opportunity to tell a story on a much larger canvas while staying true to the themes that have always interested me. I’m excited to collaborate with Dharma Productions and Prithviraj Productions in bringing this vision to life.”
Produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta and Supriya Menon, the film is headed for a theatrical release. With Manju Warrier and Prithviraj Sukumaran at the center of a story shaped by myth, menace and psychological tension, Odiyan: The Age of Illusion now stands poised as one of the most visually and culturally ambitious Malayalam titles on the horizon.
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