Kannur Squad, the crime drama starring Mammootty in the lead role, has received highly positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. The film, directed by debutant Roby Varghese Raj and written by Muhammed Shafi and Rony David, is a solid police procedural that unfolds at a measured tempo, avoiding excessive dramatisation. However, its notable resemblances to earlier films within the same genre prevent it from being truly fresh1.
The film follows ASI George Martin and his team as they go on an undercover mission to nab a criminal gang despite facing obstacles and challenges within and outside the law system2. The film has been praised for its realistic portrayal of police work, its engaging screenplay, its thrilling action sequences, and its stellar performances by Mammootty and the supporting cast. The film also has music composed by Sushin Shyam, cinematography by Muhammed Rahil and editing by Praveen Prabhakar.
The film, which was released on 28 September 2023, has opened to a massive response at the box office. According to trade reports, the film has collected around 7 crores on its first day, making it one of the biggest openers of the year. The film has also witnessed a huge demand for extra shows across Kerala and other states. As per the latest update, 75 extra night shows have been added for the film in various centres34.
The film’s success has also attracted the attention of digital platforms. According to sources, Sony Liv has acquired the digital rights of Kannur Squad for one of the biggest Malayalam digital deals ever. The deal is said to be worth around 15 crores, which is a record-breaking amount for a Malayalam film. The film is expected to stream on Sony Liv after its theatrical run5.
There are huge number of movies that will release within one month such as Chaaver, Killers of the Flower Moon, Leo, Dhruva Natchathiram etc. Thus we can expect the movie to streaming from October 28 or 29, according to the one month rule in Kerala. As a result of the one month rule, RDX and King of Kotha released OTT after the theatrical release in Netflix and Disney Plus Hotstar respectively.
Kannur Squad is a milestone film for Mammootty and his production house Mammootty Kampany. The film has proved that Mammootty is still the undisputed king of Malayalam cinema and that he can pull off any genre with ease. The film has also established Roby Varghese Raj as a promising director to watch out for. Kannur Squad is a must-watch film for all the fans of crime thrillers and Mammootty.