What is the story about?
Dharma Productions and Prithviraj Productions are coming together to produce Odiyan: The Age of Illusion, a sweeping epic rooted in the folklore and cultural mythology of 19th-century Kerala. Produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, and Supriya Menon, and directed by Rahul Sadasivan (Bhoothakaalam, Bramayugam, Diés Irae), the film stars Manju Warrier and Prithviraj Sukumaran. It marks Dharma Productions' first Malayalam production, a significant first for one of India's most storied film houses.
At core, the film is about a terrifying shape-shifter from Kerala legend, whose fury descends on a powerful matriarchal household, setting off a battle between truth and illusion that crackles with myth, menace and psychological weight. Rahul Sadasivan, who has built one of the most distinctive bodies of work in Indian cinema through his singular command of Kerala's folklore and atmosphere, takes on his most ambitious project yet.
Karan Johar, Producer, Dharma Productions , 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."
Prithviraj Sukumaran, Actor & Producer, Prithviraj Productions, 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."
At core, the film is about a terrifying shape-shifter from Kerala legend, whose fury descends on a powerful matriarchal household, setting off a battle between truth and illusion that crackles with myth, menace and psychological weight. Rahul Sadasivan, who has built one of the most distinctive bodies of work in Indian cinema through his singular command of Kerala's folklore and atmosphere, takes on his most ambitious project yet.
Karan Johar, Producer, Dharma Productions , 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."
Prithviraj Sukumaran, Actor & Producer, Prithviraj Productions, 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."
