# Kalamkaval
**Kalamkaval** (കളങ്കാവൽ) is a 2025 Indian Malayalam-language crime thriller directed by Jithin K Jose, starring [Mammootty](https://www.edgepedia.org/mammootty) as a serial killer and [Vinayakan](https://www.edgepedia.org/vinayakan) as the police officer pursuing him. It was produced by Mammootty under his Mammootty Kampany banner and released in theaters worldwide on December 5, 2025.[1](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/kalamkaval/cast-crew.html) • [2](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2025/11/26/mammootty-new-movie-kalamkaval-jithin-k-jose.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director / writers | Jithin K Jose (directorial debut); story and screenplay by Jithin K Jose and Jishnu Sreekumar[3](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2026/01/09/kalamkaval-ott-release-date-out-mammootty-vinayakan.html) |
| Lead cast | Mammootty as Stanley Das; Vinayakan as SI Jayakrishnan[4](https://www.filmfare.com/reviews/south-movies/kalamkaval-review-mammootty-steps-into-the-shadows-in-a-slow-burning-crime-mystery-79832.amp) |
| Release | December 5, 2025 (worldwide), after postponement from an announced November 27 date[2](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2025/11/26/mammootty-new-movie-kalamkaval-jithin-k-jose.html) • [5](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/mammoottys-thriller-kalamkaval-set-to-release-in-november-new-poster-out-2807390-2025-10-23) |
| Runtime / certification | 139 minutes; U/A 16+ certificate from the CBFC[1](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/kalamkaval/cast-crew.html) • [2](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2025/11/26/mammootty-new-movie-kalamkaval-jithin-k-jose.html) |
| Key crew | Cinematography Faisal Ali; editing Praveen Prabhakar; music Mujeeb Majeed; production design Shajie Naduvil[3](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2026/01/09/kalamkaval-ott-release-date-out-mammootty-vinayakan.html) |
| Streaming | SonyLIV, from the afternoon of January 15, 2026, ahead of the announced January 16 date[6](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/news/2026/kalamkaval-now-streaming-on-ott-where-to-watch-mammootty-vinayakan-crime-thriller-film-online-497342.html) |
| International box office | $2,333,820 reported across international territories, led by the United Arab Emirates ($2,035,206)[7](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt33500164/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot and characters
The film is set in the quiet village of Kottayikonam, where a routine [Kerala Police](https://www.edgepedia.org/kerala-police) inquiry takes an unexpected turn when a trail of seemingly minor clues unravels into a string of disturbing cases, revealing unsolved mysteries that have lingered across many cases.[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kalamkaval/cast-and-crew) At the center of the narrative is Jayakrishnan, a relentless police officer investigating the mysterious disappearance of women from a village, a case that slowly unravels into something far more sinister.[3](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2026/01/09/kalamkaval-ott-release-date-out-mammootty-vinayakan.html)
Mammootty plays Stanley Das, a man who returns to Kottayikonam and is gradually revealed to be a serial killer who targets women, particularly divorcées, widows, or those still single past the age society expects them to settle down. Because the murders were never connected as a pattern, he has remained free, and once the case reaches the shrewd officer Jayakrishnan, a hunt begins in which the criminal stays one step ahead.[4](https://www.filmfare.com/reviews/south-movies/kalamkaval-review-mammootty-steps-into-the-shadows-in-a-slow-burning-crime-mystery-79832.amp) • [9](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/kalamkaval-review-mammootty-film-is-yet-another-run-of-the-mill-serial-killer-thriller-10403213/) Critics noted that the character draws on the real-life Kerala serial killer known as Cyanide Mohan, who trapped unmarried women with promises of love and stability.[10](https://static.rottentomatoes.com/m/kalamkaval)
[Rajisha Vijayan](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajisha-vijayan) plays Divya, Azeez Nedumangad plays Babu Vijayan, Gayathri Arun plays Shiny, Gibin Gopinath plays Anand, and Sruthi Ramachandran plays Deepa, with Biju Pappan also among the supporting actors.[1](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/kalamkaval/cast-crew.html)
## Production and release
Kalamkaval was the first film directed by Jithin K Jose, who had earlier worked as a writer, including on the scripting of [Dulquer Salmaan](https://www.edgepedia.org/dulquer-salmaan)'s *Kurup*.[5](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/mammoottys-thriller-kalamkaval-set-to-release-in-november-new-poster-out-2807390-2025-10-23) In a [Malayala Manorama](https://www.edgepedia.org/malayala-manorama) interview, Jose said that before he pitched the story in person, Mammootty had already received a sketch of the project, which made convincing him comparatively easy; once Mammootty liked the story, Mammootty Kampany took over production.[11](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/interview/2025/11/23/kalamkaval-director-jithin-k-jose-interview.html)
The official teaser was released on August 27, 2025 on the Mammootty Kampany YouTube channel, where it drew over 2.5 million views and 73,000 likes.[12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06vu-i4icw8) The makers announced a worldwide theatrical release for November 27, 2025,[5](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/mammoottys-thriller-kalamkaval-set-to-release-in-november-new-poster-out-2807390-2025-10-23) but the date was postponed, with no new date given at first.[13](https://www.yugmarg.com/edition/2025/11/24/pages.pdf) On November 26 the production house announced that the film would reach cinemas worldwide on December 5, 2025, and Mammootty confirmed that the censor board had cleared it with a U/A 16+ certificate.[2](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2025/11/26/mammootty-new-movie-kalamkaval-jithin-k-jose.html) The film was Mammootty's first release after a brief hiatus following a health scare.[5](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/mammoottys-thriller-kalamkaval-set-to-release-in-november-new-poster-out-2807390-2025-10-23)
## Reception
**Critical response.** Reviews were mixed to moderately positive, converging on Mammootty's performance as the film's central strength. [The Indian Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-indian-express) gave it 2.5 out of 5, arguing that despite his courage in taking on a "devilish" character and a sharp performance, the crime thriller itself failed him as another run-of-the-mill serial-killer film.[9](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/kalamkaval-review-mammootty-film-is-yet-another-run-of-the-mill-serial-killer-thriller-10403213/) Filmfare rated it 3.5 out of 5, describing a slow-burning, atmospheric film in which Mammootty plays Stanley with unsettling stillness and Vinayakan brings grounded realism, even when the writing drifts.[4](https://www.filmfare.com/reviews/south-movies/kalamkaval-review-mammootty-steps-into-the-shadows-in-a-slow-burning-crime-mystery-79832.amp) [The Hindu](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-hindu)'s review held that the film could have become just another slow-burn serial-killer story despite some original touches, but that Mammootty and Vinayakan elevate it through the force of their performances.[10](https://static.rottentomatoes.com/m/kalamkaval) A NowRunning summary of critical opinion described the film as a solid, performance-led thriller carried more by its actors than by its plot, with the screenplay frequently cited as uneven.[14](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/30542/kalamkaval/reviews/)
**Box office.** [Box Office Mojo](https://www.edgepedia.org/box-office-mojo) reports $2,333,820 in international gross, with the earliest release in the [United Arab Emirates](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-arab-emirates) on December 4, 2025 and the largest share, $2,035,206, from that territory; the United Kingdom contributed $179,186.[7](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt33500164/) The Indian Express reported that the film earned over ₹10 million (₹1 crore) on its opening day in India.[9](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/kalamkaval-review-mammootty-film-is-yet-another-run-of-the-mill-serial-killer-thriller-10403213/)
## Streaming
SonyLIV acquired the digital rights. The platform announced a January 16, 2026 premiere, but the film began streaming on the afternoon of January 15, 2026, several hours ahead of the announced date.[6](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/news/2026/kalamkaval-now-streaming-on-ott-where-to-watch-mammootty-vinayakan-crime-thriller-film-online-497342.html) The platform promoted the release with the line "Stanley Das is coming!"[15](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/entertainment/ott/story/kalamkaval-ott-release-when-and-where-to-watch-mammootty-crime-thriller-2852565-2026-01-15)
## References
1. [Kalamkaval Cast & Crew, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/kalamkaval/cast-crew.html)
2. [Delayed, not diminished: Mammootty's 'Kalamkaval' is finally arriving on screen this December, Onmanorama](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2025/11/26/mammootty-new-movie-kalamkaval-jithin-k-jose.html)
3. ['Kalamkaval' OTT release date locked, Onmanorama](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2026/01/09/kalamkaval-ott-release-date-out-mammootty-vinayakan.html)
4. [Kalamkaval Review: Mammootty Steps Into The Shadows in a Slow Burning Crime Mystery, Filmfare](https://www.filmfare.com/reviews/south-movies/kalamkaval-review-mammootty-steps-into-the-shadows-in-a-slow-burning-crime-mystery-79832.amp)
5. [Mammootty's thriller Kalamkaval set to release in November, new poster out, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/mammoottys-thriller-kalamkaval-set-to-release-in-november-new-poster-out-2807390-2025-10-23)
6. [Kalamkaval Now Streaming On OTT, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/news/2026/kalamkaval-now-streaming-on-ott-where-to-watch-mammootty-vinayakan-crime-thriller-film-online-497342.html)
7. [KalamKaval (2025), Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt33500164/)
8. [Kalamkaval: Cast and Crew, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kalamkaval/cast-and-crew)
9. [Kalamkaval movie review, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/kalamkaval-review-mammootty-film-is-yet-another-run-of-the-mill-serial-killer-thriller-10403213/)
10. [Kalamkaval, Rotten Tomatoes (critics reviews)](https://static.rottentomatoes.com/m/kalamkaval)
11. [Kalamkaval director Jithin K. Jose interview, Malayala Manorama](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/interview/2025/11/23/kalamkaval-director-jithin-k-jose-interview.html)
12. [Kalamkaval Official Teaser, Mammootty Kampany (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06vu-i4icw8)
13. [Mammootty starrer 'Kalamkaval' release date postponed, Yugmarg](https://www.yugmarg.com/edition/2025/11/24/pages.pdf)
14. [Kalamkaval Reviews, NowRunning](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/30542/kalamkaval/reviews/)
15. [Kalamkaval OTT release, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/entertainment/ott/story/kalamkaval-ott-release-when-and-where-to-watch-mammootty-crime-thriller-2852565-2026-01-15)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Crime, thriller, and mystery films (individual works) › 2025–2026 films › Psychological and erotic thrillers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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