# Shylock (2020 film)
**Shylock** (ഷൈലോക്ക്) is a 2020 Indian Malayalam-language action drama directed by Ajai Vasudev, starring [Mammootty](https://www.edgepedia.org/mammootty) as Boss, a ruthless moneylender who finances films in the Malayalam film industry and turns on producers who refuse to repay him.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shylock_2020) • [2](https://www.aha.video/movie/shylock) The title borrows the name of the infamous usurer in Shakespeare's *The Merchant of Venice*.[3](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/24385/malayalam/shylock/11689/review/) It was released in theaters on 23 January 2020, with a Tamil-dubbed version titled *Kuberan*, and began streaming on Amazon Prime Video the following month.[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/shylock-2020/ott.html) • [5](https://www.thenewsminute.com/amp/story/flix/mammootty-starrer-shylock-certified-ua-116228)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director / writer | Ajai Vasudev; screenplay and story by debutants Aneesh Hameed and Bibin Mohan[6](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2019/Dec/17/shylock-teaser-to-be-released-on-friday-16092.html) |
| Lead cast | Mammootty as Boss/Devan; Rajkiran as Ayyanar; Meena as Lakshmi; Siddique as Felix John; Kalabhavan Shajohn as Prathapa Varma[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shylock_2020) |
| Release | 23 January 2020 (theaters), U/A certificate; Tamil version titled *Kuberan*[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/shylock-2020/ott.html) • [5](https://www.thenewsminute.com/amp/story/flix/mammootty-starrer-shylock-certified-ua-116228) |
| Streaming | Amazon Prime Video from 24 February 2020[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/shylock-2020/ott.html) |
| Runtime / music | 2 hours 10 minutes; music and background score by Gopi Sundar[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shylock_2020) • [7](https://m.behindwoods.com/malayalam-movies/shylock-malayalam/shylock-malayalam-review.html) |
| Box office | ₹340 million (₹34.00 crore) worldwide gross on a reported ₹130 million (₹13.00 crore) budget; verdict "Superhit" per Sacnilk[8](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Shylock_2020) |
| Critical reception | Ranged from 3.5/5 (Cinema Express) to 1/5 (Indian Express) and 0.25/5 (Firstpost)[9](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/reviews/malayalam/2020/Jan/23/shylock-movie-review-a-loving-petta-style-tribute-to-mammootty-16675.html) • [10](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/shylock-movie-review-rating-mammootty-6231877/) • [1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shylock_2020) |
## Spoilers
### Premise
Boss, known as Shylock, is a tough moneylender in Kerala's film industry. He lends money to the producer Prathapa Varma (Kalabhavan Shajohn) for a movie, but Varma refuses to repay and mocks him; Boss responds by kidnapping the film's director to pressure him. Varma then teams up with the corrupt Police Commissioner Felix John (Siddique) to destroy Boss.[2](https://www.aha.video/movie/shylock)
The second half reveals Boss's past: he was once called Devan, and lived with his elder brother Ayyanar (Rajkiran) and sister-in-law Lakshmi (Meena) in a village, until Varma wronged their family. As Boss, Devan now seeks revenge, aided by his loyal friends Balakrishna Panicker (Baiju Santhosh) and Ganapathi (Hareesh Kanaran).[2](https://www.aha.video/movie/shylock) • [1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shylock_2020)
## Production and release
The film marked the third collaboration between Mammootty and director Ajai Vasudev, after *RajadhiRaja* (2014) and *[Masterpiece](https://www.edgepedia.org/masterpiece-2017-film)* (2017).[11](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/shylock-movie-review-release-mammootty-live-updates-6231134/) It was scripted by two newcomers, Bibin Mohan, a former pharmaceutical professional, and Aneesh Hameed, who said they arrived with a bound script before Mammootty agreed to hear their pitch.[12](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/malayalam/2020/Apr/24/writers-cannot-be-bound-by-limitations-says-shylock-co-writer-bibin-mohan-2134384.html) Joby George produced the film under his banner Goodwill Entertainments, with cinematography by Renadive and music by [Gopi Sundar](https://www.edgepedia.org/gopi-sundar).[13](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/24385/malayalam/shylock/)
First-look posters released in November 2019 announced the project as a Malayalam-Tamil bilingual, with the Tamil version titled *Kuberan*.[14](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2019/Nov/10/first-look-posters-of-mammoottys-shylock-and-one-unveiled-15412.html) The film received a U/A certificate from the [Central Board of Film Certification](https://www.edgepedia.org/central-board-of-film-certification) ahead of its 23 January 2020 release. Veteran Tamil actor Rajkiran, who plays a key role, acquired the Tamil dubbing rights and released the Tamil version under Red Sun Art Creations; he also wrote the dialogues and lyrics of a few songs for that version.[5](https://www.thenewsminute.com/amp/story/flix/mammootty-starrer-shylock-certified-ua-116228) During its theatrical run, the director publicly denied rumors that the film would simultaneously release on a streaming platform.[15](https://www.thecue.in/videos/entertainment/film-news/shylock-online-streaming-fake-news-director-clarifies) It later debuted on Amazon Prime Video on 24 February 2020.[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/shylock-2020/ott.html)
## Reception
**Critical response was sharply divided.** The Cinema Express review rated it 3.5/5, calling it "a loving, Petta-style fanboy tribute to Mammootty" and praising the star's mischievous screen presence, while noting that the second half, built around a flashback, did not pack the same punch as the first.[9](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/reviews/malayalam/2020/Jan/23/shylock-movie-review-a-loving-petta-style-tribute-to-mammootty-16675.html) [The Indian Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-indian-express) gave it 1 star, calling the film a "snoozefest" whose predictable story was filled with Tamil pop-culture references and dialogues.[10](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/shylock-movie-review-rating-mammootty-6231877/) Anna M.M. Vetticad of Firstpost rated it 0.25/5.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shylock_2020) Nowrunning's review described it as "a typical formulaic film with mass appeal" and noted that Rajkiran makes his Malayalam debut in the film.[3](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/24385/malayalam/shylock/11689/review/) On IMDb the film holds a 5.1/10 rating.[16](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/shylock)
The film's dialogue drew particular attention. Boss, a cinema addict, quotes lines from popular South Indian films starring Vijay and [Rajinikanth](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajinikanth), including [Vijay Sethupathi](https://www.edgepedia.org/vijay-sethupathi)'s "Oru Kadhai Sollattuma" line from *[Vikram Vedha](https://www.edgepedia.org/vikram-vedha)*; the writers explained this through the character's old acting dreams. Co-writer Bibin Mohan said Mammootty himself suggested changes, including rewriting the introduction-scene dialogue after rain disrupted the shoot and adding a line after the bar fight scene within five minutes.[9](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/reviews/malayalam/2020/Jan/23/shylock-movie-review-a-loving-petta-style-tribute-to-mammootty-16675.html) • [12](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/malayalam/2020/Apr/24/writers-cannot-be-bound-by-limitations-says-shylock-co-writer-bibin-mohan-2134384.html)
## Box office
Sacnilk reports a worldwide gross of ₹340 million (₹34.00 crore), with ₹180 million (₹18.00 crore) net in India and ₹130 million (₹13.00 crore) from overseas, against a budget of ₹130 million (₹13.00 crore), and assigns the verdict "Superhit".[8](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Shylock_2020) The film opened strongly in theaters; a Zoom TV retrospective listed it among 2020's Malayalam theatrical hits and noted that it performed well when dubbed and released in Tamil and Telugu across [South India](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-india).[17](https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/malayalam-cinema/article/looking-back-at-2020s-theatrical-hits-in-malayalam-industry-as-theatres-reopen-in-kerala/702772) The film received a SIIMA nomination in 2021 for Best Performance by an Actor in a Negative Role (Malayalam).[18](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/shylock/2030407335/)
## References
1. [Shylock (2020), Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shylock_2020)
2. [Shylock, Aha Video synopsis](https://www.aha.video/movie/shylock)
3. [Shylock Movie Review by K. R. Rejeesh, Nowrunning](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/24385/malayalam/shylock/11689/review/)
4. [Shylock OTT Release, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/shylock-2020/ott.html)
5. [Mammootty starrer 'Shylock' certified U/A, The News Minute](https://www.thenewsminute.com/amp/story/flix/mammootty-starrer-shylock-certified-ua-116228)
6. [Shylock teaser to be released on Friday, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2019/Dec/17/shylock-teaser-to-be-released-on-friday-16092.html)
7. [Shylock (Malayalam) Movie Review, Behindwoods](https://m.behindwoods.com/malayalam-movies/shylock-malayalam/shylock-malayalam-review.html)
8. [Shylock (2020-01-23) Box Office, Sacnilk](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Shylock_2020)
9. [Shylock Movie Review: A loving, Petta-style tribute to Mammootty, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/reviews/malayalam/2020/Jan/23/shylock-movie-review-a-loving-petta-style-tribute-to-mammootty-16675.html)
10. [Shylock movie review: This Mammootty-starrer is a snoozefest, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/shylock-movie-review-rating-mammootty-6231877/)
11. [Shylock Movie Review, Release LIVE Updates, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/shylock-movie-review-release-mammootty-live-updates-6231134/)
12. [Writers cannot be bound by limitations, says Shylock co-writer Bibin Mohan, The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/malayalam/2020/Apr/24/writers-cannot-be-bound-by-limitations-says-shylock-co-writer-bibin-mohan-2134384.html)
13. [Shylock Malayalam Movie overview, Nowrunning](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/24385/malayalam/shylock/)
14. [First-look posters of Mammootty's Shylock and One unveiled, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2019/Nov/10/first-look-posters-of-mammoottys-shylock-and-one-unveiled-15412.html)
15. [Shylock in theaters, director clarifies fake streaming news, The Cue](https://www.thecue.in/videos/entertainment/film-news/shylock-online-streaming-fake-news-director-clarifies)
16. [Shylock streaming, JustWatch (IMDb 5.1)](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/shylock)
17. [Looking back at 2020's theatrical hits in Malayalam industry, Zoom TV](https://www.zoomtventertainment.com/malayalam-cinema/article/looking-back-at-2020s-theatrical-hits-in-malayalam-industry-as-theatres-reopen-in-kerala/702772)
18. [Shylock, TV Guide (awards)](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/shylock/2030407335/)
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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 › Indian films (individual works) › Malayalam films of the 2020s › Malayalam films of 2020 and 2021*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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