Valathu Vashathe Kallan
| Valathu Vashathe Kallan | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Jeethu Joseph |
| Written by | Dinu Thomas Eelan |
| Produced by | Shaji Nadesan |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Satheesh Kurup |
| Edited by | V. S. Vinayak |
| Music by | Vishnu Shyam |
Production companies |
|
| Distributed by | Goodwill Entertainments |
Release date |
|
Running time | 135 minutes[1] |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
Valathu Vashathe Kallan (transl. The thief to the right) is a 2026 Indian Malayalam-language crime thriller film directed by Jeethu Joseph, written by Dinu Thomas Eelan, and produced by Shaji Nadesan. The film stars Biju Menon and Joju George.[2]
Valathu Vashathe Kallan was released on 30 January 2026 and received mixed reviews from critics.[3]
Premise
[edit]Antony and his son Philip is on the path to seek if they can truly be close. Antony 's mentality stands in the way. His actions lead to a night of enigma, when cruelty meets innocence.
Cast
[edit]- Biju Menon as CI Antony Xavier
- Joju George as Samuel Joseph
- Lena as Theresa Samuel
- Leona Lishoy as ASI Vidhya Shekar
- Shaju Sreedhar as DYSP Firose
- Niranjana Anoop as Veena
- Vaishnavi Raj as Irene Samuel
- Irshad as Head Constable Johnny Vincent
- Santhi Mayadevi as Doctor
- K. R. Gokul as Philip Antony
- Rinosh George as Rajeev
- Shiva Hariharan as Johnny's son
- Shraddha Gokul as Deepthi
- Priya Sreejith as Revathi
- Manoj K. U. as SP B. Krishnakumar IPS
- Aparna Janardhanan as TV News Reporter
- Adam Ayub as Dr. Radhakrishnan
Production
[edit]The project was officially announced on 21 April 2025 by Jeethu Joseph.[4][5] Principal photography began in May 2025 in Kochi with a pooja ceremony.[6] Filming wrapped on 11 August 2025.[7]
Release
[edit]Valathu Vashathe Kallan was released on 30 January 2026.[3]
Reception
[edit]A mixed review in The Hindu wrote: ”Part of the film works because of the presence of the two towering performers in Biju Menon and Joju George, who, even when they are not at their best, lend some gravitas to the proceedings. Although Jeethu’s films are not particularly known for their visual or technical aspects, here the darker tone sits well with the theme until the screenplay spoils the game.”[8] Other reviews were also mixed, similarly praising the two lead male actors’ performances but particularly criticising the plot, judged confused. Anandu Suresh of The Indian Express gave 1.5 out of 5 stars, writing "Jeethu Joseph delivers yet another unsatisfactory crime thriller aimed solely at outsmarting the audience".[9] Vishal Menon of The Hollywood Reporter India said that “For all the credit Jeethu Joseph gets for being the Malayalam master of suspense, one doesn’t realise how often he’s made films that talk about something as soft and subtle as parenting.”[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "Valathu Vashathe Kallan (15)". British Board of Film Classification. 23 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "Valathu Vashathe Kallan (2026)". Holly Review. 2026-01-30. Retrieved 2026-01-30.
- ^ a b "'Valathu Vashathe Kallan' release date: Jeethu Joseph sets January release; Biju Menon and Joju George lead". The Times of India. 2025-12-23. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2026-01-09.
- ^ "Jeethu Joseph Announces Valathu Vashathe Kallan With Biju Menon And Joju George In Lead Roles". Filmfare. 2025-04-21. Retrieved 2026-01-09.
- ^ "Biju Menon, Joju George to headline Jeethu Joseph's 'Valathu Vashathe Kallan'". The Hindu. 2025-04-21. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2026-01-09.
- ^ Features, C. E. (2025-05-26). "Jeethu Joseph-Biju Menon-Joju George's Valathu Vashathe Kallan launched". Cinema Express. Retrieved 2026-01-09.
- ^ "It's a wrap for Biju Menon-Joju George-Jeethu Joseph's Valathu Vashathe Kallan". The New Indian Express. 2025-08-12. Retrieved 2026-01-09.
- ^ Praveen, S. R. (2026-01-30). "'Valathu Vashathe Kallan' movie review: Jeethu Joseph's film gets lost in a maze of its own creation". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ^ "Valathu Vashathe Kallan movie review: Jeethu Joseph delivers yet another unsatisfactory crime thriller aimed solely at outsmarting the audience". The Indian Express. 2026-01-30. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ^ "'Valathu Vashathe Kallan' Movie Review: Jeethu Joseph Regains Lost Form In This Procedural". The Hollywood Reporter India. Retrieved 2026-02-03.