The Malayalam action thriller ‘Vilaayath Budha’, headlined by Prithviraj Sukumaran, hit cinemas on 21 November 2025, drawing immediate reactions from audiences across X (formerly Twitter). The film marks Jayan Nambiar’s directorial debut and is based on GR Indugopan’s novel of the same name.

The project was first conceived by filmmaker Sachy in 2020, but following his death in June that year, Nambiar took over the directorial reins. With music by Jakes Bejoy, cinematography by Arvind S Kashyap and Renadive, and editing by Sreejith Sarang, the film has generated strong buzz among moviegoers and industry watchers. 

What viewers are saying on X

Reactions to the film have now begun circulating widely on X.

An user on X wrote, “Action, Drama, Music, Chase Sequences were Peak, Also the Staging. Look's like Another Ayyappanum Koshiyum Loading”

Audience reactions also highlight Jakes Bejoy’s score, noting that the music has received an especially positive response. A user on X wrote, “Unbelievable ... Currently he’s the Best in Business ... Jakes Bejoy the Brand”

Another user wrote, “Rooted, grounded adaptation of GR indugopan...Slow burn drama's strength is story and performances.”

A fourth user wrote, “The movie is a hell of a theatre experience one and the vibe with the crowd is fire...Technically and cast performance is too superb.”

Story rooted in Marayoor’s forests

‘Vilaayath Budha’ revolves around the tense rivalry between a teacher and his former disciple – now a notorious outlaw – as they clash over possession of a rare sandalwood tree perched atop a hill in Marayoor. Set against dense forest landscapes, the narrative delves into the volatile mix of greed, loyalty, and betrayal.

The film features Shammi Thilakan in a crucial role opposite Prithviraj, along with performances from Priyamvada Krishnan, Anu Mohan, Dhruvan, and others. The extensive supporting cast includes Kiran Peethambaran, Pramod Veliyanadu, Vinod Thomas, TSK, Teejay Arunachalam, Santhosh Damodaran, and Rajashree Nair.

A production years in the making

Produced by Sandip Senan and AV Anoop, the screenplay was penned by Indugopan and Rajesh Pinnadan. Jithu Sebastian handled production design, while the stunt sequences were choreographed by Rajasekhar, Kalai Kingson, Supreme Sundar and Mahesh Mathew.

The film’s development drew heavy curiosity after fans noticed the thematic similarity between ‘Vilaayath Budha’ and Allu Arjun’s blockbuster ‘Pushpa’ franchise, both centred on sandalwood smuggling. Addressing this during a recent promotional event, Prithviraj explained that Sachy had narrated the story to him long before ‘Pushpa’ was conceived.

By the time ‘Vilaayath Budha’ completed production, both parts of Pushpa’s franchise had already released. Aware of the overlap, the team deliberately included a humorous nod to ‘Pushpa’ in the teaser as an acknowledgement.

Prithviraj Sukumaran’s upcoming projects

Prithviraj Sukumaran has a packed lineup ahead. He revealed that ‘Nobody’, directed by Nissam Basheer and co-starring Parvathy Thiruvothu, has just one schedule left. He will then move to the long-awaited ‘Khalifa’. The long-discussed ‘Kaaliyan’ is finally progressing, with music composition underway and filming set for next year. ‘Santhosh Trophy’, his next collaboration with ‘Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil’ director Vipin Das, is also slated to begin next year. Additionally, he continues work on SS Rajamouli’s ‘Varanasi’, alongside Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra.