2 weeks ago
Onam 2026: Prithviraj, Dulquer, Nivin face make-or-break clash
Every year, Malayalam movies from Kerala come out during Onam, a big harvest festival with long holidays, because many people go to the cinema then.
This year, three big movies will be released at the same time: Khalifa, I'm Game, and Bethlehem Kudumba Unit.
Three famous actors — Prithviraj, Dulquer, and Nivin — are starring in them.
All three actors really need a hit right now because their recent movies have not done well.
Prithviraj has not had a big critical success since the movie Aadujeevitham.
Dulquer's last Malayalam hit was Kurup, and his big movie King of Kotha flopped badly.
Nivin had a hit called Sarvam Maya, but his next two movies did very poorly.
In the past, superstars Mohanlal and Mammootty used to compete at the Onam box office.
More recently, movies like RDX and Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra won these festive clashes.
Nobody knows yet which movie will win this year's Onam battle.
Three big Malayalam films — Khalifa, I'm Game, and Bethlehem Kudumba Unit — are set to release in the same week during the Onam 2026 season.
The clash is crucial for Prithviraj Sukumaran, Dulquer Salmaan, and Nivin Pauly, who have all faced recent disappointments in Malayalam cinema.
Prithviraj has not had a universally acclaimed Malayalam film since Aadujeevitham (2024), and his I, Nobody (2026) underperformed with Rs 15.37 crore.
Dulquer's last Malayalam box-office hit was Kurup (Rs 78 crore), while King of Kotha (2023) became a critical failure and commercial disaster.
In the 2025 Onam season, Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra became the highest-grossing Malayalam film ever (Rs 303.86 crore), ahead of Mohanlal's Hridayapoorvam (Rs 76.26 crore).
- Who
- Actors Prithviraj Sukumaran, Dulquer Salmaan, and Nivin Pauly, along with directors Vysakh, Nahas Hidhayath, and Girish AD
- What
- Three major Malayalam films — Khalifa, I'm Game, and Bethlehem Kudumba Unit — are set to clash at the box office during the Onam season
- Where
- Kerala, in the Malayalam cinema industry
- When
- Onam 2026, with the films releasing within the same week and about a week to go before the showdown
- Why
- All three lead actors are in desperate need of a box-office success in Malayalam cinema after a difficult period of recent failures
Key facts
- Competing films
- Khalifa, I'm Game, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit
- Lead actors
- Prithviraj Sukumaran, Dulquer Salmaan, Nivin Pauly
- Directors
- Vysakh (Khalifa), Nahas Hidhayath (I'm Game), Girish AD (Bethlehem Kudumba Unit)
- Release window
- Onam 2026 festival season, releases within the same week
- 2025 Onam champion
- Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra (Rs 303.86 crore, highest-grossing Malayalam film ever)
- 2023 Onam champion
- RDX, which beat King of Kotha and Ramachandra Boss & Co
- Nivin Pauly's recent grosses
- Sarvam Maya Rs 151 crore; Baby Girl Rs 4.61 crore; Prathichaya Rs 8.59 crore
- Hridayapoorvam worldwide gross
- Rs 76.26 crore







