Will Mammootty be the protective mask of Kerala Cinema ?

 The fans are booking HUGO BOSS Mask ( after The Priest media meet photos went viral) on one portal and movie tickets for The Priest  releasing March 11. But the Kerala filmdom is biting their nails. The question is not whether Mammootty's  The Priest will be a hit but whether it will be a mega hit like Master and bring cheer to the theatres that have not seen more than a dozen people for a show - post COVIID.  Kerala theatres are spruced after a gap almost a year to welcome the real BIG Malayalam Movie that will bring in the crowds, the hysterical fans.

Ever since the theatres were allowed to open with 50% occupancy and a 9AM- 9PM working hours, the only time the crowds ( Thalapathy Vijay fans) came in was for Tamil film Master.. When Producer Antony Perumbavoor sold the sequel of Drishyam to OTT, exhibitors were crest fallen. A sure fire hit film of a Superstar could have worked wonders. It would have brought in the family audience and to a great extent removed the mental bloc to come to movie halls.

The teaser-trailor of The Priest are all hits. Online booking sites indicate all shows booked for next five days. March 11 is a holiday for Sivaratri. All looks good. Night show is allowed. The exhibitors want not just the fans but the family to come in and break the fear. The teaming up of Manju Warrier for the first time with Mammooty is also a reason for family audience to come to movie halls.

Coming soon is yet another Mammooty film One, a political thriller scheduled for March 25th release. Industry people feel that if The Priest brings in crowds that keep seats full till One comes, Kerala filmdom is back on it's feet. All prayers and hopes are on The Priest.