The Malayalam romantic comedy that became a massive box office phenomenon
In short: After its early 2024 debut, Premalu rapidly ascended to become among the most successful Malayalam movies ever. This romantic comedy, directed by Girish A. D., captivated audiences with its fresh treatment of a familiar story, eventually earning a worldwide total of ₹136.25 crore.
Directed by Girish A. D., Premalu follows the journey of Sachin Santhosh, a graduate from Kerala who travels to Hyderabad for a GATE course. There, he meets Reenu Roy, an IT professional. The film's narrative explores their developing connection amidst various comedic and dramatic encounters, including a confrontation with Reenu's colleague, Aadhi. The story begins when Sachin's feelings for his classmate Anjali are rejected in Salem. He later moves to Hyderabad to join his childhood friend, Amal Davis, for his studies.
The project, first revealed in July 2023 using the provisional name Production No. 5, resulted from a partnership between Working Class Hero, Fahadh Faasil and Friends, and Bhavana Studios. Principal photography began on July 9, 2023, with an inaugural puja in Thiruvananthapuram and wrapped by mid-September 2023. The film's locations included Kochi, Hyderabad, and Pollachi. The production was officially titled Premalu in December 2023. The musical score for the film was composed by Vishnu Vijay.
Upon its theatrical release on February 9, 2024, the film received critical acclaim. It achieved significant commercial success, grossing over ₹93.65 crore in India—including ₹62.75 crore from Kerala—and an additional ₹42.25 crore overseas. This brought its worldwide total to ₹136.25 crore, making it the fourth highest-grossing Malayalam film of 2024 and one of the highest-grossing in the language's history. The movie's popularity was bolstered by the viral reuse of a 1996 track from Devaraagam. It remains a significant commercial milestone for the Malayalam film industry.
While a sequel, Premalu 2, was initially announced on April 19, 2024, with a planned release for Christmas 2025, the project has since been shelved. Meanwhile, a Hindi remake titled Prem Keetanu was released on October 2, 2026. The digital streaming rights were secured by Disney+ Hotstar. Additionally, the satellite rights were acquired by Asianet for the Malayalam audience.
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