Malayalam cinema’s megastar Mammootty received a spectacular birthday gift this year as the title and first-look poster of his upcoming film ‘Mela’ were unveiled at midnight on September 7, 2026, coinciding with his 75th birthday. The actor, who turned 75 on Monday, shared the poster on his social media handles, introducing the project as his production venture. He wrote, “Presenting The Title & First Look Poster of Our 9th Production Venture MELA Directed by Nithish Sahadev”. The first-look poster features Mammootty in a rugged and intense avatar, dressed in a black shirt and black mundu, sporting a commanding look that has caught the attention of fans.
The title holds a special significance, connecting two distinct eras of Mammootty’s career. The actor previously starred in a critically acclaimed film of the same name in 1980, directed by the legendary K.G. George, where he played a motorcycle stunt performer at a circus. Interestingly, the 2026 film, styled as “Mammoottyude Mela” (Mammootty’s Mela), has no connection to the original in terms of story. It is billed as a massive mass action-comedy entertainer, a complete departure from the parallel cinema classic of 1980. This marks a poetic full-circle moment, exactly 46 years after his early breakout role in the first ‘Mela’.
The film is directed by Nithish Sahadev, who previously delivered hits like the Malayalam comedy Falimy and the Tamil runaway success Thalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil (TTT), proving his ability to deliver big numbers at the box office. ‘Mela’ is the ninth production venture under Mammootty’s own banner, Mammootty Kampany, and is touted as their biggest budget production to date.
The project has been in production since late July 2026 and is being distributed by Dulquer Salmaan’s Wayfarer Films, with a technical team that includes composer Vishnu Vijay and cinematographer Jimshi Khalid.
