Mammootty’s much-awaited next film ‘Kaathal: The Core’ is all set to hit cinema theatres across the world at the end of this week, on 23rd November, 2023. The Malayalam movie and its plot have already received rave reviews and accolades from those with early access to the movie. The movie stars Mammootty and Jyothika as leads, who play husband – wife in Kaathal: The Core. It has been directed by Jeo Baby, of The Great Indian Kitchen fame.
However, ‘Kaathal: The Core’ has received a considerable setback just days before its impending release in theatres. The Mammootty produced film has been banned by the governments of Middle-Eastern countries Qatar and Kuwait. This means Kaathal: The Core will not release in Qatar and Kuwait theatres when it arrives in theatres on 23rd November, 2023.
The reason for the governments and censor boards of Qatar and Kuwait banning Mammootty’s Kaathal: The Core is reportedly owing to the plot of a gay relationship in the movie. Countries in the Middle-East have traditionally frowned upon movies with even a hint of LGBT content in them. Most such films have been banned from release in Middle-Eastern countries such as Qatar, Kuwait and others.
Disney’s Eternals, Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, Sony’s Spider-Man: Across The SpiderVerse, among others, have faced similar bans in the Middle East. Mohanlal’s ‘Monster’ had also faced similar ire in the Middle East, again owing to an LGBTQ angle in the film.
Middle East countries have historically been money-spinning markets for Malayalam film stars such as Mohanlal and Mammootty. A huge, predominantly Keralite expatriate population in the Middle East is the reason why Malayalam films do exceptionally well here. If Qatar and Kuwait have banned Kaathal: The Core, rest assured that many more countries such as Bahrain, Oman, UAE, Saudi Arabia, etc. might follow suit.
As regards ‘Kaathal: The Core’, there’s no clarity on the characters involved in the same-sex relationship in the movie. The core premise of the movie centres on a small-town middle-class family, and the dynamics of their interpersonal relationships.
Besides Mammootty and Jyothika, Malayalam film Kaathal: The Core stars Jisshu Sengupta, Muthumani, Joji John, among others, in pivotal roles. The film has been directed by Jeo Baby, from a script written by Adarsh Sukumaran and Paulson Skaria. The film is produced by Mammootty under his production banner, Mammootty Kampany. Mathews Pulickan has composed the music of Kaathal: The Core.