The release of the thriller 'The Priest' starring Mammootty and Manju Warrier has been postponed. The release was postponed after the decision of the producers' organizations not to release big-budget films without permission to hold second shows at theatres. It is expected that this decision will worsen the current crisis in the Malayalam film industry.

Mammootty starrer Priest was scheduled to hit theaters in the first week of February. The three Malayalam films that have hit the theaters recently have not performed well at the box office. With this, it is learned that the filmmakers have decided to postpone the release of 'The Priest'.

Theaters were opened in Kerala with the release of Tamil superstar Vijay's movie 'Master'. Jayasurya's 'Vellam' was the first Malayalam movie to hit the theaters since the Covid lockdown. Despite the good reviews, the audience turnout for the film was low.

Other films released include 'Love' and 'Vank'. Meanwhile, the censorship of 'The Priest' was completed last day. The film, directed by Jofin T Chacko, was given a 'U/A' certificate by the Censor Board. 'Priest' is the first superstar film to come out of Malayalam after the Covid induced lockdown.