Salaar Actor Prithviraj sukumaran is now working on the much-awaited film SSMB 29. Known for his strong role selections, he usually picks other-language films only when the character truly stands out. However, some exceptions exist, like Bade Miyan Chote Miyan.
His next Malayalam film, Vilayath Buddha, is gearing up for release soon. Its teaser was recently launched in multiple languages including Malayalam and Telugu. What caught attention was how closely it resembles Pushpa from the very first frame.
In fact, one scene directly references it. A police officer asks, “Do you think you’re Pushpa?” to which Prithviraj replies, “He is local, I am international.”
This led many fans to question: why did Prithviraj pick a project that looks like Pushpa? The answer lies in its source material. Vilayath Buddha is based on a novel by Malayalam writer G.R. Indugopan, published in 2020.
The novel was a hit and revolves around a school teacher who grows a rare red sandalwood tree. One of his students, now a smuggler, targets the valuable tree, setting off a high-stakes battle that expands beyond personal revenge into the world of organised crime.
In 2021, Pushpa: The Rise was released and became a massive pan-India hit. Though both projects involve red sandalwood smuggling, their stories are different. The similarity is limited to the backdrop, which is why there was no earlier controversy.
Knowing this, Prithviraj went ahead with adapting Vilayath Buddha for the big screen. The team secured official rights to the novel and turned it into a gripping forest thriller.
Directed by Jayan Nambiar and featuring music by Jakes Bejoy, the film is expected to release around Diwali. While the official date is yet to be confirmed, the makers believe audiences will find the film refreshing and unique, despite early comparisons.
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