Director Abhinav Sunder Nayak has confirmed that the Naslen-starrer Mollywood Times will not get a trailer ahead of its theatrical release, doubling down on his unconventional approach to promoting the film.
Responding to a social media user on X (formerly Twitter), who wrote, "A trailer would have boosted the pre sales so much. Poor planning by the team." Abhinav quote-tweeted the post and revealed that the team had deliberately decided against releasing a trailer. "No pre-release trailer for Mollywood Times. Watch the film without knowing too much about it. If possible, don’t even watch the teaser," the filmmaker wrote.
The move is hardly surprising for those familiar with Abhinav's work. The director, who made a strong impression with his debut feature Mukundan Unni Associates, has often shown a willingness to challenge conventions and experiment with audience expectations. His latest announcement appears to be another attempt to preserve the film's surprises and encourage viewers to experience it with minimal prior knowledge. The decision comes at a time when trailers are considered a crucial part of a film's marketing campaign, often playing a significant role in driving advance bookings. However, Abhinav seems intent on taking the opposite route, placing his faith in curiosity and word-of-mouth.
Meanwhile, advance bookings for Mollywood Times have opened across India ahead of its release on June 5. The film features Naslen as Vineeth Madhavan, an aspiring filmmaker determined to become the greatest horror director in Malayalam cinema. Written by Rekhachithram co-writer Ramu Sunil, the film also features Sangeeth Prathap and Sharaf U Dheen in prominent roles, reuniting Naslen and Sangeeth after the success of Premalu.
Produced by Ashiq Usman Productions, Mollywood Times has cinematography by Viswajith Odukkathil, music by Jakes Bejoy, and editing by Abhinav and Nidhin Raj Arol.
