Kaathal – The Core (2023)

Kaathal – The Core is a Malayalam courtroom drama directed by Jeo Baby. Mathew Devassy (Mammootty), a retired bank manager, lives with his wife Omana (Jyothika), their daughter Femy and his father Devassy, and is about to contest a local body election. At this point Omana files for divorce, stating that Mathew is gay. As the case proceeds in the family court, it begins to examine his sexuality and an alleged relationship with a man named Thankan, placing a private matter in a public setting. Muthumani and Chinnu Chandni play advocates Ameera and Sajitha, and Jisshu Sengupta and Kalabhavan Haneef are also in the cast, while Jeo Baby appears as Kuttayi's stepfather. Mammootty produced the film under his banner Mammootty Kampany, and Jyothika returned to Malayalam cinema after a gap of 12 years. Jeo Baby worked again with his The Great Indian Kitchen collaborators, cinematographer Salu K. Thomas, editor Francies Louis and composer Mathews Pulickan. Shot in Kochi, the film released in theatres in November 2023 and began streaming on Prime Video in January 2024.