Mollywood Superstar Mohanlal will be teaming up with director Priyadarshan for a period film on Kunjali Marakkar. The film has been titled "Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham". Mohanlal and Priyadarshan announced the new project on their respective Twitter handles. 

Announcing my upcoming movie Marakkar- Arabikadalinte Simham, to be Directed by Priyadarshan and Production by Antony Perumbavoor , Santhosh T. Kuruvilla and C.J. Roy pic.twitter.com/9CqwTry2ci

— Mohanlal (@Mohanlal) April 28, 2018

Heres announcing my next project Marakkar- Arabikadalinte Simham along with Mohanlal. The movie will be produced by Antony Perumbavoor , Santhosh T. Kuruvilla and C.J. Roy pic.twitter.com/cFKvIOGwji

— priyadarshan (@priyadarshandir) April 28, 2018

The poster shows a ship caught in a storm. The high budget film will be produced by Antony Perumbavoor, Santosh T Kuruvilla, and CJ Roy. 

Kunjali Marakkar was the Muslim naval chief of the Samoothri Raja Manavikraman, a Hindu king of Kozhikode in 16th century Kerala. He was the first of the four Kunjalis who played a part in the Zamorin's naval wars with the Portuguese from 1502 to 1600. The Marakkars are credited with organizing the first naval defense of the Indian coast.

Mohanlal and Mammootty will be playing the same role of Kunjali Marakkar in different films. Mammotty had announced the project "Kunjali Marakkar" last November unveiling the first look of the film with details of main cast and crew. The Santhosh Sivan directorial is bankrolled by August Cinema. The makers had kept mum about the development of the project ever since its announcement. 

Now that Priyadarshan and Mohanlal have made an official announcement on the Marakkar film, producer Shaji Nadeshan of August Cinemas, who is bankrolling Mammootty's film has said, "Kunjali marrakkar pre production works in full swing! Shoot starts july 2018". However Mohanlal's film with Priyadarshan will go on floors on November 1, 2018.