Prince Of Mollywood is now streaming on JioHotstar, and honestly, this is the kind of series that doesn’t try too hard to be something bigger than it is. It knows it is a light comedy-drama about a guy who is completely convinced that he is destined to become a superstar — and it has quite a bit of fun with that idea.
Directed and written by Shani Khader, the series stars Dain Davis as Firoz, a young man with one big dream: becoming a successful actor. Not just any actor, though. Firoz has the confidence of someone who has already won the National Award in his head.
The problem? Almost everyone around him seems determined to make sure that dream doesn’t happen.
Firoz’s family has other plans for him, his father wants him to take the family business seriously, his mother is busy looking for a suitable bride, and even his friends have a talent for messing up his plans. Then there’s his relationship, which adds another layer of confusion to an already chaotic life.
And that is basically where the fun begins.
Dain Davis carries the show
Dain Davis is clearly the heart of Prince Of Mollywood. Firoz could easily have become an irritating character because of his overconfidence, but Dain manages to keep him likeable.
There’s something funny about watching Firoz walk around with superstar-level confidence while everything around him keeps falling apart. He genuinely believes he is the next big thing, even when reality is constantly giving him a reality check.
That contrast works well.
The supporting cast also adds plenty to the proceedings. Nirmal Palazhi, Harishma, Vidhya Vijayakumar, Sohan Seenulal, Aswin Vijayan, Fukru Krishnajeev and Sinoj Varghese all get their moments, and the show benefits from having a lively ensemble rather than depending entirely on its lead.
The comedy is simple, but that’s not a bad thing
One thing I liked about the series is that it doesn’t seem desperate to turn every scene into a big comedy set-piece.
A lot of the humour comes from situations and characters. Firoz’s overconfidence, his family’s frustration with him, his friends creating problems and the general chaos surrounding his cinema ambitions provide most of the laughs.
Some jokes work better than others, of course. There are moments where you can see the punchline coming from a mile away. But there are also enough genuinely amusing situations to keep the show moving.
It feels more like the kind of comedy you casually watch with a cup of tea than something you sit down expecting to be a laugh riot.
A familiar story with a Malayalam flavour
At its core, this is a very familiar story — someone chasing a dream while his family wants him to choose a safer path.
But putting that conflict inside the world of Mollywood gives it some extra flavour. The series gets mileage out of the character’s obsession with cinema and his belief that he is destined for greatness.
There’s also a nice underlying idea here about ambition. Firoz may be delusional at times, but he isn’t willing to give up easily. That makes him more than just a comic character.
Where it could have been better
The biggest issue is that the series sometimes feels like it is playing things a little too safe.
The basic premise has plenty of potential for sharper satire about the film industry, nepotism, celebrity culture and the madness surrounding the dream of becoming an actor. Prince Of Mollywood touches the surface of these ideas but doesn’t always dig deeper.
The pacing too can feel uneven in places. Some sequences are enjoyable, while others feel like they are mainly there to move the story to the next episode.
Still, these aren’t deal-breakers, especially if you’re looking for something light.
Verdict
Prince Of Mollywood isn’t trying to reinvent the Malayalam web-series format. And maybe that’s actually its strength.
It’s a breezy, easy-going comedy-drama about a young man with a massive cinema dream and absolutely no shortage of confidence. Dain Davis fits the role nicely, and the supporting cast keeps the energy going.
If you’re expecting a deeply layered drama, this probably isn’t the show for you. But if you want something light, funny and centred around the madness of chasing a cinema dream, Prince Of Mollywood is worth giving a shot.
Rating: 3/5
Watch if: You enjoy Malayalam comedy-dramas, cinema-related stories and easy weekend binge watches.
Streaming: JioHotstar
Language: Malayalam
Director: Shani Khader
Cast: Dain Davis, Harishma, Vidhya Vijayakumar, Nirmal Palazhi, Sohan Seenulal, Aswin Vijayan, Fukru Krishnajeev, Sinoj Varghese
