Villain is a 2017 Indian Malayalam-language psychological action thriller film[2] written and directed by B. Unnikrishnan and produced by Rockline Venkatesh.

[3] The film stars Mohanlal in the lead role along with an ensemble cast including Vishal, Meka Srikanth, Raashi Khanna, Hansika Motwani, Manju Warrier, Siddique, Chemban Vinod Jose, Renji Panicker, Saikumar and Aju Varghese in supporting roles.

ADGP Mathew Manjooran IPS is retiring after a sabbatical; on his last day at work, he is called by the DGP to investigate the case.

While en route, he receives duty call and returns to work, leaving his family to continue their journey alone.

Mathew requests DGP to relieve him from the case as now the culprit is revealed and decides to leave the man hunt operation to state police machinery.

Mathew discovers that Shaktivel's next target is the DGP, who threatened a patient named Khalid Musthafa in Tharakan's hospital, who later died in an unknown accident.

DGP convinces Mathew that he had threatened Musthafa fearing a great financial loss but has no role in his death.

[4][5] Unnikrishnan's initial plan was to make a sequel to his 2012 film Grandmaster starring Mohanlal, but this was cancelled due to difficulty in obtaining rights from UTV Motion Pictures; its parent The Walt Disney Company had ordered the closure of its Indian productions.

[38] Stunt coordinators were Ravi Varma, Ram Laxman and Action G. Manoj Paramahamsa and N. K. Ekambaram were the cinematographers.

Before filming began, he and cinematographer Manoj Paramahamsa conducted test shoots; his inference was that Otus lenses, having high sensitivity and sharpness, will multiply the workload of a focus puller but will compensate with a greater output.

[40] According to Unnikrishnan in Malayala Manorama, Villain is "a compelling story of crime and detection" that "has predominant elements of politics and philosophy woven into it" and "is more intense than all my previous [films]".

[43] The soundtrack album was released digitally and on DVD on 13 September 2017; a music launch function was held at Kochi for the occasion.

Besides acting, Khanna made her Malayalam singing debut when recording the film's title track in April 2017.

[44] The teaser trailer was released online on 27 April 2017; it set a record for a Malayalam film by accruing a million views in three hours.

[53] The film was dubbed and released in Hindi as Kaun Hai Villain by RKD Studios in 2018,[54] in Telugu as Puli Joodham in 2019, and twice in Tamil: Mr.

[63] Rating it 3 stars out of 5, Sanjith Sidhardhan of The Times of India said: "Mohanlal as the veteran cop, who has endured pain but masks it, showcases his finesse as an actor.

[64] Prem Udayabhanu from Malayala Manorama rated 3 stars out of 5, writing, "Only Mohanlal can enact the lingering pain of a personal tragedy with such subdued finesse ... the cop doesn't falter in his clinical observations to join the dots, but that is not the case with the narrative of Villain.

"[65] Awarding 3 on a scale of 5, Meera Suresh from The New Indian Express wrote: "Many might criticise Villain for its slow pace, which is disappointing for a cop story.

But, then, when a movie deals with 'grey areas' of life, it is not easy to be taut and steady ... Mohanlal's latest may not be a thrilling edge-of-the-seat outing, but it takes a different route, one that is enjoyable."

[66] Baradwaj Rangan of Film Companion South called it "Yet another thriller that mistakes surface coolth for depth"[67] Indo-Asian News Service's critic awarded 3 out of 5 stars and commented: "Villain works fine as long as it doesn't begin to lean on Hollywood prototypes.

The indigenous strain is well woven into the thriller ... the director never lets his characters lose track of their place in the jigsaw".

The review also said the film is "very handsomely mounted and shot" and "builds on Mohanlal's power to express rage and grief without letting go", and praised Vishal's performance.

[68] Manoj Kumar R. of The Indian Express rated it 2.5 stars out of 5 and commented that the film "has some well written and well-shot scenes that establish the mood of the character.

Mohanlal is convincing as a dejected copy, who is stuck in the past and looking for a reason to continue living ... the screenplay is intriguing and sets in an element of suspense".

[69] Directors N. Lingusamy, Mysskin, Pandiraj, Thiru and Suseenthiran were all positive about the film, particularly praising the actors' performances and its making.

[70][71][72] S. R. Praveen wrote in The Hindu: "B. Unnikrishnan's attempt here was not to deliver a straight, taut thriller, but to build a slow-burner, with an emotional family drama and the unravelling of a psycho killer all weaved together.