The Marathi suspense thriller Dashavatar, starring veteran actor Dilip Prabhavalkar, has made its way to Kerala screens in a Malayalam-dubbed version. The film, directed by Subodh Khanolkar, was initially released in Marathi on September 12, 2025, and garnered significant critical acclaim and box office success. It became available on Zee5 on November 14, 2025. The Malayalam version of the film was released in theaters on December 12, 2025.

Dashavatar explores the story of Babuli Mestri, an aging folk performer in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, who is devoted to the Dashavatara tradition. The Dashavatara is a traditional folk theater performance that portrays the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu. Babuli faces a personal tragedy and uncovers sinister circumstances related to a mining project that threatens his village. Blending modern elements with traditional practices, he uses his art and faith to fight injustice, protect his heritage, and uncover the truth behind his son's death, turning his final performance into a battle between good and evil. The film blends social issues, the bond between a father and son, folk art, and elements of supernatural fantasy.

The decision to release Dashavatar in Malayalam marks a significant moment for Marathi cinema, as it is the first time a Marathi film has been aggressively marketed and distributed in the Malayalam market with such a focused strategy. Max Marketing is presenting the Malayalam version of the film. This move is seen as a way to bridge the gap between regional industries and promote regional storytelling to a pan-Indian audience. According to a trade source, the themes of faith, morality, and human transformation in Dashavatar are universal, and the makers wanted Malayalam audiences to experience the film as authentically as it was made.

Dilip Prabhavalkar's performance as Babuli Mestri has been praised by critics, who have lauded his expressions, voice modulation, and screen presence. The film also stars Mahesh Manjrekar, Siddharth Menon, Abhinay Berde, and Priyadarshini Indalkar.

The release of Dashavatar in Malayalam is expected to be a historic moment for Marathi cinema in Kerala, with some anticipating a reception similar to that of Kantara. The film's trailer has already generated strong anticipation among Malayalam-speaking audiences. However, it has been noted that the Malayalam dubbed version hasn't been promoted a lot.

Dashavatar is produced by Ocean Film Company and Ocean Art House. The film's music is composed by Narendra Bhide and the cinematography is by Amlan Das.

The Malayalam dubbed version is playing in select theaters. The original Marathi version is available for streaming on Zee5 since November 14, 2025.