(Picture Courtesy: Facebook)

The affection Kerala holds for pan-Indian Telugu star, Allu Arjun is no ordinary admiration. It is a cultural embrace that began nearly two decades ago and continues. Malayalis didn’t just welcome him but they adopted him. His nickname “Mallu Arjun” emerged organically and many grew up viewing him almost as an “adopted son” of the state. Allu Arjun’s early films like ‘Arya’, ‘Happy’, ‘Bunny’, and ‘Desamuduru’ arrived at the right time. They delivered style, romance, humour, and action that Malayalam youth immediately connected with.Let’s decode this bond that Allu Arjun forged with the natives of ‘God’s Own Country’.

The ‘Allu Arjun’ dub that defined a generation

Integral to his Kerala stardom was the Malayalam dubbing which was led by director-turned-voice artist Jis Joy. His voice sync made Allu Arjun feel familiar to Malayali viewers. Many teenagers genuinely believed he was a Malayalam star like Mohanlal or Mammootty.Talking to Kerala Kaumudi in an earlier interview, Jis Joy recalled the beginning vividly. “I went to Thiruvananthapuram and dubbed without any hope when the movie ‘Arya’ came in 2007. Allu Arjun should never forget Khader Hassan, neither should I, nor should the industry,” he says. “Because it was Khader Hassan who brought a guy called Allu Arjun here and presented him on hoardings and posters all over Kerala like a Malayalam movie star.”Jis Joy faced early struggles. “No matter how many takes it didn’t feel right. Khader Haasan was such a perfectionist. I didn’t understand it then.” He remembers the shock when he saw the script. “There were 92 scenes. I sat down with my hands on my head. It got so boring.”But persistence paid off as he recalls, “From there I dubbed about twenty films of Allu [Arjun].” My voice identity changed to Allu. I am enjoying it.”

Jis Joy about Pushpa Raj

(Picture Courtesy: Facebook)

In an exclusive chat with ETimes, during the release of ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule,’ Jis Joy opened up about his experience, saying, “I was awed by Allu Arjun’s performance as well! Mostly in Allu Arjun’s movies, he gets to play this persona, who stricks back at all those who come his way. But in ‘Pushpa: The Rise’ it is quite different. The director has allowed the protagonist and antagonist to have a really good exchange. Fahadh [Faasil] has got the space he deserved. When Fahadh [Faasil] signed the film, I was curious to know what attracted him. And all my doubts vanished into thin air, the moment I stepped into the recording studio and watched those scenes!”Jis Joy added that Allu Arjun possesses a rare and magnetic charisma that continues to captivate and define the aspirations of the younger generation.

Viral college screening of the Malayalam dub of ‘Lucky: The Racer’

The latest proof of Kerala’s enduring love for Allu Arjun surfaced at MES Kalladi College, Mannarkkad. A screening of ‘Lucky: The Racer’, the Malayalam dub of the Telugu hit ‘Race Gurram’ directed by Surender Reddy sparked a viral sensation. Students turned the event into a celebration as they cheered on, whistled, and rose to their feet during every fight scene. Their energy reflected a decade of affection that refuses to fade into oblivion.The video instantly spread across social media, with many recalling how these films shaped their teenage years. Some admitted they had forgotten how much fun these movies were until the clips resurfaced. Fans flooded social media with comments. One wrote, “Waiting for this kind of full-on entertainer from #AlluArjun.” Another asked, “Name the best warning scene in a movie you ever watched.”A fan added, “@alluarjun’s GOAT GURRAM enjoys a cult fanbase even after a decade of its release in Kerala.”

Allu Arjun returns the gratitude to Kerala with ‘Peelings’

Even as Arjun’s fame expanded nationwide with hits like ‘Pushpa: The Rise’ and its sequel ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’, Kerala remained his emotional anchor. He repeatedly acknowledges this bond, often calling Kerala “my land” and its fans his “first army” in his promotional interviews. The actor acknowledged this connection through the Malayalam verse in the ‘Pushpa 2’ track “Peelings,” which comes across as a high profile ‘thank you’ to the fans who have supported him for nearly two decades.

Usually, pan-India films translate every song into the local language of the region. However, for “Peelings,” Allu Arjun and director Sukumar made a unique decision to retain the opening hook line in Malayalam in every version of the film across Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada languages. The verse “Mallika Bannante Ambukala Kanmuna Thumukalo” has been effectively etched, making the Kerala tribute a permanent part of the film’s global identity.