Welcome to Central Jail

Unnikuttan grew up inside the walls of the central jail, so prison life feels normal to him. He treats the facility like a home and looks after other inmates in his own odd way. When petty criminals need someone to take the blame or serve a short sentence, Unnikuttan steps forward out of loyalty, habit, or a strange sense of duty. The film follows his everyday routines and the comical situations that arise as he interacts with fellow prisoners, guards, and outsiders, keeping the tone light while showing how his upbringing shaped his choices.

Released in 2016, the film was directed by Sundar Das and written by Benny P. Nayarambalam. It stars Dileep as Unnikuttan, with Vedhika, Renji Panicker, Dharmajan Bolgatty, and Balachandran Chullikkadu in supporting roles.

Critics and viewers gave the movie mixed to negative feedback, reflected in modest ratings like 3.3/10 on some platforms. Reviewers tended to point to the screenplay and humor as uneven, while some audiences appreciated the slapstick moments and familiar comic beats typical of regional mainstream comedies.

The film leaned into Dileep's established comic image, offering another eccentric, sympathetic character that his fans could enjoy. It didn't create a major cultural ripple, but for followers of Malayalam comedy it added a recognizable entry to the actor's body of work and provided a few memorable sequences for local audiences.

Commercially, Welcome to Central Jail had a modest run and didn’t stand out as a major box office hit. It found a niche among viewers who favor lighthearted, character-driven comedies, rather than broader national attention or significant commercial milestones.