Inspired by Philippine mythology, the story focuses on Apolaki, Mayari, Tala, and Hanan, the four immortal children of the recently-passed creator god, Bathala. As each of these deities wrestles with the grief of losing Bathala, their all-powerful actions create ripples throughout the universe.
As a noun, “mahal” is the Tagalog word for “love”, but as an adjective, it transforms into the Tagalog word for “costly” or “expensive”. Dedicated to the director’s late father, MAHAL is a story of how love comes at a cost.