Circa 2020. Long-completed Malayalam web series ‘Instagraamam’ kept knocking at the doors of OTT platforms to hunt for a streaming home for itself. But none was ready to buy the series for streaming on their platforms. Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus Hotstar, ZEE5, SonyLIV – every platform was approached; and every platform rejected ‘Instagraamam’. And all because it was in the Malayalam language, and streaming platforms said there are no viewers for Malayalam web series.
Three years ago, there was heavy bias prevalent in OTT circles against Malayalam content. Even the super-successful ‘The Great Indian Kitchen’ was rejected by every OTT platform – big or small, homegrown or global. ‘Instagraamam’ had to make do with streaming on YouTube, and it finally faded into obscurity.
Regular readers of Binged will know that we, at Binged, have time and again pointed out the disgusting and shocking stepmotherly treatment dished out to not just Malayalam content but also Kannada content on OTT.
Cut to today, a whole three years later – the shocking stepmotherly treatment meted out to Malayalam content at large, and Malayalam web series in particular, seems to be a thing of the past. Streaming platforms – big and small – have shed their pseudo-prestige and pompous attitude, and woken up from their biased slumber. It’s common knowledge that top OTT platforms, Netflix included, are falling over themselves to grab the hottest Malayalam movies for release on their platforms.
And drumrolls! This week, the first Malayalam web series debuted on Indian OTT – ‘Kerala Crime Files‘ on Disney Plus Hotstar.
Laughably enough, after ignoring Malayalam web series for so long, guess how Disney Plus Hotstar marketed ‘Kerala Crime Files’ to viewers – as the “first ever Malayalam web series in India”. And it did so proudly and repeatedly.
Well, might we point out that the blame for this long-delayed debut of Malayam web series is on no one else but on the top OTT platforms in India, Disney Plus Hotstar included. Hopefully, with the release and resounding success of Kerala Crime Files on Disney Plus Hotstar, these very same OTT platforms will now give Malayalam web series their due too.
One thing deserves to be taken care of, however. And that is regarding the quality of Malayalam web series that is likely to be churned out, now that Kerala Crime Files is a hit. Fact is, Kerala Crime Files was successful owing to its murder mystery premise, which as a genre generally does well. What is needed is Malayalam web series that are engaging, gripping and innovative — like Malayalam movies, to be specific.
One swallow does not a summer make. Likewise, one successful Malayalam web series does not ensure that OTT platforms will rush to make more original series in Malayalam — unless Malayalam makers give quality content that will resonate with viewers across demographics.
If not, Kerala Crime Files will remain a one-off, and a storm in a tea-cup!
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