2019 was a good year for OTTs. Multiple films started becoming available in the Indian Library (filled with International, Hollywood, Bollywood and Regional content) for viewing. But due to the pandemic in 2020, OTTs truly exploded within the country (and around the world). Till May 2020, there was no Malayalam film which was ever released, directly to OTTs. This year due to the pandemic, exactly five film makers tried doing so.
While the results weren’t all that great (which was similar to nearly all forced direct to OTT releases at the time), an original film titled ‘C U Soon’ was made just for Amazon Prime Video. The film became a huge success (according to multiple sources), and this has helped improve the Mollywood OTT market, by making it attractive to digital streaming platforms for creating original projects for direct streaming – which focuses on TV series as well.
For now, here are top 5 Direct to OTT Malayalam releases of the year 2020:
5. Fourth River
This is the first Malayalam film to drop directly to OTT. The film was produced under the banner of Dreamwest Global by executive producers Johnson Thankachan and George Varky. RK Dreamwest also provided the screenplay as well as directed the film. This feature film is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Synopsis: The film depicts the journey of revolutionary Naxalite Stephen and his family along with their guru, Ravi Master, through the Naxal movement in India.
4. Musical Chair
The film is co-produced by Vipin Atley and Allen Rajan Mathew. Vipin Atley wrote the screenplay for the film, who stars as well as directs the film. He also provides the music for the movie while the cinematography was done by Sunil George. Watch this film on Mainstream Tv App.
Synopsis: Martin is a writer who is severely afraid of death. His borderline health issues and his unhealthy lifestyle does not help matters either. An evening when he is under the influence, he meets a lot of new people, giving him a new perspective in life.
For a long time sometime ago, many people (and publications) wrongly reported that this feature film was the first Malayalam film to make it to OTTs (they were wrong). The film was written and directed by Naranipuzha Shanavas and produced by Vijay Babu under his banner, Friday Film House. This movie can be viewed on Amazon Prime Video.
Synopsis: Religion becomes a factor in the breaking up of the relationship between lovers Sufi and Sujata. Sujata is married off to an NRI for a decade. When she gets a call from her past, everything she has been trying to bury for the past 10 years comes rushing back.
Ashiq Abu produced this comedy drama under the banner of OPM Cinemas which was scripted jointly by Zakariya Mohammed and Muhsin Parari. Zakariya Mohammed directed the feature film. This movie can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.
Synopsis: A group of friends attempt to create a “halal film” that satisfies the guidelines and descriptions of Islam, which is part of the religious community that they belong to.
This Dulquer Salman produced film (under the banner Wayfarer Films) is a romantic-comedy feature starring Jacob Gregory and Anupama Parameswaran in the lead roles. The film was Jacob’s first portrayal of a protagonist while the latter also debuted as the assistant director of the film. Stream this movie on Netflix.
Synopsis: Ashokan wishes to get married, partly because he is getting past his marriageable age (according to his society). Due to bad luck and unfortunate circumstances, he is forced to treat his wish like an impossible dream.
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