While 'Ullozhuku' is already streaming on Prime Video, 'Turbo' will be premiered on SonyLIV, 'Nandanna Sambavam' on manoramaMax, and 'Manorathangal' on ZEE5.
Published Aug 03, 2024 | 6:00 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 03, 2024 | 6:00 PM
Malayalam OTT releases for August 2024. (X)
The Malayalam OTT space has gained momentum with several popular films getting premiered on various digital platforms. Thanks to the advent of digital streaming platforms, the Malayalam film industry saw a boom during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, experts say a film’s theatrical collection influences the OTT business to a large extent.
As a result, major OTT platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, SonyLIV, and ZEE5 are vying with each other to increase their subscriptions by acquiring the digital streaming rights of popular films which minted money at the global box office.
Blockbusters like Premalu, Manjummel Boys, and Aavesham became superhits in all languages in the OTT space because of their repeat value and interesting content. Also, movie lovers who couldn’t watch them in theatres for some reason celebrated Malayalam cinema through these projects.
While Varshangalkku Shesham and Malayalee from India are still trending on SonyLIV, Guruvayoor Ambala Nadayil is a hit on Disney+ Hotstar.
Meanwhile, check the major Malayalam films and web series available for streaming on various OTT platforms this August.
Urvashi and Parvathy Thiruvothu-starrer Ullozhukku has been premiered on Amazon Prime Video on 2 August.
Upon its theatrical release, the intense drama received rave reviews. It also won the hearts of the family audience.
Ullozhukku marks the debut directorial of Christo Tomy, popular for the critically acclaimed Netflix documentary Curry & Cyanide: The Jolly Joseph Case (2023).
The movie features Alencier, Arjun Radhakrishnan, Prasanth Murali, Jaya Kurup, and Veena Nair in key roles. Sushin Shyam scored the music.
Ullozhukku became the talk of the town because of the brilliant performances by Urvashi and Parvathy Thiruvothu. They appeared as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
The film revolves around Leelamma (Urvashi), her son Thomas Kutty (Prasant Murali), and daughter-in-law Anju (Parvathy Thiruvothu). It was appreciated for its intense plot and was even compared to the classic works of filmmakers Padmarajan and Adoor Gopalakrishnan.
It was produced by Ronnie Screwvala, Honey Trehan, and Abhishek Chaubey under the banners of RSVP & MacGuffin Pictures.
After watching the movie, Adoor Gopalakrishnan praised team Ullozhukku and wondered why the movie wasn’t selected for the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) and the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
Interestingly, it was recently screened at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA). Further, it won nominations at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2023.
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Mammootty’s Turbo has locked its OTT date; it will be streamed on SonyLIV from 9 August.
The film, released on 23 May, was an overwhelming response from the audience. Turbo earned around ₹70 crore at the global box office in less than a week. It hit the cinema halls in over 70 countries, a first for a Malayalam movie.
Meanwhile, the Arabic version of Turbo was released on 2 August. The makers, while launching the Arabic teaser at the success meet in Sharjah, claimed that theirs would be the first Indian movie to be released in Arabic.
Turbo Jose, Mammootty’s character in the original version, was renamed Turbo Jasim in the Arabic version. The dubbing was completed in three weeks with the help of 17 dubbing artists.
Turbo featured Anjana Jayaprakash as the female lead. Kannada actor Raj B Shetty and Telugu actor Sunil played pivotal roles in it.
Biju Menon and Suraj Venjaramoodu’s latest Malayalam movie, Nadanna Sambavam, will make its OTT debut on manoramaMax on 9 August. It was directed by Vishnu Narayan, who debuted in the Malayalam industry with Maradona (2018).
The movie also stars Shruti Ramachandran, Johny Antony and Lijomol Jose in the lead roles. It was written by Rajesh Gopinadhan and jointly produced by Anup Kannan and A Renu.
The cinematography was handled by Manesh Madhavan and the music was composed by Ankit Menon.
The story revolves around a family that shifts to a housing colony. Biju Menon plays the role of Unni, a stay-at-home husband. Shruthi Ramachandran plays his wife, a university professor.
Ajith (Suraj Venjaramoodu) and his wife Dhanya (Lijo Mol) are their neighbours. Ajith is irritated by Unni’s friendly behaviour with women, particularly Dhanya. This creates a tiff between the duo and affects Unni’s life. How they deal with their issues forms the crux of the flick.
Nadanna Sambavam also discusses how male chauvinist men dictate terms for women, the need for sex education, and women’s sexual needs.
Biju Menon recently scored a hit with Thalavan (2024), where he shared the screen with Asif Ali. Meanwhile, Suraj Venjaramoodu’s web series Nagendran’s Honeymoons debuted on Disney+ Hotstar on 19 July. It marks his debut OTT show.
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The Malayalam web series Manorathangal, an anthology of nine stories, will be available on the ZEE5 OTT platform from 15 August.
An official trailer was launched in Kochi on 15 July, marking the 91st birthday of Jnanpith Award winner MT Vasudevan Nair. He wrote the script for the web show.
Presenting the anthology, Kamal Hassan said “MT Vasudevan Nair is the definition of modernity in Malayalam literature.”
Priyadarshan is the showrunner of Manorathangal. It is produced by Vikram Mehra, Siddharth Anand Kumar, Rohandeep Singh, Rajesh Kejriwal, and Jay Pandya.
The anthology series involves Olavum Theeravum directed by Priyadarshan, Kadugannawa Oru Yathra by Ranjith, Kazhcha by Shyamaprasad, Shilalikhatam by Priyadarshan, Vilpana by MT’s daughter Aswathy V Nair, Sherlock by Mahesh Narayanan, Swargam Thurakkunna Samayam by Jayarajan Nair, Abhyam Theedi Vendum by Santosh Sivan, and Kadalkkattu helmed by Rathish Ambat.
The ensemble cast includes Mohanlal, Mammootty, Fahadh Faasil, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Harish Uthaman, Biju Menon, Shanthi Krishna, Joy Mathew, Madhoo, Asif Ali, Nadiya Moidu, Kailash, Indrans, Mamukkoya, Nedumudi Venu, Vineeth, Renji Panicker, Surabhi Lakshmi, Siddique, Ishit Yamini, Nazeer Samkranthi, Indrajith Sukumaran, Narain, and Aparna Balamurali.
Manorathangal will also be available in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi dubbed versions.
(Edited by Y Krishna Jyothi)
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