2021 saw the domination of South Indian films on OTT platforms. The list of films on OTT selected here will show that majority of them are from Kerala film industry- cannot help it. That’s the reality. Content and treatment took these language films to other regions and earned them a good name and respect for the respective film industry.
For Malayalam cinema, 2021 opened up the OTT
window in a big way with The Great Indian Kitchen released on January 15th.
Initially on a local OTT Neestream, it got on Amazon Prime to create a craze for films from Kerala and soon streaming giants were lapping up films
in that language to satisfy the new found love for Malayalam films among their
subscribers. Suraj Venjaramoodu- Nimisha in the lead and Joe Baby as director,
the film was not only a critics delight but also viewers. IMDb rating was 8.3/ 10.
Jai Bhim ( Tamil); IMDb
Rating: 9.4
Director:
T.J. Gnanavel
Actors:
Suriya, Liji Mol Jose, Manikandan
Platform:
Amazon Prime Video
A real life
story that captured the viewer’s imagination. Suriya who played the lawyer on a
mission to trace out a `missing’ hubby based on a wife’s complaint was superb
and won him all round admiration from movie buffs across India.
Drishyam 2
( Malayalam)
IMDb
Rating: 8.6
Director:
Jeethu Joseph
Actors:
Mohanlal, Meena, Murali Gopy
Platform:
Amazon Prime Video
A
sequel that outdid the first part.. The reopening of the case that was closed
and cops this time nearing the real killer and accomplices keeps you on
tenterhooks. Mohanlal as the simpleton small town guy just lives the role.
Cinema
Bandi ( Telugu)
MDb
Rating: 8.1
Director:
Praveen Kandregula
Actors:
Vikas Vasistha, Sandeep Varanasi, Rag Mayur
Platform:
Netflix
A novel
story of a movie camera that falls in the hands of a few villagers and how it
changes their life. The proceedings make it a must watch.
Yuvarathna ( Kannada)
IMDb
Rating: 6.7
Director:
Santhosh Ananddram
Actors:
Puneeth Rajkumar, Sayyesha Saigal
Platform:
Amazon Prime Video
The film’s story line is not novel but the
screenplay was interesting. A college Principal who battles the political
system as the Government policy favours private education is going to
close down his college ,is the plot. The film was a blockbuster and film
released on April 3021 was a big hit on OTT after October 2021, when movie
buffs of other languages pulled out this movie to see Puneeth Rajkumar
who died at a young age of 45 due to heart attack. This is the last film of
Puneeth.
Aarkariyam ( Malayalam)
IMDb
Rating: 6.9
Director:
Sanu John Varughese
Actors:
Biju Menon, Parvati, Sharafudeen
Platform:
Amazon Prime Video
The plot is a bit quirky and mainly watchable
as Biju Menon plays an old man to perfection, A son in law and his wife who comes to visit the
father in law and find that his wife has a past that even she does not known.
The film keeps you guessing on whether the father in law’s story is right.
Karnan
(Tamil)
IMDb
Rating: 8.2
Director:
Mari Selvaraj
Actors:
Dhanush, Lal, Rijisha Vijayan
Platform:
Amazon Prime Video
Loosely based on the Dharmapuri bus burning
that turned fatal, film brings out the caste system and the oppression by upper
castes and police on an entire village since it dares to stand up for a youth who
speaks for them. One of Dhanush’s career best.
PukkuSatte
Lifu ( Kannada)
IMDb
Rating: 9.1
Director:
Aravind Kuplikar
Actors:
Sanchari Vijay, Achyut Kumar, Matangi Prasanna
Platform:
Zee5
The
film was not promoted big. A simpleton key maker living in one Bangalore’s by
lanes meets with a group of cops who are crooked and this changes his simple
life. The screenplay is riveting,
Nayattu ( Malayalam)
IMDb
Rating: 8.1
Director:
Martin Prakkat
Actors:
Kunchako Boban, Joju George, Nimisha Sajayan
Platform:
Netflix
A look at the way Kerala Police system
functions through the eyes of their own people in uniform is brought out
vividly. A Head constable and two junior cops on the run for an accidental death
of a man brings out the casteist outllook of politicians and how senior police
officers dance to their tune.
Mandela
(Ttamil)
IMDb
Rating: 8.5
Director:
Madonne Ashwin
Actors:
Yogi Babu, Sheela Rajkumar, Sangili Murugan
Platform:
Netflix
A village barber who was treated as an animal
begins to get royal service as he managed to get a voter ID . His casting vote
will decide on who should be a village head. A satirical look at the present system
of buying votes with cash.
·
Sarpatta
Parambarai (Tamil) - Amazon Prime Video
A well written fleshed out characters, good performances by not only
the main lead but also the small time actors, a novel story set in the 70’s
when boxing clubs in North Madras flourished. Actor Arya’s career best
performances. Director Pa Ranjith’s finest works.
Operation Java : Malayalam ( Zee 5)
In theatres it did an impressive
business but got its due when released on OTT. The working of a cyber crime
cell and how two jobless youths become part of it to crack a inter State crime
racket is realistic told.
Joji ( Malaylam) Amazon Prime
Video
A hit on OTT as many were just aazed at the acting of Faahad Faasil in
the family drama set in Central Kerala’s Christian planters region.
Kala ( Malayalam) Amazon Prime
Video
A film set in the plantation area where a servant and a master get into
a ego battle that takes a turn to physical violence and of a hunter and the
hunted. Tovino Thomas whose OTT release Minnal Murali is garnering praise had
tasted his first acclaim on OTT platform through Kala.
Jathi Ratnalu ( Telugu) Amazon
Prime Video
A box office hit with no big star cast and just on strength of the
content and actors performances.
|
Directed by |
Anudeep KV |
|
Written by |
Anudeep KV |
|
Produced by |
|
|
Starring |
·
Faria Abdullah |
A big hit on OTT too as the
subject was universal and comedy enjoyable.
Kaanekkaane (SonyLIV) ; ( Malayalam) A revenge drama that kkeps you spell bound and
does not have all bad guys and good guys but humans with emotions. Suraj
Venjramoodu through his gaze alone conveyed al that was to be said.
ACT
1978 ( Kannada) Amazon Prime Video
The Karnataka Civil Services Act of 1978 protects government
officials from dismissal. This law is misused by many, and results in injustice
to common people all the time. The movie holds a mirror to the system.
The movie released in first lot after lifting of Covid restrictions. On OTT it
was a big hit.
Some films like
Nizhal- Home- Cold Case-Malik- Kuruthi
in Malayalam has won lot of appreciation from OTT viewers but short listing
2021 list, I feel they are just passable.
We have not gone into the December OTT releases as we have reviewed some and and a few pending. With movie halls opening, My time is divided between Theatre and OTT.
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