The Malayalam crime thriller film Dridam, starring Shane Nigam in the lead role and directed by Martin Joseph, was released in theatres on 8th May. The film opened to mixed reviews from both audiences and critics. Its theatrical run turned out to be disappointing despite the initial curiosity surrounding the project.
Many movie lovers believed Dridam would find better success on OTT. Malayalam crime thrillers often receive stronger appreciation from streaming audiences compared to theatrical viewers. This expectation created interest around the film’s digital release.
After its poor theatrical performance, Dridam started streaming on the Hotstar OTT platform from yesterday. The film is available in five languages, including Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi. However, the OTT audience is also sharing mixed reactions after watching the film.
Several viewers have stated that the film had a unique premise but failed to become a gripping thriller. They feel director Martin Joseph could not fully utilise the idea because of a weak and sluggish screenplay. According to them, the slow pace affects the engagement factor throughout the film.
At the same time, audiences are appreciating the visuals and music. Many viewers have highlighted the climax twist as one of the film’s strongest aspects. However, they believe the rest of the narrative feels stretched, making Dridam a below-average investigation thriller overall.
On the other hand, a section of viewers is sharing positive feedback. They say Dridam is a unique attempt and insist that it is far from being a bad film. Despite certain flaws, they believe it is another decent crime thriller from the Malayalam film industry.
With mixed reactions emerging from OTT viewers, it remains to be seen how Dridam performs on the platform in the coming days. The film’s long-term digital success will depend on whether positive word of mouth outweighs the criticism.
