Is OTT Bias Boosting Malayalam Cinema?

During the post-pandemic era, streaming platforms saved the day for producers. Even if their movies didn’t do well at the box office, many still made profits or faced minimal losses thanks to big payouts from streaming services.

Now, Malayalam actor Fahadh Faasil is shedding light on the challenges the Malayalam film industry faces with streaming platforms.

Fahadh Faasil believes there’s still a gap between Malayalam cinema and the rest of India. In a recent chat with a YouTube channel, he expressed concern about the lack of support from OTT platforms for Malayalam films.

He said that the Malayalam cinema has to prove itself in theaters first, unlike other regions where most movies are picked up by OTT platforms even before shooting starts. Malayalam films get offers only based on their box office performance.

Faasil explained that in Malayalam cinema, filmmakers must first complete and release their films in theaters to demonstrate their potential before considering OTT deals.

It’s disheartening to see such discrimination against an industry known for its exceptional content.

However, it’s worth recognizing that Malayalam cinema continues to produce some of India’s best films, perhaps because they’re constantly striving to excel in theaters before pursuing OTT opportunities.

Unlike producers in other industries who may become complacent after selling their films to OTT platforms, Malayalam producers don’t have that luxury.

They can only thrive by consistently delivering high-quality content. Perhaps this pressure serves as a driving force, pushing them to maintain their standards and deliver nothing but the best.