Nivin Pauly's Malayalee from India OTT release faces delay: What's the reason?

Malayalam star Nivin Pauly's latest movie Malayalee from India seems to be taking longer than usual to make its streaming debut. The filmmakers have remained tight-lipped about its digital release even though it has been almost five weeks since its initial release in cinemas.

Reports claim that the streaming rights to Malayalee from India are with SonyLIV. However, an official confirmation is still awaited.

Usually, new Malayalam movies hit streaming platforms after a four-week theatrical run. However, in some cases, the filmmakers may prefer an extended theatrical window if the movie is doing really well. For example, the latest Malayalam movies Premalu and Manjummel Boys had delayed premieres on streaming as they were exceeding expectations in terms of ticket sales.

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Unlike Premalu and Manjummel Boys, Malayalee from India didn't have a great innings at the box office. The film was released amid a lot of hype and was expected to end the streak of commercial failures in Nivin's career.

Malayalee from India is helmed by Dijo Jose Antony, who is known for delivering Jana Gana Mana. The 2022 courtroom drama, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Suraj Venjaramoodu, was a big commercial and critical hit and found appreciation across the country.

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There was significant anticipation for Malayalee from India, and it also took a strong opening at the box office. However, the film garnered mixed reviews and failed to generate strong word-of-mouth. The movie hit the screens on May 1, coinciding with the Labour Day holiday. After the opening weekend, the film saw a huge drop in collections and never recovered.

According to reports, Malayalee from India made less than Rs 19 crore from its worldwide ticket sales. Considering its huge budget, the film was declared a box-office disappointment. Producer Listin Stephen of Magic Frames may offset the losses at the box office if he managed to sell the film's streaming and satellite rights before its release.

It's noteworthy that Nivin's previous movie Ramachandra Boss & Co still has not found a home on streaming following its poor showings at the box office.

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