Thalavara OTT release: Netizens hail Arjun Ashokan, but rue ‘yet another Malayalam film let down by audience’

Thalavara OTT release: Arjun Ashokan's latest film is now winning praise after it dropped on Prime Video, with some pointing out it was another case of a movie let down by Malayali audiences.

Thalavara OTT release

Malayalam actor Arjun Ashokan’s latest film Thalavara has dropped on Prime Video after a disappointing theatrical run. The Malayalam film, which shines light on those suffering from vitiligo, is now winning praise from the digital space, with some pointing out it was yet another case of a movie let down by Malayali audiences.

Thalavara wins positve feedback after OTT release

Arjun Ashokan starred in the lead role of a person suffering from vitiligo in the 2025 movie Thalavara, which made its streaming debut on Prime Video on October 29, 2025. OTTplay Premium subscribers can also access Thalavara by topping up their plans to include Prime Video.

Ever since the film dropped online, Thalavara has been winning nothing but praise from digital viewers. ‘Beautiful’, ‘highly recommended’, ‘A Simple Feel Good Film’ and ‘so relatable’ are some of the positive feedback that the film is getting on social media.

On reddit On Reddit too, netizens commented that it was 'an earnest attempt that deserved more box-office love'.

But when Thalavara was released in theatres on August 22, 2025, the film hardly attracted any movie-goers. Though the Akhil Anilkumar-helmed film won praise from critics for its sensitive portrayal, that did not convert to box office numbers. This does bust the ‘good content always wins’ rhetoric. One netizen pointed out that Thalavara was yet another film let down by the Malayalis, generally hailed as the most film literate audience in the country.

With hardly any takers, there were instances of shows being cancelled with one netizen commenting, "I went to watch in theatres but they didn't play it since there were not enough members for a show."

Also read: Thalavara movie review: Arjun Ashokan’s heartfelt slice-of-life tale brims with hope

What is the plot of Thalavara

Thalavara narrates the tale of Jyothish, who is called Panda by the others as he suffers from the skin disease vitiligo. Jyothish, from a lower-middle-class family, has to battle both the financial insecurities and the society’s prejudices. How he overcomes these challenges is beautifully depicted in the film, which is also penned by director Akhil Anilkumar. Revathy Sarma, Ashokan, Shebin Benson and Devadarshini play other key roles in the film.

FAQs

Q. Which movie is about Arjun Ashokan's vitiligo?

A. Thalavara is Arjun Ashokan's movie about vitiligo.

Q. When is Thalavara OTT release date?

A. Thalavara made its OTT release on Prime Video on October 29, 2025. OTTplay Premium subscribers can also watch the film with a top-up option.

Q. What is the new movie of Akhil Anil Kumar?

A. The new movie of Akhil Anil Kumar is Thalavara, starring Arjun Ashokan.

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