Kerala Crime Files director Ahammed Khabeer has revealed why he chose Aju Varghese was the protagonist of a police officer in the Malayalam series, which delves into the police probe of cases.
Last Updated: 09.33 AM, Jun 20, 2025
The Malayalam web series Kerala Crime Files Season 2, helmed by Ahammed Khabeer, has made its much-awaited OTT premiere on JioHotstar on June 20, 2025. The series is led by Aju Varghese and Lal, along with a talented supporting cast. Now, Kerala Crime Files director Ahammed Khabeer has revealed why he chose Aju Varghese was the lead protagonist of a police officer in the Malayalam series, which delves into the police probe of mysterious cases.
Actor Aju Varghese has been an integral part of Malayalam films for more than a decade. The actor, who started off in comedy roles, transitioned into more serious characters over the years but it still looked novel when he was picked to lead the Kerala Crime Files series as a cop. During a recent conversation with RJ Mathukkutty for JioHotstar, Ahammed Khabeer talks about what prompted him to pick Aju Varghese as the SI Manoj for the series, which premiered its first season in 2023.
"We see super cops in many films. But we got the thread for this story from a police station, and there you will find ordinary folks, who aspire to act in films or be singers. You don’t see any filmy aspects in the cops at the station," remarked the director, who helmed the popular film June.
"I thought (by casting Aju) we could break the concept (of super cops) and make it a story of relatable people as cops,” explained the director as Aju is known for playing relatable characters and did not come with the baggage of super-human roles.
The first season of Kerala Crime Files follows the investigation after a sex worker is found dead in a shady lodge. The six-episode series impressed audiences with its gripping plot, which did not resort to any overly dramatic ploys or dialogue in the narrative.
On the other hand, Kerala Crime Files Season 2 probes the missing case of CPO Ambili Raju, who is a suspect in certain crimes. Indrans appears as Ambili Raju, along with the recurring cast of Aju Varghese, Lal, Navas Vallikkunnu, and Sanju Sanichen. The early reviews suggest that the second season is a worthy second part to the intriguing cop series.