Kho Kho director Rahul Riji Nair: Decided to look at OTTs as it didn’t feel right to run film in theatres now

Award-winning Malayali filmmaker Rahul Riji Nair’s sports-drama Kho Kho had released in Kerala theatres only a week ago and had received largely positive reviews. However, the restrictions and surge in COVID-19 cases just a day after it hit theatres has forced the makers of the Rajisha-starrer to pull the movie from theatres and look at an OTT release.

Talking to OTTPlay about the decision, Riji Nair, who had helmed acclaimed movies such as Ottamuri Vellicham and Kalla Nottam, says, “On the first day of release, we got phenomenal response. But from the second day onwards, second shows were cancelled in Kerala and then there were restrictions in malls. We also cancelled our promotions because we have a moral responsibility not to push people into theatres when the cases are rising. That’s why we decided to cancel the movie in theatres and look at other avenues.

The filmmaker confirms that the team is in talks with OTT platforms. “We are in discussions with two big streaming services, but nothing has been finalised yet. We will also be looking at regional platforms,” he says.

With many in the Malayalam film industry voicing their concern that big OTT players are only keen on bagging the rights of movies with stars, how is the interest for a film like Kho Kho? “OTT platforms are also looking at it from a business perspective,” says Riji Nair. They are also aiming at films with stars. Kho Kho is getting some attention because it generated positive reviews. But again, unless we finalise the deal with an OTT service, we don’t know how it will all work out. Frankly, Kho Kho was made for theatres and a big-screen experience. So, for the digital release, we will have redesign certain elements such as sound for that platform.”

Ask him how the rise in OTTs will impact the film industry going forward, especially after the second wave of COVID-19, the director says, “I believe there will be a lot of changes going forward. Right now, if it isn’t a big film, people think that they can watch it when it releases on OTTs. It will be difficult for that mindset to change, especially because of the current circumstances. Unless, it’s a big superstar-driven film, I don’t know how it will affect the industry and that’s the major challenge we are facing.”

Kho Kho is about how a kho kho team is formed in a girls’ high school in an island village. The film has Rajisha Vijayan playing the coach and Mamitha Baiju in another important role as the captain of the team.