Ronth on OTT: Why you should watch Shahi Kabir’s compelling cop drama online

For his second directorial venture, Malayalam filmmaker Shahi Kabir was back with yet another gripping cop drama, titled Ronth. Starring Dileesh Pothan and Roshan Mathew, the Malayalam film is set to make its OTT release on JioHotstar and OTTplay Premium on July 22, 2025. Before its much-awaited digital debut, let’s take a look at the reasons as to why you should watch Shahi Kabir’s Malayalam cop drama on OTT.

Why watch Ronth online

Ronth’s gripping story

Ronth follows two cops, the senior officer SI Yohannan and the rookie cop Dinnath, a civil police officer, as they go through their night patrolling duties. Film’s director Shahi Kabir has also penned the script, which gives a very insightful look into their routine duty. Not just their police duty and the situations they have to handle, the film also delves into their personal side, and how the cops have to set aside their own grievances to fulfil their duties.

Also read: Ronth movie review: Shahi Kabir’s grounded cop drama echoes Training Day with a conscience 

Dileesh Pothan, Roshan Mathew’s performances

The casting of the filmmaker-actor Dileesh Pothan and actor Roshan Mathew has definitely bolstered the film, as they perfectly fit into the roles of the hot-headed SI and the naive cop, both in appearance and performance. They also perfectly complement each other, giving us a convincing portrayal of the cop story.

Shahi Kabir’s direction

Shahi Kabir, who is also a noted script-writer, fetched a Kerala State Film Award for his very first directorial venture, Ela Veezha Poonchira, which was also based on cops. Shahi Kabir, a former cop himself, has first-hand experience on the inner workings of the police force and this directly reflects in his movie as well. Given his command over the subject and attention to details, Ronth is also a worthy addition to his filmography

Realistic cop drama

There are no super cops here or any slow-motion introductions backed with dramatic background score to mark their entry. Instead, it is the tale of two ordinary cops, that you must have seen patrolling the roads or at the traffic junction. Much like Tovino Thomas’ recent Narivetta, Ronth too gives us a realistic portrayal of the events. But even when the story stays realistic and relevant, the film is not without its thrilling moments.

Strong technical crew

Apart from the lead actors, Ronth also has a stellar supporting cast, including Arun Cherukavil, Roshan Abdul Rahoof, and Lakshmi Menon. On the technical side, cinematographer Manesh Madhavan, who also collaborated with Shahi on Ela Veezha Poonchira and won a State award for the 2022 film, once again takes us on an intense ride with the cops. His cinematography and Praveen Mangalath’s crisp editing ensure that the viewers have a solid cinematic experience.