Director Shahad Nilambur addresses intense OTT backlash for hit thriller Pradhama Drishtya Kuttakkar

Director Shahad Nilambur has responded to heavy online trolling following the digital streaming debut of his crime thriller Pradhama Drishtya Kuttakkar last week. The film drew polar-opposite reactions after its release, mirroring a growing trend seen with other recent theatrical hits like Varshangalkku Shesham, Hridayam, Vaazha, and Officer on Duty.

Director's Response

Shahad stated that he and his team had anticipated some backlash and defended the creative choices made during production. He explained that the movie is a work of fiction and not a documentary, though the core idea stems from an incident involving a police officer in the United States. He and writers PS Subramanian and Vijesh Thottingal spent days working on each scene to ensure character actions had logical backing without relying on excessive explanations. Shahad admitted that in trying to avoid spoon-feeding viewers, he and his team misjudged what the audience would accept. Addressing comparisons to Jeethu Joseph and Mohanlal's 2013 landmark film Drishyam, the director welcomed the parallels as a form of recognition rather than a burden. He also welcomed all positive and negative analysis of the plot, maintaining that the loopholes pointed out by critics were actually addressed within the narrative itself.

Box Office and Cast

Despite the digital-era criticism, the movie enjoyed a massive theatrical run, earning over fifty crore rupees according to the makers. The star-studded cast features Parvathy Thiruvothu in the lead, alongside Vijayaragavan, Mathew Thomas, Sidharth Bharathan, Unnimaya Prasad, Azees Nedumangadu, and Vinay Fortt. In his review for SCREEN, Anandu Suresh noted that while the movie delivers gripping drama, convenient writing and strong Drishyam similarities prevent it from reaching greater heights.

Context

The shift of successful theatrical films to digital streaming platforms often exposes them to different viewer expectations, as home audiences scrutinize plot details and logical consistency more closely than cinema-goers. This modern phenomenon has led to frequent disconnects between box office triumph and online reception for several recent releases.