Thudarum OTT Release: Mohanlal's Film Reportedly Delayed On Streaming As Theatrical Run Continues Strong

Thudarum's OTT Release Postponed: The Malayalam crime thriller Thudarum, starring Mohanlal and directed by Tharun Moorthy, reportedly will not begin streaming on May 21 as widely anticipated. The film's OTT release has been postponed, according to film industry tracker Sreedhar Pillai, who shared the update on his official X (formerly Twitter) account.

While there has been no official announcement from the streaming platform or the film's production team, Sreedhar Pillai noted that Thudarum's streaming release on JioHotstar has been deferred to the first week of June. The shift reportedly comes following a request from the film's producer, who sought to extend its theatrical window due to its ongoing box office performance.

Strong Box Office Performance Sustains Theatrical Run

Thudarum was released in cinemas on April 25, 2025. The film is produced by M. Renjith under the Rejaputhra Visual Media banner. Since its release, the film has maintained a consistent presence at the box office. According to box office tracker Jerin Georgekutty, Thudarum has grossed over ₹225 crore worldwide, with more than ₹113 crore collected from the Kerala box office alone. The film has achieved a rare milestone of registering daily collections of over ₹1 crore in Kerala for 27 consecutive days, highlighting continued audience interest.

Mohanlal's Role in Thudarum

The film follows the story of Shanmugham, also known as Benz, played by Mohanlal. Once a stuntman, Benz now works as a taxi driver in the town of Perunad Ranni. His life takes a turn when his Ambassador car, which he cherishes, is seized by the police after being implicated in a smuggling case involving his mechanic's assistant. Benz is drawn into a confrontation with corrupt police officials and becomes involved in a mystery surrounding a disappearance. The film explores themes related to justice, misuse of power, and the pursuit of truth.

Supporting Cast and Crew Contributions

In addition to Mohanlal, the cast includes Shobana, Prakash Varma, Binu Pappu, Thomas Mathew, Farhaan Faasil, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Aarsha Chandini Baiju. The screenplay was written by Tharun Moorthy in collaboration with K. R. Sunil. Sunil, a documentary photographer, is said to have drawn inspiration from a real-life experience encountered during his fieldwork. Director Tharun Moorthy was brought on board after the producers felt his previous work aligned with the narrative they aimed to present.

Producer's Request and OTT Platform Response

Sreedhar Pillai's update referred to JioHotstar's decision as a "magnanimous move" in response to the producers' request. According to him, both Thudarum and another film, Tourist Family, had their streaming debuts pushed to early June for the same reason. As of now, the exact date for Thudarum's digital release remains unspecified. No public statements have been issued by JioHotstar or the producers regarding the change.

Technical Highlights of Thudarum

From a technical standpoint, Thudarum features cinematography by Shaji Kumar and music by Jakes Bejoy. The editing work on the film was carried out by Shafeeque VB and Nishadh Yusuf. Sound design is credited to Vishnu Govind, while production design was led by Gokul Das.

Extended theatrical run

The decision to hold back the film's digital release is in line with a broader trend in recent times, where producers are increasingly prioritizing theatrical revenue in cases where a film demonstrates strong legs at the box office. With sustained audience turnout, Thudarum is expected to remain in cinemas for at least another week or more. The film's digital premiere is now expected sometime in the first week of June, subject to confirmation from the involved parties.

As the theatrical window remains open, audiences can continue to watch Thudarum in cinemas. The film's performance and potential OTT release date are being closely followed by industry observers and viewers alike.