Kerala Crime Files 2023: Release date, trailer, plot, episodes, cast, budget, OTT platform and more

Kerala Crime Files is the first Malayalam web series to stream on this OTT platform

A poster of Kerala Crime Files

Despite all the praise that Malayalam content streaming on OTT platforms got during the pandemic across the country, one format that the industry’s artistes and technicians hadn’t taken to was web series. But that has changed this year, and director Ahammed Khabeer’s Kerala Crime Files will lead the way with Disney+ Hotstar’s first-ever original web series in Malayalam.

The platform has already greenlit four more web series and it will be crucial to see how the interest is on the upcoming series, which is based on true events and has an intriguing premise that has previously worked for the format in other languages too. Here’s all we know about Kerala Crime Files: Shiju, Parayil Veedu, Neendakara.

Also read: Kerala Crime Files: Disney+ Hotstar’s first Malayalam web series to be a police procedural

Release date

The web series is all set to release in Disney+ Hotstar on June 23, 2023. Apart from Malayalam, it will also be available to stream in other languages including Tamil, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi. It’s the first-ever web series in Malayalam that will stream on the OTT platform, which had previously released direct-to-OTT movies such as Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Bro Daddy and Jeethu Joseph’s directorial 12th Man.

Trailer

The film’s first teaser was released in May and the platform followed it up with a riveting thriller two weeks later. The trailer introduced the main characters of the series and its genre – a police procedural. Soon after the trailer’s release, the audience took to social media to laud its production quality and also hailed Disney+ Hotstar for doing the first Malayalam web series right, instead of just rushing onto the bandwagon.

Also read: Kerala Crime Files trailer: Aju Varghese, Lal promise a gripping crime web series

Plot

The web series is based on a true case that had happened the past decade. It revolves around a team of five police officers, led by SI Manoj, who try to solve a murder of sex worker in a lodge. The only clue they have though, is a fake address. How they go about form the plot of the series, which is written by Madhuram’s scriptwriter Ashiq Amar and directed by Ahammed Khabeer. Rahul Riji Nair, who had helmed Kho Kho and Dakini, is the showrunner. The team apparently drew inspiration from a group of policemen, who were awarded the Kerala Police badge of honour in 2012.

Episodes

The series, which is a police procedural crime thriller, will have six episodes. Much like Disney+ Hotstar’s recent thriller Telugu web series Shaitan, Kerala Crime Files will also have episodes between 25 to 30 minutes each. Given its content, it’s sure to keep the audience at the edge of the seats during its entire duration.

Cast

Apart from Malayalam actors Lal and Aju Varghese, who play the lead investigative officers in the movie, the series also has Navas Vallikkunnu, Sanju Sanichen, Zhinz Shan and Devaki Rajendran in pivotal roles. The crew of the series consists of DOP Jithin Stanislaus, composer Hesham Abdul Wahab and editor Mahesh Bhuvanend.

Also read: Kerala Crime Files: Aju Varghese to star in 2 web series, a comedy and a crime-thriller on Disney+ Hotstar

Budget

Disney+ Hotstar’s first Malayalam web series is reportedly made on a budget less than Rs 8 crore. The makers are yet to reveal the exact figure, but sources from the team say that they haven’t compromised on the quality of the series, which is on par with a theatrical film.

OTT platform

Kerala Crime Files will begin streaming Disney+ Hotstar, which has already greenlit a comedy web series featuring Sunny Wayne and Nikhila Vimal, a dark comedy with Suraj Venjaramoodu and Kalabhavan Shajohn, and a social drama titled 1000+ Babies, starring Rahman and Neena Gupta.

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