By revealing Malaikottai Vaaliban streaming details, Lijo Jose Pellissery sparks FOMO

Filmmaker Lijo Jose Pellissery remains unfazed amid mixed reactions garnered by his latest directorial outing Malaikottai Vaaliban. Starring Malayalam superstar Mohanlal in the lead role, Malaikottai Vaaliban opened in cinemas earlier this week to packed houses.

And the mixed reactions have hurt the movie's box office potential. Amid the ongoing debate, director Lijo Jose Pellissery addressed a press conference and cautioned the audiences against losing the opportunity to watch this film on a big screen owing to negative reviews on social media.

Lijo Jose Pellissery's box office gamble

"I want to tell the audiences that they have only 28 days more to watch this movie on the big screen," warned Lijo, while describing Malaikottai Vaaliban as a technically brilliant film.

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Lijo's decision to reveal the OTT release plans for Malaikottai Vaaliban during the press conference indeed marks a departure from the conventional approach followed by many filmmakers. By disclosing the streaming details well before the completion of the film's opening weekend, Lijo is attempting to address the challenges posed by social media and early reviews.

While the initial reviews seemed like a knee-jerk reaction to an experimental movie, the later reviews appreciated what Lijo managed to deliver, helping the audiences gain some confidence about it.

The decision to create a sense of urgency by announcing the OTT release date, coupled with the assurance that audiences would miss out on a superior cinematic experience if they opt for streaming, reflects a strategic use of FOMO.

The shift in strategy from keeping streaming plans confidential to openly revealing them early on indicates a belief in the film's long-term appeal and the potential for sustained interest beyond the initial release. It remains to be seen whether this approach will prove successful in attracting audiences to the theatres and subsequently to the OTT platform.

Malaikottai Vaaliban streaming details

Disney+Hotstar is the official streaming partner of Malaikottai Vaaliban . Typically, the new South Indian movies become available for streaming after completing a four-week exclusive theatrical window. And Malaikottai Vaaliban seems to follow the same practice.

Also read: Can Mohanlal’s Malaikottai Vaaliban become Malayalam’s breakout pan-Indian film or will it falter?

Malaikottai Vaaliban marks Lijo's maiden collbaration with Mohanlal. The movie is set in colonial India and it tells the story of a legendary warrior and his most adventurous exploits. While many expected Lijo will deliver a 'mass' film with Mohanlal, he seems to have surprised many by presenting the superstar in a new dimension.

Besides Mohanlal, Malaikottai Vaaliban also stars Sonalee Kulkarni, Hareesh Peradi and Danish Sait among others.