A Malayalam psychological thriller featuring megastar Mammootty in a chilling new avatar has arrived on OTT a day ahead of schedule. Made on a budget of around ₹25 crore, the film went on to collect nearly ₹80 crore at the box office and is now streaming on Sony LIV and OTTplay Premium.
Typically regarded as a heroic figure, Mammootty surprises viewers with his performance as a brutal murderer in Kalamkaval. Digitally released now, the movie, which had a great influence during its theatres run, has become a great delight to the lovers of thrillers.
Early OTT Release Surprise
Kalamkaval hit the big screens on the 5th of December and was initially scheduled to make its OTT debut on the 16th of January. However, in a surprising twist, the filmmakers decided to bring the streaming date forward to the 15th of January.Similar early releases were earlier seen with films like Rekhachithram and Marco. The movie is available in Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi, with English subtitles.
Plot at a Glance
Directed by debutant Jithen K Jose, Kalamkaval revolves around a series of mysterious disappearances of women across Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Police officer Jayakrishnan (played by Vinayakan) identifies a disturbing pattern behind the crimes. The research guides him to Stanley Das (Mammootty), a cold-blooded serial killer with a calculating mind. The story revolves around the intense cat-and-mouse game between the genius criminal and the cop who is set to win, revealing itself as a gradual burn psychological thriller.
Mammootty’s Standout Film of 2025
Mammootty has given countless masterpieces to the world of Malayalam cinema, yet the year 2025 was a mixture of good and bad times for the star. Movies like Dominic and the Lady’s Purse and Bazooka did not attract large crowds as they were anticipated to be. In contrast, Kalamkaval emerged as his only major success of the year.
The ghostly acting of Mammootty and the mesmerizing portrayal of the police detective character by Vinayakan have undoubtedly received lots of praises. Among the others, the ladies Gayathri Arun, Rajisha Vijayan and Shruti Ramachandran have been mentioned as the supporting actresses. If you love the grim and soul-stirring thriller type of films then Kalamkaval is the one for you this weekend—do not miss it!