Why is a Malayalam film that released in theatres two years ago, being watched now across India, including by those who can’t make sense of it without subtitles? The makers of Kumbalangi Nights are all but making notes in their gratitude journal. The story of a dysfunctional family of four brothers, the feature looks at their strained relationships with care, and traces their journey to a moment when they realise the importance of family. Lead actor Fahadh Faasil is now part of drawing room conversation in Mumbai and Delhi after the film dropped on Amazon Prime Video last year during the lockdown, with English subtitles. “It’s not even new!” exclaims Shailesh Kapoor, founder and CEO of Ormax Media, a firm that track trends in the Hindi and South Indian film industries. “Urban audiences across the country are getting a taste of South Indian cinema because OTT platforms made it readily available. The language barrier is all but gone. It also helps that Hindi films are not releasing at the same frequency.” 

The short story Thangam from the 2020 Tamil anthology Paava Kadhaigal is popular on Netflix, and explores how pride, honour, and sin influence complex relationships of love