After a modest theatrical run, Fahadh Faasil and Kalyani Priyadarshan’s quirky Malayalam romantic comedy Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira is saddling up for its digital debut. The film will premiere on Netflix on September 26, 2025, reaching audiences in Malayalam as well as dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.
Netflix Premiere
Netflix has confirmed the release with a playful tagline: “A boy, a girl and a horse have one thing in common. A wedding.” The move ensures that those who missed the film during its Onam season theatrical release get a second chance to enjoy it from the comfort of their homes.
Box Office Journey
The film hit theatres on August 29, 2025, but faced stiff competition from other Onam releases. It managed an opening of around ₹75 lakh on day one, slipping to ₹36 lakh on day two and ₹35 lakh on day three. In total, it wrapped up with just about ₹2.14 crore, making it one of the weaker performers of the festive season.
Despite Fahadh Faasil’s star power and Kalyani Priyadarshan’s appeal, reviews were mixed to negative. The Times of India gave the film a 1.5/5 rating, citing a lack of narrative cohesion and weak chemistry between the leads.
Storyline & Characters
Written and directed by Althaf Salim, the film follows Aby (Fahadh Faasil) and Nidhi (Kalyani Priyadarshan), whose wedding preparations take a bizarre turn when Nidhi insists Aby must arrive on a white horse. What begins as a lighthearted demand spirals into unexpected drama when Aby suffers an accident and falls into a coma on their engagement day. A year later, he wakes up to a complicated relationship shaped by misunderstandings.
Cast & Crew
- Lead Actor: Fahadh Faasil
- Lead Actress: Kalyani Priyadarshan
- Director: Althaf Salim
- Producer: Ashiq Usman
- Music: Justin Varghese
- Cinematography: Jinto George
- Editing: Nidhin Raj Arol
Supporting roles feature Lal, Vinay Forrt, Suresh Krishna, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy, Babu Antony, Noby Marcose, and Vineeth Vasudevan.
Director’s Vision
Althaf Salim, known for his hit debut Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela (2017), returned to direction with this project. Drawing inspiration from Korean rom-coms, he aimed to blend quirky humor with Malayalam sensibilities. Salim, who also acted in the 2024 rom-com Premalu, infused his signature deadpan style into the film’s dialogue and character arcs.
Technical Notes
The film runs for 2 hours and 34 minutes and carries a U/A certificate. Visually, it benefits from Jinto George’s cinematography and Ashwini Kale’s production design. Justin Varghese’s music and Nidhin Raj Arol’s editing further shape the overall experience.
What Critics Said
While the film’s theatrical journey wasn’t smooth, some reviewers appreciated its quirky premise. Still, many criticized pacing issues and underwhelming execution. Competing Onam releases such as Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra and Hridayapoorvam drew audiences away, further affecting its box office potential.
A Second Chance on OTT
For Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira, Netflix release could prove transformative. Malayalam films often find fresh appreciation on OTT platforms after lukewarm box office runs. With availability in multiple languages and the festive season around the corner, the film may resonate better with streaming audiences than it did in theatres.
