Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira (Okck) is an absurd black comedy film with Fahadh Fauasil and Kalyani Priyadarshan in the main roles. Written and directed by Althaf Salim, the film marks the second business of actor-Filmaker after Njankalude Nattil Oridavela.
The film was released in theaters on August 29, 2025, coinciding with Onam. However, competing at the box office with the Hridayapoorvam of Mohanlal and the own Lokah: Chapter 1 of Kalyani, the film failed to impress the public and received largely negative criticisms at the exit, in particular from Youtubers.
Surprisingly, after his release from OTT, he managed to strike an agreement with a section of viewers, creating a striking contrast with its initial reception. Why did the Fahadh Faasil Starrer managed to connect with the public until after his start in streaming?
ODUM KUTHIRA CHAADUM KUTHIRA: VS OTT Theater
Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira is an absurd black comedy that explores a deeply sensitive story. Although it initially seems to be an ordinary romantic comedy, the film adopts an experimental approach in execution, offering a net contrast of what was presented in the trailer of what was ultimately delivered in theaters.
From the start, Okck is distinguished from conventional narrative methods and adopted a different approach to a simple story. In theaters, the story seemed to have found a different demography, not connecting with the public for which it was really intended.
Each public member has his own taste dedicated to the appreciation of the film, and Okck quickly drowned among the negative Tarteau wave during his theatrical race. After the first projections and the first criticisms, the film failed to find its niche audience, and the consensus became unfavorable.
Negative word of mouth, associated with a box office confrontation with Lokah and Hridayapoorvam, made it difficult for the film to be appreciated at the time. Ironically, another experimental company like Lokah has managed to find its audience and has even become a huge success in theaters, still being executed.
Now that Whit has finished its theatrical and diffuse window on Netflix, it has found a wider audience, inside and outside India. The film is no longer limited to its initial market, it finally resonated with viewers who appreciate this particular sub-genre.
The wacky characters and the original humor now reach more than conventional viewers, giving the film the space it needed to work better, transforming it into a success on OTT.
However, what does this indicate the appreciation of the film among viewers?
Why did Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira find his audience after the release of OTT?
Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira is an unconventional film that uses the emotional chaos of depression as a central story, treated with absurd dark humor. The surrealist progression and the offbeat tone of the film only resonate with a specific subset of viewers who are open to experimental cinema.
While the theatrical window had its limits, not only by a crowded box-office but also by the initial reactions of Youtube, which considerably affected the perception of the public. Many influencers could not grasp the intention of the film, and their negative assessments influenced their supporters, contributing to the disappointing response of the film.
However, once the film has reached OTT screens, the absurdity was celebrated with the public of Niche which found value in its unconventional narration.
The mixture of black comedy with surrealism is not without faults, and Okck has never been supposed to be a perfect film. But perfection is not always necessary for a film to be entertaining or significant. In this regard, the Fahadh and Kalyani Starrer is a success, at least for some.
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