The recent Malayalam surprise winner ‘Prakambanam’ is gearing up for its digital premiere.Reports from OTT Play suggest that the streaming rights have been acquired by ZEE5, setting the stage for an early March release window.
A comic spin on spiritual chaos
The film follows three college friends who stumble into bizarre and hilarious circumstances. Sidhu, played by Ganapathi, Punyalan, portrayed by Sagar Surya, and Shankaran, played by Al Ameen, navigate student life filled with rivalry, politics, and impulsive decisions. The narrative triggers its central chaos when Jithu attempts to perform salvation rituals for his grandmother without his atheist father and uncle knowing. He postpones the rites, and Punyalan accidentally inhales the ashes. This leads to his possession by the grandmother’s spirit. The movie hasan interesting mix of seriousness and humor.
Cast performances and supporting roles
The ensemble extends beyond the lead trio, featuring Sheetal Joseph, Azeez Nedumangad, P P Kunjikrishnan, and Mallika Sukumaran in important roles. Set partly in a men’s hostel in Kochi, the lively setting becomes a main stage for the escalating comic tension.
Strong box office run on a modest budget
Despite being made on a modest budget of Rs 5 crore the film has transformed into a theatrical success. According to the Sacnilk website the movie posted a notable surge on day 23, collecting 34 lakh. This marks an impressive 61.9% jump from day 22, which recorded 21 lakh. With this performance, the film’s total India net reached 13.28 crore, while its gross touched 15.67 crore.
Critical reception and comparisons
In its review, ETimes wrote: “Prakambanam positions itself clearly as a horror comedy, where the thrills exist mainly to amplify humour. After its eerie, yet playful, opening in Chembaka Veedu, the film shifts gears to a men’s hostel in Kochi, following Sidhu (Ganapathi), Punyalan (Sagar Surya), and Shankaran (Al Ameen), final year students whose lives revolve around booze, bravado, and loud camaraderie. An accidental mix up involving the grandmother’s (Mallika Sukumaran) ashes becomes the spark that pulls them into a series of bizarre, spooky situations, most of which spiral into comedy rather than fear. Like Romancham and Adi Kapyare Kootamani, the film relies on group panic, exaggerated reactions, and situational chaos, ensuring that laughter consistently outweighs horror.”