Chidambaram, known for directing 2024's blockbuster Manjummel Boys, said that he is looking forward to the science-fiction films that are coming to theatres later this year. At the same time, the filmmaker suggested that the audience in Kerala does not appreciate films in this genre when made in Malayalam. Speaking to Cineulagam in a recent discussion, he said, "We are always shy with aliens and sci-fi in Malayalam. If it comes from Hollywood, we would appreciate it. However, if we make a domestic alien film or a sci-fi film, the audience here would be like, 'Do such things happen in our place?'"

The Manjummel Boys director also quipped about the audience's admiration for alien stories set in New York and suggested that it is OK to appreciate such films if set in Kochi also.

Whether you agree with it or not, it is worth arguing that Chidambaram's opinion is arguable. After all, how many out-and-out sci-fi films in Malayalam do you remember from the recent past, outside of, say, Arun Chandu's Gaganachari? Just for the sake of this argument, even Gaganachari had the potential to reach an even wider audience. Despite overwhelming reviews and a reported worldwide collection of around 2 crore, the 2024 film did not do as big a business and/or create as much a discourse as it could have. In comparison, other experimental films such as Churuli and Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra set the box office ringing and the audiences talking about their themes.

Chidambaram also expresses his hope about 2026 being a better year for the genre in Malayalam. Speaking of which, Malayalam sci-fiction films expected to release in 2026 include Pluto, starring Neeraj Madhav and Althaf Salim, and the zombie film Vala from the makers of Gaganachari. During the aforesaid discussion, Kalamkaval director Jithin K Jose said that his "friend" Jithin Laal "is also planning something like that".