Kerala Crime Files: Inside Malayalam's first Disney+ Hotstar original series

That oft-asked question about Malayalam cinema's reluctance to get into the long-form storytelling space is finally getting an answer in the form of a Disney+ Hotstar Original series, Kerala Crime Files, helmed by Ahammed Khabeer (June, Madhuram), scripted by Ashiq Aimar (Madhuram), produced by filmmaker Rahul Riji Nair (Ottamuri Velicham, Kalla Nottam), and headlined by Aju Varghese and Lal. 

Now, calling it "Malayalam's first web series" might be disingenuous as there have been previous attempts to tell episodic stories, even with actors from mainstream cinema. But none boasted the kind of production values that -- one assumes after seeing the promos -- Kerala Crime Files has. The time seems to be finally ripe for introducing Malayali audiences to the kind of serious-minded storytelling one sees in shows made in other Indian languages. Well, it had to start somewhere. Someone had to do it. 

In a conversation with us, Ashiq Aimar tells us that the pressure to deliver is immense, as everyone is looking at this maiden attempt at a "proper" series with bated breath, that too one in the thriller genre. Perhaps this pressure also explains the past reluctance of Malayalam cinema to take this giant leap, despite the existence, in the state, of a percentage of audiences that constantly binge on content from platforms such as Netflix or Prime Video. 

"There's always the nagging thought at the back of the mind that Kerala doesn't have a big audience for the long-form storytelling format in the Malayalam language," says Ashiq, adding that it is first necessary to introduce Malayali audiences to out-of-the-box content in a package they're familiar with, and then aim for bolder strokes in narrative experimentation later.

And one is always fascinated by filmmakers that previously dabbled in lighthearted content suddenly foraying into thrillers because we know of two filmmakers that recently succeeded at this transition -- Midhun Manuel Thomas (with Anjaam Pathira) and Vipin Das (with Antakshari). It excites us, because we never know which of these 'feel-good' filmmakers harbour the potential to conjure up some stirring thriller material that makes you look at the creators behind them in a new light. 

I sense this while talking to Ashiq, who attests to nurturing a need to do "content-oriented" projects for a long while. He, too, belongs to that group of filmmakers who found the idea of debuting with lighthearted entertainers relatively safer. Ashiq made his entry in 2021 with the SonyLIV original, Madhuram, which he co-wrote. If not for the pandemic rearing its ugly head, Ashiq would've started with a project called Inshallah, also helmed by Ahammed. (Currently, it has been put on hold considering its scale and budget. "It will happen, but not immediately," shares Ashiq.) 

The warm reception to Madhuram -- starring Joju George, Shruti Ramachandran, Arjun Ashokan, and Nikhila Vimal -- ensured another collaboration with Ahammed Khabeer. Ashiq recalls the experience of constructing Kerala Crime Files with the latter as "quite liberating" as he found more freedom in episodic narration. Also absent is the pressure to craft something around a star's persona. 

"With a series, you're focusing more on the content," he says. "You are not bound by limitations or a compulsion to place a hook or twist in a particular place. I'm not implying that there is no such thing in Kerala Crime Files, but unlike in a film, we are not thinking of the screenplay in terms of, say, the 'interval twist'. We don't have to think of the hook or cliffhanger in a series in the same way. We can place them in the most appropriate places. Usually, it's at the end of an episode."  

Inspired by a single case, Kerala Crime Files is a fictionalised account that comprises six episodes of 30-min duration, all slated for release on the same day. (The streaming date, sometime next month, is yet unannounced.) The teaser gave viewers a little peek into what the lead characters are investigating -- the murder of a prostitute -- aside from the possibility of delving a bit into the lives of the cops, their struggles, and problems in the police system and bureaucracy. Ashiq describes it as "mostly plot-driven; about how not everything or everyone is pure white, how everyone has a grey shade." 

One of the main reasons the team didn't cast big star names is to avoid the predictability factor and to make everything more convincing. "Normally, when a big star is playing the investigator, people immediately assume they'll easily catch the killer. But when you cast someone who doesn't have the burden of a superstar persona, you get to make them look like ordinary human beings. We met several police officers who told us there was always the possibility of leaving out little details initially, and a later realisation makes them return to them. After all, we are all human beings, and to make these characters believable as ordinary policemen, we needed actors who were favourites of audiences, but not big stars."

What about the pressure to deliver something 'realistic' since other industries look up to Malayalam filmmakers for doing that so well? Or did they opt for an approach that balanced the true-to-life and cinematic elements? "It's the latter," replies Ashiq. "I initially wrote the script with a realistic approach but later fine-tuned it to make it more cinematic. If we went completely with the former approach, it might alienate the section of audiences that detest the 'prakruthi' (nature) cinema. We are, at present, going through a cycle where everyone feels the realistic era is almost over."

But Ashiq doesn't want us to be concerned. Citing shows like Paatal Lok and Delhi Crime, which were primary influences for the Kerala Crime Files team, especially cinematographer Jithin Stanislaus and art director Prathap Raveendran, Ashiq reiterates an earlier point -- about attempting something more realistic once a strong fanbase for the long-form format is established in Kerala. 

"Though I made my debut with a feel-good film, I happen to be a consumer of dark content. I'm a big fan of filmmakers like Anurag Kashyap and Vetrimaaran. Let's say Kerala Crime Files is simply a teaser of what to expect from the industry soon. Aside from Hotstar, other big platforms are also prepping these big shows. I have some big ideas in mind. Exciting times ahead," he signs off.