Actor Rio Raj believes the changing perception of films between theatrical and OTT releases is a natural part of the way audiences consume cinema today. Speaking exclusively to Cinema Express while promoting his upcoming film Ram in Leela, Rio reflected on the contrasting reactions to his 2025 release Aan Paavam Pollathathu and revealed that creating conversations around marriage and relationships was always one of his expectations from the film.
Directed by debutant Kalaiarasan Thangavel and written by Sivakumar Murugesan and Thangavel, Aan Paavam Pollathathu starred Rio alongside Malavika Manoj. The romantic comedy centres on a married couple and explores the friction that develops between them over their differing attitudes and expectations. The film was released in theatres on October 31, 2025, and later began streaming on JioHotstar.
Addressing the difference in audience reactions after its OTT release, Rio said he did not view Aan Paavam Pollathathu as a film that failed theatrically and was subsequently rediscovered online. According to him, the film had a strong response in theatres as well as on OTT, but its digital release brought a fresh wave of discussion, including criticism from viewers who had formed opinions after seeing snippets of the film on social media.
“We directly replied to many of them, saying, ‘Watch the full film and message me. We will definitely respond to you.’ Some of them eventually watched the entire film and came back saying, ‘No, it is actually good,’” he said.
For Rio, however, the most important outcome was not whether the film was universally praised. He said the team deliberately wanted the story to spark conversations between couples and among people navigating relationships. “A film like Aan Paavam Pollathathu will definitely create a debate — between a husband and wife, and among people who are in relationships. What we showed in the film is that this debate should ultimately end in a healthy way,” he explained.
He added that even a single real-life conversation triggered by the film would have made the project worthwhile. “If, after watching Aan Paavam Pollathathu, even one husband and wife who are going through a divorce think about whether they really want to go through with it, call each other and sit down and talk, then the film is a success for me. That is what I expected when I made the film,” Rio said.
The actor also pointed out that the phenomenon of films gaining appreciation long after their theatrical run is not new. He cited films such as Aayirathil Oruvan, which were not necessarily celebrated to the same extent upon release but later developed a strong following, with audiences revisiting their scenes, songs and filmmaking.
Reflecting on Aan Paavam Pollathathu, Rio maintained that the team’s primary goal was always to make a film that audiences would enjoy in theatres. “We did everything we could to make sure everyone liked it in theatres,” he said, while acknowledging that discovering a film later is also a familiar part of the cinematic experience.
Rio is currently gearing up for Ram in Leela, an upcoming romantic comedy that also stars Vartika. The film is slated for release on August 21.
