Mohanlal Reveals Why His COVID OTT Films Flopped in Theatres — And It Has Nothing to Do With Quality

As Drishyam 3 continues its strong theatrical run, Mohanlal has opened up about a chapter of his career that many fans quietly wondered about — the string of films he made during the COVID-19 pandemic that later underperformed when released in cinemas.

What Mohanlal Actually Said?

In a candid conversation with Reporter TV, the Malayalam superstar didn’t mince words. He explained that releasing Drishyam 2 directly on OTT was never a creative choice — it was a human one.

During the pandemic, rather than shutting down entirely, Mohanlal chose to keep working so that crew members, technicians, and daily-wage workers dependent on film productions could survive financially. He reportedly acted in around seven films during the COVID period — possibly the highest by any Indian actor at the time.

Those films were built for OTT. When some were later pushed into theatres, audiences — already familiar with the digital-first content — didn’t show up.

“We made films so people could survive.” — Mohanlal

That one line says everything.

Mohanlal’s COVID-Era Filmmaking

Why Drishyam 2 on OTT Was Actually a Win

Here’s the irony — Drishyam 2, despite skipping cinemas entirely, became one of the most-watched Malayalam films ever on streaming. Mohanlal noted that fans from as far as Bihar reached out, saying they watched the film in Malayalam with subtitles. That’s the kind of organic reach no theatrical release can guarantee.

It also helped Malayalam cinema punch far above its weight nationally — a fact Mohanlal credits directly to the OTT boom during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For a deeper dive into how OTT changed Indian cinema during this era, check out our piece on how streaming platforms reshaped South Indian box office trends.

What Is Drishyam 3 About?

Drishyam 3 picks up after the events of Part 2. Georgekutty is now living as a theatre owner and film producer, even making a film inspired by his own family’s harrowing story. But the attention that film draws begins to unravel everything he worked so hard to bury.

The cast includes Meena, Ansiba Hassan, Esther Anil, Siddique, and Asha Sarath, with Jeethu Joseph returning to direct. Early reactions suggest the film delivers on the franchise’s promise of tense, psychological storytelling.

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