Director Ahammed Khabeer is mildly nervous and extremely curious about the response to Kerala Crime Files, his first web series, which drops on Disney+ Hotstar on June 23. Since it is also the first Malayalam series made exclusively for an OTT platform, considerable expectation is riding on it. Ahammed, known for his feel-good films, June (2019) and Madhuram (2021), is treading a new path with the police procedural that pivots a murder investigation. If the trailers are anything to go by, there is much to look forward to.
Aju Varghese and Lal headline the series which has six 30-minute episodes. “It is essentially three hours, not much longer than a film,” says the director over phone. The actors essay policemen investigating the murder committed by a sex worker. Although Lal has done cop roles before, the most noteworthy being Raveendran Pillai in Madhupal’s Thalappavu, casting Aju, known more for his comedic roles, is an unconventional choice.
“The story is about how two policemen solve a case. We did not want big names and the hype around ‘stars’. In the same way that people came for June and Madhuram for their content, we want the same for Kerala Crime,” says Ahammed. Relatability was a key factor in Aju being chosen for the role: “He looks like a regular guy that the audience can connect with. Lal sir and Aju are two contrasting types of people in the series.”
