Saiju Kurup's film Abhilasham was mostly ignored in its theatrical debut since it competed with the powerful Empuraan, starring Mohanlal and directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran. Despite receiving some criticism for selecting a release date so close to the Lucifer sequel, Abhilasham barely had an impact on the box office. But after its OTT release, especially across three streaming sites, Abhilasham appears to be finally receiving its due.

Abhilasham by Saiju Kurup on OTT

The Saiju Kurup-starrer Abhilasham, which was released in theaters two days after L2 Empuraan in March 2025, had its OTT debut on Prime Video and Manorama Max on May 23. The movie is also available for streaming on Simply South. The movie, which Shamzu Zayba directed and which was available on the OTT platform, has now received acclaim from internet users, particularly for the lead actor's performance and the music.

The film's uplifting atmosphere seems to have resonated especially well with audiences, particularly at a time when Malayalam cinema is dominated by cop and crime thrillers like Marco and Bougainvillaea.

"Although it may appear to be the usual stuff, it is actually a pretty good examination of complicated relationships, so it's worth watching," one Reddit commenter said.

"If you are searching for a romantic film that makes you feel good, I think this is a must-see," another internet user said.

The music by Sreehari K Nair is another element of the movie that appears to have made an impression. It's one of the greatest playlists in recent history, according to one admirer.

Saiju Kurup, the protagonist, received accolades for his performance as Abhilash, who is unable to communicate his romantic sentiments to his childhood buddy Sherin about the girl of his dreams. "Anyone else think Saiju Kurup is one of the most underappreciated actors?" said one commenter online. Incidentally, Saiju Kurup's other film Bharathanatyam was also well received after its OTT debut on Prime Video.

Abhilasham also stars Arjun Ashokan, Navas Vallikkunnu, and Tanvi Ram in the role of Sherin, in addition to Saiju Kurup.