While most Malayalam films now arrive on OTT platforms within a few weeks or months of their theatrical release, a handful of notable titles continue to remain unavailable for streaming. Among them are Dileep’s Bandra (2023) and Thankamani (2024), both of which are still awaiting their digital premiere despite the actor’s more recent releases already finding a home on leading OTT platforms.
Interestingly, Dileep’s latest films have already completed their OTT journey. Pavi Caretaker is currently streaming on manoramaMAX, while Prince and Family and Bha Bha Ba are available on ZEE5. However, Bandra and Thankamani remain without an official OTT release date or streaming platform.
📌 Dileep’s Recent OTT Status
| Movie | OTT Status |
|---|---|
| Pavi Caretaker | ✅ Streaming on manoramaMAX |
| Prince and Family | ✅ Streaming on ZEE5 |
| Bha Bha Ba | ✅ Streaming on ZEE5 |
| Bandra | ❌ OTT Platform Not Announced |
| Thankamani | ❌ OTT Platform Not Announced |
🎬 Bandra OTT Release Status
Released in 2023, Bandra was directed by Arun Gopy, written by Udaykrishna, and produced by Vinayaka Ajith under the banner Ajith Vinayaka Films. The film featured Dileep alongside Tamannaah Bhatia in her Malayalam debut, with Dino Morea, Mamta Mohandas, R. Sarathkumar, Kalabhavan Shajohn, Lena, Easwari Rao, K. B. Ganesh Kumar, Siddique, and VTV Ganesh in supporting roles.
Despite carrying high expectations, Bandra turned out to be one of the major commercial disappointments in Dileep’s career. More than two years after its theatrical release, the film is yet to secure an OTT platform.
Meanwhile, the film’s creative team has moved on to new projects.
- Writer Udaykrishna’s latest script is Law and Order, directed by Ranjith and starring Prakash Varma in the lead role. The film is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on 24 July.
- Producer Vinayaka Ajith recently launched Harivarasanam, directed by Rajesh Nair with Saiju Kurup playing the lead role.
- Director Arun Gopy has entered film production under his own banner, Arun Gopi Excitement. His maiden production, directed by debutant Nikhil Mohan and starring Arjun Ashokan, was recently launched with a pooja ceremony at Anchumana Devi Temple.
🎬 Thankamani OTT Release Status
Released in 2024, Thankamani was written and directed by Ratheesh Reghunandan and jointly produced by R. B. Choudary under Super Good Films and Raaffi Mathirra under Iffaar Media.
The film stars Dileep in the lead alongside Manoj K. Jayan, Neetha Pillai, Pranitha Subhash, Malavika Menon, Ajmal Ameer, Siddique, Sudev Nair, Azees Nedumangad, John Vijay, Sampath Ram, and Major Ravi.
Despite completing its theatrical run, Thankamani has not been acquired by any streaming platform, and no official OTT release announcement has been made so far.
📺 Other Malayalam Films Still Awaiting OTT Release
Dileep’s films are not alone. Several Malayalam movies featuring leading stars are also yet to make their digital debut.
| Actor | Movie | OTT Status |
|---|---|---|
| Mohanlal | Vrusshabha | Awaiting OTT Release |
| Mammootty | Bazooka | Awaiting OTT Release |
| Prithviraj Sukumaran | Vilayath Buddha | Awaiting OTT Release |
| Shane Nigam | Vela | Awaiting OTT Release |
| Nivin Pauly | Ramachandra Boss & Co | Awaiting OTT Release |
| Asif Ali | Otta | Awaiting OTT Release |
| Tovino Thomas | Palli Chattambi | Awaiting OTT Release |
| Unni Mukundan | Get Set Baby | Awaiting OTT Release |
| Dileep | Bandra | Awaiting OTT Release |
| Dileep | Thankamani | Awaiting OTT Release |
🎥 Mohanlal’s Vrusshabha
The pan-Indian fantasy action film Vrusshabha, starring Mohanlal in the lead role, was released in theatres on 25 December. Directed by Nanda Kishore and produced by Connekkt Media and Balaji Motion Pictures, the film also stars Samarjit Lankesh and Ragini Dwivedi.
Despite its scale and star cast, the film did not perform as expected at the box office. As of now, no streaming platform has officially announced its acquisition, leaving fans waiting for an OTT release update.
🎥 Mammootty’s Bazooka
Directed by debutant Deeno Dennis, Bazooka features Mammootty in the lead role and was produced by Saregama India Limited along with Theater of Dreams.
The film also stars Gautham Vasudev Menon, Siddharth Bharathan, Babu Antony, Hakeem Shajahan, Divya Pillai, Dean Dennis, Bhama Arun, Sumit Naval, and Sphadikam George.
Although the film generated considerable attention before its theatrical release, Bazooka is still awaiting an official OTT streaming announcement.
📌 Final Word
With Malayalam cinema embracing faster digital premieres than ever before, it is unusual to see several high-profile films remain unavailable on OTT platforms months—or even years—after their theatrical release. Whether the delay is due to pending licensing negotiations, commercial considerations, or the absence of suitable streaming deals, fans continue to wait for official announcements.
Until producers or streaming platforms confirm their digital rights, Bandra, Thankamani, Bazooka, Vrusshabha, and several other Malayalam films remain among the most anticipated unreleased titles on OTT.
