The Ernakulam Munsif Court has temporarily banned the release and streaming of the upcoming Malayalam web series Anali, which is based on the Koodathayi massacre case. The order was issued following a petition filed by Jolly Joseph, an accused in the case, raising concerns over the portrayal of a character in the series.
Anali was being prepared for its digital release on JioHotstar, but the court order has now created uncertainty over when the Malayalam thriller can begin streaming.
Anali Web Series – Current Status
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Series | Anali |
| Genre | Crime Thriller |
| OTT Platform | JioHotstar |
| Director | Midhun Manuel Thomas |
| Lead Cast | Leona Lishoy, Nikhila Vimal |
| Based On | Koodathayi massacre case |
| Planned Languages | Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali and Marathi |
| Current Status | Streaming/Release temporarily restrained by court |
| Court | Ernakulam Munsif Court |
| Petition Filed By | Jolly Joseph |
| Next Hearing | September 9 |
Why Was Anali Web Series Banned?
Jolly Joseph approached the court arguing that a main female character portrayed in Anali bears a strong resemblance to her.
According to the petition, such a portrayal could identify the character with Jolly Joseph and cause her personal hardship. Considering the argument, the court restrained the release, publication and streaming of content that could identify the main female character in the series as the petitioner on OTT platforms.
As a result, the planned streaming of Anali on JioHotstar has been affected.
The matter has not reached a final conclusion. The Munsif Court is scheduled to consider Jolly Joseph’s petition again on September 9, making the next hearing important for the future release of the series.
Leona Lishoy and Nikhila Vimal in Anali
Leona Lishoy and Nikhila Vimal play prominent characters in Anali. While Nikhila Vimal is one of the major faces of the series, Leona Lishoy reportedly portrays the character bearing similarities to Jolly Joseph.
The series had already attracted attention following the release of its first teaser.
About Anali Web Series
JioHotstar officially announced Anali as an upcoming Malayalam thriller web series exploring a world of love, lies, mystery and crime.
The series is directed by Midhun Manuel Thomas, known for his work in the Malayalam thriller genre. Leona Lishoy and Nikhila Vimal headline the cast.
The first teaser was unveiled during the South Unbound event, generating interest around the project ahead of its proposed OTT premiere.
JioHotstar had planned to make the series available to a wider Indian audience with streaming in Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali and Marathi.
However, following the Ernakulam Munsif Court order, the release remains uncertain pending further proceedings.
Koodathayi Case on Screen
The Koodathayi case has previously inspired screen adaptations and programmes across different formats.
One of the prominent productions was the documentary Curry & Cyanide: The Jolly Joseph Case, which examined the Koodathayi deaths and the subsequent investigation.
Anali represents another screen project inspired by the case, but its proposed OTT release has now encountered a legal hurdle before streaming could begin.
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For now, viewers waiting for the Anali web series on JioHotstar will have to wait for further clarity, with the court scheduled to consider the petition again on September 9.
Prince of Mollywood on JioHotstar
Prince of Mollywood is another upcoming Malayalam Hotstar Specials series, scheduled to start streaming on JioHotstar from September 11. The series is directed and written by Shani Khader, with Dain Davis playing the lead role.
The cast also includes Shani Khader, Nirmal Palazhi, Harishma, Vidya Vijaykumar, Fukru and Aswin Vijayan. Prince of Mollywood adds another Malayalam original to JioHotstar’s expanding web series lineup.
