The Koodathayi Cyanide Case, popularly known as the Jolly Joseph case, remains one of Kerala’s most shocking criminal investigations. The alleged murders, which came to light in 2019, attracted nationwide attention due to the mysterious deaths of six members of the same family over nearly 14 years.
The chilling case has inspired documentaries, television serials, and upcoming OTT originals. While some productions closely follow the real investigation, others use the case as inspiration for fictional psychological thrillers.
Here’s a look at the major films, documentaries, television serials and web series based on the Koodathayi Cyanide Case.
📋 Koodathayi-Inspired Movies, Serials & Web Series
| 🎬 Title | 📺 Format | 📡 Platform/Channel | 📅 Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anali | Web Series | JioHotstar | Coming Soon |
| Curry & Cyanide: The Jolly Joseph Case | Documentary Film | Netflix | Streaming |
| Koodathayi | Television Serial | Flowers TV | Aired |
| Krithyam | Television Serial | Kairali TV | Aired |
🎬 Anali (JioHotstar)
📺 Streaming Date: To Be Announced
Among the latest productions inspired by the Koodathayi murders is Anali, an upcoming Malayalam original web series directed by Midhun Manuel Thomas.
Announced during JioHotstar’s South Unbound showcase, the psychological crime thriller has already generated considerable interest through its teaser. While inspired by the infamous Koodathayi case, the series tells a fictional story rather than directly recreating real-life events.
⭐ Lead Cast
- 🎭 Leona Lishoy
- 🎭 Nikhila Vimal
Leona Lishoy headlines the series in what is expected to be one of the most challenging roles of her career, while Nikhila Vimal plays another key character central to the unfolding mystery.
📌 Series Information
| 📋 Category | Details |
|---|---|
| 🎬 Director | Midhun Manuel Thomas |
| 📺 Platform | JioHotstar |
| 📅 Release Date | To Be Announced |
| 🔞 Content Rating | A (Adult) |
| 🎭 Genre | Psychological Crime Thriller |
Although the official streaming date is yet to be announced, Anali is already among JioHotstar’s most anticipated Malayalam originals.
🎥 Curry & Cyanide: The Jolly Joseph Case (Netflix)
Unlike fictional adaptations, Curry & Cyanide: The Jolly Joseph Case presents the real investigation through interviews, police records and archival material.
Produced by India Today Originals, the documentary is directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Christo Tomy.
📌 Documentary Information
| 📋 Category | Details |
|---|---|
| 🎬 Title | Curry & Cyanide: The Jolly Joseph Case |
| 📺 Platform | Netflix |
| 🎞️ Duration | 1 Hour 35 Minutes |
| 🎭 Genre | True Crime Documentary |
| 🔞 Rating | U/A 13+ |
| 🎬 Director | Christo Tomy |
| 🎥 Production | India Today Originals |
The documentary is available in multiple languages, including:
- 🌐 Malayalam
- 🇮🇳 Hindi
- 🇮🇳 Tamil
- 🇮🇳 Telugu
It investigates the mysterious deaths of six members of the same family and follows the police investigation that eventually led to the arrest of Jolly Joseph in 2019.
Rather than dramatizing the story, Curry & Cyanide presents eyewitness accounts, investigative findings and interviews that explore one of India’s most disturbing criminal cases.
📺 Koodathayi (Flowers TV)
The first major Malayalam television adaptation inspired by the case was Koodathayi, aired on Flowers TV.
The serial was produced under Flowers Movies International, making it the first fiction production from the banner.
⭐ Lead Cast
- 🎭 Shanavas Shanu
- 🎭 Muktha
- 🎭 Ansil
- 🎭 Nasar Latif
🎬 Crew
| 🎬 Department | Credit |
|---|---|
| ✍️ Script | R. Sreekandan Nair |
| 🎥 Director | Gireesh Konni |
| 🔍 Crime Investigation Consultant | Dr. K. Arun Kumar |
| 🎨 Project Designer | Anil Ayiroor |
| 📷 Camera | Ravi Chandran |
The serial generated significant discussion even before its premiere.
One of the witnesses in the real Koodathayi case filed a petition before the Kerala High Court seeking to stop its telecast. Following legal proceedings, the High Court later permitted Flowers TV to continue airing the serial, allowing the project to resume telecast.
📺 Krithyam (Kairali TV)
Krithyam, aired on Kairali TV, was another Malayalam television serial inspired by the Koodathayi murders.
Instead of directly recreating the real incident, the serial fictionalised the story and introduced a lead character named Solly, clearly inspired by Jolly Joseph.
🎬 Crew
- 🎥 Director – Santhosh Kuttamath
- 🎬 Producer – Manthra Vision in association with PM Entertainments
⭐ Cast
- 🎭 Rajesh Hebbar
- 🎭 Adithyan Jayan
- 🎭 Yamuna Mahesh
- 🎭 Sangeetha Rajendren
- 🎭 Sreepadma
The serial explored family relationships, deception and murder investigations while taking creative liberties with the original case.
⚖️ About the Koodathayi Cyanide Case
The Koodathayi Cyanide Case came to national attention after police reopened investigations into a series of mysterious deaths in a family from Koodathayi, Kozhikode.
Investigators alleged that Jolly Joseph was responsible for six murders between 2002 and 2016, using cyanide while maintaining the appearance of a respected family member. Following a detailed investigation, she was arrested in 2019, and the case continues through the legal process.
Its unusual nature, prolonged timeline and psychological complexity have made it one of the most widely discussed criminal cases in Kerala’s history.
📺 Where to Watch
| 🎬 Title | 📺 Platform |
|---|---|
| 🎬 Anali | JioHotstar (Coming Soon) |
| 🎥 Curry & Cyanide | Netflix |
| 📺 Koodathayi | Originally on Flowers TV |
| 📺 Krithyam | Originally on Kairali TV |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
📺 Which OTT platform will stream Anali?
Anali will stream exclusively on JioHotstar. The official release date is yet to be announced.
🎥 Is Curry & Cyanide based on the real Koodathayi case?
Yes. Curry & Cyanide: The Jolly Joseph Case is a true-crime documentary based on the real investigation.
📺 Which Malayalam TV channels aired serials inspired by the Koodathayi case?
Both Flowers TV (Koodathayi) and Kairali TV (Krithyam) produced television serials inspired by the infamous murders.
🎬 Is Anali a true story?
No. Anali is a fictional psychological thriller inspired by the Koodathayi Cyanide Case and is not a direct dramatization of real events.














