This Onam was one for the ages at the Kerala box office with Vysakh’s Prithviraj Sukumaran -starrer Khalifa: TheRuler and Girish AD’s Nivin Pauly-starrer Bethlehem Kudumba Unit clashing. Even Malayalam director Geetu Mohandas’ much-hyped Kannada film Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups didn’t stand a chance in the state, as Bethlehem Kudumba Unit became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time. Because of the lead, khalifa was also panned, and now, after its OTT release across six platforms, the director seems to think his film received a lukewarm response partly.
(Also Read: Prithviraj Sukumaran’s ₹ 45-crore Onam film Khalifa releases on 6 OTT platforms: Where to watch ) Since Khalifa hit OTT, Vysakh has been resharing posts praising the film. One fan post he re-shared on Instagram read: “A film which came with huge hype, but became a box office flop … Must say, it a classic example of utter degrading, review bombing and hatred towards Prithvi. “True that it had BKU as a rival. Still, had it been helmed by any other lead actor, the fate would have been different … It had all elements for a mass masala entertainer with class music, editing and direction. Had required plot twists and yes, is a bit old school but what’s the issue? Vysakh has also re-shared posts calling Khalifa’s climax ‘mass’ and the film ‘absolute cinema’.
We also need such unrealistic mass movies too among so called natural’ ones!!”further wrote the fan, adding, “Felt sorry for @directorvysakh to see his efforts went vain. Had this in my theatre list, but had to watch on OTT yesterday.
