Latest news with #KottayamMedicalCollege
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Azadi OTT' release date: Check out where this Malayalam action thriller will stream; the official platform confirms!
Picture Credit: X The Malayalam action thriller 'Azadi,' which hit theaters on May 23, 2025, received a positive response from critics and audiences alike. Now, the film is all set for its digital premiere. The streaming platform Manorama Max announced via social media that 'Azadi' will soon be available for streaming. While the exact release date is yet to be revealed, it is expected to drop later this month, June 2025. Alongside the announcement, the platform posted, 'Azadi | Coming Soon | manoramaMAX.' Azadi unfolds primarily within the premises of Kottayam Medical College, where Ganga (played by Raveena Ravi) is admitted while pregnant. She finds herself accused of murdering a political leader's son. Hours after her admission, her husband, Raghu (portrayed by Sreenath Bhasi), devises a daring 24-hour escape plan with the help of insiders, aiming to free her from the grasp of law enforcement. However, their past comes back to haunt them during the escape, as adversaries infiltrate the hospital. Tension escalates, turning the medical facility into a battleground and forcing the couple into a fight for survival. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Live by the Beach at Sunteck's 2/3BHK Homes starts @₹98L+ Sunteck Realty Learn More Undo The film intricately weaves themes of love, sacrifice, and the pursuit of justice amidst chaos and betrayal. Directed by Jo George and written by Sagar, Azadi features a powerful supporting cast including Lal, Vani Vishwanath, Saiju Kurup, and Maala Parvathi . The film's evocative musical score is composed by Varun Unni. According to trade analyst Sacnilk, Azadi earned an estimated Rs 70 lakh on its opening day in Kerala. While its box office performance has been modest compared to major 2025 Malayalam hits like L2: Empuraan and Thudarum, the film has nonetheless generated steady interest among viewers.
Pink Villa
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Azadi OTT Release: Where to watch Sreenath Bhasi's Malayalam action thriller based on a daring prison break
Malayalam action thriller Azadi was released on May 23, 2025, and received critical appreciation extensively for its screenplay. The movie presents a fight for survival of the innocents, staged against a daring prison break attempt. It is now all set to hit the OTT space soon. Where to watch Azadi Makers of Azadi had partnered with Manorama Max as their streaming partner on OTT way ahead of its release. And now the movie is all set to debut in the digital space in June 2025. The OTT platform made the announcement on their Instagram handle by sharing a poster of the film. However, the exact date has not been confirmed yet. Official trailer and plot of Azadi Azadi revolves within the walls of Kottayam Medical College, where the protagonist, Ganga, is admitted. She is pregnant and is about to deliver her child, while carrying the accusation of murdering the son of a political leader. Hours after her admission, her husband Raghu hatches a 24-hour vivid plan with help from insiders in the hospital to attempt a prison break for his wife Ganga and escape from the clutches of the law. However, their haunting past catches up with Raghu and Ganga in the midst of their daring escapade as their adversaries infiltrate the hospital premises. This complicates the situation, as the couple fights for their survival at the very core. Azadi stars Sreenath Bhasi, Raveena Ravi, Lal, Vani Vishwanath, Saiju Kurup, Maala Parvathi, and others in key roles. The film is written by Sagar and is directed by Jo George. It is produced by Faizal Raja under the banner of Little Crew Production. Varun Unni has done the musical score of the film.
New Indian Express
03-06-2025
- New Indian Express
CBI takes over investigation into Siby custodial death after 10 years in Kerala
KOCHI: Nearly a decade after the alleged custodial death of a Dalit man in Kottayam, the CBI has officially taken over the probe, signalling a major revival of the controversial case that had once triggered widespread political and public outrage. The CBI initiated its investigation recently, acting on a recommendation by the state government. The Union government granted approval only in early 2025, enabling the Central agency to register FIRs and begin collecting case materials. The incident dates back to June 29, 2015, when Siby, 40, of Nellithanathumala, Kurichithanam, was taken into custody from the Marangattupally Primary Health Centre allegedly following a drunken altercation. He was later shifted to Kottayam Medical College, where he died while undergoing treatment. According to the initial police version, Siby was involved in a drunken brawl with a youth named Amal. During the scuffle, Amal allegedly kicked Siby, causing him to fall. When Siby tried to get up, Amal reportedly struck him again with a brick, leading to serious injuries.
Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Azadi movie review: Sreenath Bhasi's jailbreak drama struggles to break free of clichés, is shackled to a terrible twist
Azadi movie review: Jailbreak movies are inherently more intriguing compared to other crime thrillers. The stakes are usually higher, since the odds of the master plan succeeding are incredibly slim; there's also a cat-and-mouse element, with the police hot on the trail of the escapees. This not only creates ample potential for thrilling moments but also forces the filmmakers to craft airtight narratives. Debutant director Jo George's Azadi is, at its core, a jailbreak drama where the stakes are incredibly high. Or, as Raghu (Sreenath Bhasi) puts it while explaining his plan to his teammates, 'There's a 99 per cent chance this will fail.' Yet, he, along with his father-in-law Sivan (Lal) and a band of commoners, embarks on a mission that could cost them all their Azadi (freedom) forever. In prison for murdering the son of an influential p0litician, Ganga (Raveena Ravi) was spared from the death penalty solely because she was pregnant at the time of her conviction. Although she is relatively safe within the prison walls, Mohan (Boban Samuel) is waiting for the right opportunity to avenge his son's death. Meanwhile, Raghu and Sivan are on the outside, devising a master plan to help Ganga escape once and for all, with the help of their lawyer, Advocate Gangadhara Menon (TG Ravi). Knowing that rescuing her directly from prison is impossible, they plan to make their move when she is transferred to Kottayam Medical College to give birth to her child. To execute the plan, they rope in four people: Pappan (Rajesh Sharma), Jinu (Abin Bino), Sathyan (Abhiram Radhakrishnan), and a doctor at the medical college (Gilu Joseph). Once Ganga is admitted to the hospital, they begin setting their plan in motion. Despite their efforts to keep everything under wraps, the police learns about the scheme. Enter the sharp and formidable Rani IPS (Vani Viswanath), determined to ensure that Ganga is returned to jail immediately after delivery. With increased security and a hospital swarming with thousands of people, how will Ganga be rescued? From the very beginning, Azadi makes it clear that it's going to prioritise drama over thrills, and writer Sagar and director Jo George remain committed to that till the very end. Even when the narrative veers into thriller territory, the filmmakers resist the temptation. By fixing Azadi's roots firmly in drama, Jo and Sagar consistently aim to tug at the audiences' heartstrings; unfortunately, these attempts don't always work as intended. In fact, several moments come across as overly dramatic, largely due to heavy-handed dialogues. The same issue crops up in the film's tense scenes. Though Sagar manages to maintain a generally organic narrative flow, several scenes feel undercooked. Whether it's Raghu's desperation to see the plan succeed, Sivan's helplessness, or the others' fear of getting nabbed, the writing frequently falls short due to an overreliance on unpolished dialogues. If not for the actors' good performances, the film would have struggled even more. Jo George shows promise in his debut outing, but Azadi would have benefited from a brisker pace. While Noufal Abdullah's editing helps preserve the film's core essence, complemented by Varun Unni's superb music, a tighter cut could have eliminated many repetitive moments, especially the repeated scenes of the police confidently declaring that 'the problems are solved and the situation is under control' when things clearly aren't. And then, there's the pointless subplot featuring Saiju Kurup. (Spoilers ahead) The film's climactic twist, meanwhile, is one of its biggest letdowns. Rather than elevating the story or compensating for its earlier shortcomings, the twist feels extremely contrived. Given Ganga's sad backstory and the impending threat to her life, the twist undermines the emotional build-up; the movie would have been better off if the twist had been avoided entirely. Sreenath Bhasi shines as the protagonist, especially in scenes that require subtlety and restraint. In moments when his character is emotionally and spiritually crushed by the police, Bhasi convincingly portrays both Raghu's suffering and humility in tandem, adding the necessary layers to his role. Though his dialect initially feels inconsistent, as if he's struggling to find the right tone, it becomes clear after the climactic twist why he chose that tactic, and it ultimately pays off. Though Vani Viswanath's aura is incomparable and she magnificently commands every frame she's in, her character is poorly written. Beyond a few 'punch' dialogues with a Tamil touch, Vani is given little else to work with. Lal, as the ageing distressed father with a dark past, is perfect in his role; though his performance could have been elevated further with stronger dialogues. Raveena Ravi delivers a standout portrayal as the speech-impaired, pregnant Ganga, capturing both vulnerability and quiet strength. Azadi movie cast: Sreenath Bhasi, Vani Viswanath, Saiju Kurup, Lal, Raveena Ravi Azadi movie director: Jo George Azadi movie rating: 2 stars Anandu Suresh is a Senior sub-editor at Indian Express Online. He specialises in Malayalam cinema, but doesn't limit himself to it and explores various aspects of the art form. He also pens a column titled Cinema Anatomy, where he delves extensively into the diverse layers and dimensions of cinema, aiming to uncover deeper meanings and foster continuous discourse. Anandu previously worked with The New Indian Express' news desk in Hyderabad, Telangana. You can follow him on Twitter @anandu_suresh_ and write (or send movie recommendations) to him at ... Read More
