Malayalam horror comedy ‘Prakambam’ has officially hit OTT after a successful theatrical run. The film directed by Vijesh Panathur first hit the theaters on January 30, 2026 and after many weeks of anticipation, the film has started playing on the last day of ZEE5.As of now, the film is only available for streaming in its original Malayalam version.
The story mixes hostel life with supernatural comedy
‘Prakambam’ revolves around a college student named Sidhu, who is entrusted with the unusual responsibility of his grandmother’s ashes. Sidhu, who is in his final year of college, will have to take the ashes to Kashi for the last rites. However, he feels ashamed to wear it openly in his hostel.To avoid awkward questions he hides the ashes in a small powder bottle and keeps them in his room and this decision soon leads to an unexpected and chaotic situation.His friend Punyalan mistakenly assumes the powders are drugs, and inhales the contents without realizing what they really are.Soon Punyalan is possessed by the spirit of Sidhu’s conservative and judgmental grandmother, which sets off a series of humorous and terrifying events.
The cast brings the strange story to life
Actor Ganapathi is seen in the role of Sidhu, who is the student at the center of the story. Sagar Surya plays Punyala, whose actions lead to supernatural chaos. Veteran actress Mallika Sukumaran portrays Sidhu’s grandmother and her character becomes an unexpected presence after having Punyala.The film also features popular content creator Al Ameen, who plays Sidhu and Punyalan’s best friend Shankaran.
The horror-comedy tone earns appreciation
According to the official exclusive review by ETimes, the film is a huge success because of its relaxed approach to storytelling.The review said: “Director Vijesh Panathur keeps the tone light and playful, while writer Sreehari Vadakkan builds humor into everyday hostel life. The actors display good comic timing, and the camerawork and background score calmly embrace the shifts between carefree fun and gentle ghostly moments, helping the film maintain its horror-comedy feel.”He also stated: “Things really start to pick up in the second half when the jokes and the creepy atmosphere start working together, making the film feel like a fun ride rather than a scary stress-fest. Even though the narrative loosens up in places, the film remains engaging because it understands its main goal to entertain, not scare.” The review added: “It’s not meant to be groundbreaking, but it’s full of laughs and works perfectly as a horror comedy that young theatergoers will love.“On the other hand, Sagar Surya had earlier received a lot of praise for his role as a villain in ‘Pani’.
