Cold Case: Malayalam Cinema's Hidden Gem In The Thriller Genre

From well-known classics to thrillers, Malayalam cinema is well-known for producing some of the best films in the thriller mystery genre that won the hearts of many over the years. One of the most underrated investigation thrillers is Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Cold Case.

Cold Case is a 2021 Indian Malayalam crime film directed by Tanu Balak and written by Sreenath V Nath. It stars Prithviraj Sukumaran and Aditi Balan in lead roles, with supporting roles played by Pooja Mohanraj, Anil Nedumangad, Lakshmi Priyaa Chandramouli, Anand and Rajesh Hebbar. The plot follows two parallel investigations of a paranormal murder case by IPS officer, M. Sathyajith (Prithviraj) and investigative journalist, Medha Padmaja (Aditi), whose paths eventually cross.

The film marks the directorial debut of cinematographer Tanu Balak. Following an official announcement in September 2020, principal photography began on October 31 and was completed on December 7, 2020. The film was shot primarily in Trivandrum over around 36 days. Prakash Alex composed the film’s music, while Gireesh Gangadharan and Jomon T John jointly handled cinematography and Shameer Muhammed edited the film. Cold Case was released on Amazon Prime Video on June 30, 2021, bypassing the theatrical release due to the COVID-19-related closure of cinemas.

The film was originally scheduled for a digital theatrical release in December 2020 but was then postponed due to post-production difficulties. In the process, the producers later planned a theatrical release as theatres were allowed to operate at 50% capacity, and set the date as 4 March 2021.

The film was postponed indefinitely, and the producers again opted for a release through an over-the-top media service as theatres’ operations were affected by the second wave of COVID-19. Anto Joseph officially announced the plans for a digital release, with the streaming rights of Cold Case and Fahadh Faasil-starrer Malik being sold to Amazon Prime Video.

On 16 June 2021, the makers announced the release date as 30 June 2021, with the film’s teaser being unveiled on the same day. The trailer was later revealed on June 18, 2021. Cold Case was released worldwide on Amazon Prime Video at midnight on June 29, ahead of its original release, and was available for streaming in 240 countries.