The Malayalam horror comedy ‘Prakambanam’ has officially arrived on OTT after a successful theatrical run. Directed by Vijesh Panathur, the film first hit theatres on January 30, 2026 and after weeks of anticipation, the film has now begun streaming on ZEE5 on the last day.As of now, the film is available for streaming only in its original Malayalam version.
Story blends hostel life with supernatural comedy
‘Prakambanam’ revolves around a college student named Sidhu who is entrusted with an unusual responsibility involving his grandmother’s ashes. Sidhu, who is in his final year of college, must take the ashes to Kashi for the last rites. However, he feels embarrassed about carrying them openly in his hostel.To avoid awkward questions he hides the ashes in a small powder bottle and keeps it in his room and this decision soon leads to an unexpected and chaotic situation.His friend Punyalan mistakenly assumes that the powder is drugs and he snorts the contents without realizing what they actually are.Soon after, Punyalan becomes possessed by the spirit of Sidhu’s conservative and judgmental grandmother and this set off a series of humorous and spooky events.
Cast brings the quirky story to life
Actor Ganapathi appears in the role of Sidhu who is the student at the center of the story. Sagar Surya plays Punyalan, whose actions trigger the supernatural chaos.Veteran actress Mallika Sukumaran portrays Sidhu’s grandmother and her character becomes an unexpected presence after possessing Punyalan.The film also features the popular content creator Al Ameen as Shankaran who plays the best friend of Sidhu and Punyalan.
Horror comedy tone wins appreciation
According to official exclusive review by ETimes, the film succeeds largely because of its relaxed storytelling approach.The review stated, “Director Vijesh Panathur keeps the tone easy and playful, while writer Sreehari Vadakkan builds humour through everyday hostel life. The actors show good comic timing, and the camerawork and background score quietly support the shifts between carefree fun and mild spooky moments, helping the film maintain its horror-comedy rhythm.”It further noted, “Things really pick up in the second part once the jokes and spooky vibes start working together, making the movie feel more like a fun ride than a scary stress-fest. Even when the narrative loosens in places, the film remains engaging because it understands its primary aim to entertain, not to intimidate.” The review also added, “It’s not trying to be groundbreaking, but it’s packed with laughs and works perfectly as a horror-comedy that young theater-goers will love.“On the other hand, Sagar Surya previously received much praises for his villain role in ‘Pani’.
