Malayalam superhit Premalu removed from OTT for Hindi remake. Internet is enraged

Malayalam cinema's 2024 blockbuster Premalu, starring Naslen and Mamitha Baiju, has been removed from JioHotstar months ahead of the release of its Hindi adaptation, Prem Keetanu. The move has left fans furious, with many questioning why one of the most-loved romantic comedies of recent years has been taken off the streaming platform ahead of the remake's release.A day ago, the makers of Prem Keetanu, starring Veer Pahariya, Aparshakti Khurana and Aafiya Sayed, unveiled the film's teaser. While many immediately identified it as a remake of Premalu, the teaser suggests that the makers have made several changes to the original story and characters.However, ahead of Prem Keetanu's October 2 release, the original has been removed from JioHotstar, where Premalu was available in multiple languages. The timing of the removal has not gone down well with fans, who believe the Malayalam film should remain available to audiences even as its Hindi adaptation heads to theatres. The film's removal has particularly upset viewers who fear that audiences will now have limited access to the original while the Hindi adaptation makes its theatrical debut. Some users also criticised the teaser, calling the remake a more generic version of the original. One user wrote, "Looks like #PremKeetanu isn’t a shot for shot remake of Premalu after all. It feels more generic and doesn’t have the freshness that made Premalu so special, though. The sad part is that Premalu has been removed from OTT because of this remake (sic)."Another user wrote, "As expected, Premalu will be butchered in a typical Bollywood remake." A third comment read, "The main USP of Premalu was the innocence of the cast and the relatability. Inga irukkuravangalalaam paatha, there is no iota of innocence anywhere."Here are some more reactions:Premalu hit theatres in 2024 and went on to become one of Malayalam cinema's biggest blockbusters. Its success transcended Kerala, with the film finding a strong audience across India and eventually becoming one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.Directed by Girish AD and produced by Fahadh Faasil, Dileesh Pothan and Syam Pushkaran, Premalu was made on a reported budget of around Rs 3 crore and went on to earn approximately Rs 136.25 crore worldwide.- EndsPublished On: Aug 18, 2026 09:24 IST