Rio Raj defends Aan Paavam Pollathathu, says OTT debate was expected

Actor Rio Raj has said that the contrasting reactions to his 2025 film Aan Paavam Pollathathu between its theatrical and OTT release were natural and even expected. In an exclusive interview with Cinema Express while promoting his upcoming film Ram in Leela, Rio said the team deliberately wanted the romantic comedy to spark conversations about marriage and relationships.

Directed by debutant Kalaiarasan Thangavel, the film stars Rio alongside Malavika Manoj and centres on a married couple navigating differing expectations. It released in theatres on October 31, 2025, and later began streaming on JioHotstar. Rio said the film received a strong response in theatres and that its digital release brought a fresh wave of discussion, including criticism from viewers who had formed opinions after seeing snippets on social media. He replied to some critics directly, asking them to watch the full film before commenting, and said several later replied that it was actually good.

Rio added that even one real-life conversation triggered by the film would make it a success: "If, after watching Aan Paavam Pollathathu, even one husband and wife who are going through a divorce think about whether they really want to go through with it, call each other and sit down and talk, then the film is a success for me." The actor pointed to films such as Aayirathil Oruvan as examples of movies that gained appreciation long after release. Rio's next film Ram in Leela, a romantic comedy co-starring Vartika, is set for release on August 21.