Karikku
Karikku (meaning Tender Coconut) is an Indian digital media platform in Malayalam and a YouTube channel that was founded by Nikhil Prasad in 2018. The platform gained popularity with their first Web series titled "Thera Para". Karikku has different business verticals including Fliq (multi genre web series space), Tuned (indie music label), Fuse (advertising and influencer marketing), Wybe (merchandising) and Zero (news aggregator).
| Karikku | ||||||||||
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![]() Karikku Logo | ||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||
| Origin | 1 April 2018 | |||||||||
| Nationality | Indian | |||||||||
| YouTube information | ||||||||||
| Channels | ||||||||||
| Location | Kochi | |||||||||
| Created by | Nikhil Prasad | |||||||||
| Years active | 2018 – present | |||||||||
| Subscribers | 7.53 million (November 2021) | |||||||||
| Total views | 0.98 Billion (November 2021) | |||||||||
| Catchphrase(s) | Feel The Freshness Inside | |||||||||
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The channel received the Golden Creator Award upon reaching one million subscribers on YouTube in 2019.[1][2]
The Karikku platform received the Mazhavil Entertainment award 2019 for the Best Original Content (Digital) presented by Mazhavil Manorama.[3][4]
History
The YouTube channel Karikku was launched on 16 August 2016 by Nikhil Prasad.[5] Karikku uploaded its first video on April's Fools Day, 2018.
The channel's breakthrough came with the series Thera Para, which discusses the life of four young men in a very relatable manner, touching upon the day in the life of people around that age category.[6][7] The series was later converted to a single watch of Season 1 with some minor edits and re-released in 2020. A movie with the same name is currently in the pre-production phase and was announced through their YouTube channel as a motion poster.[8][9][10][11]
Its popularity grew rapidly throughout 2019, with the addition of new cast members and interesting plots.[12] Film actors like Tovino Thomas (Gym Boys), Saniya Iyappan (Thera Para Season 1 Finale),[13] Rajisha Vijayan (Valentine's Day Gift) and Aju Varghese (Thera Para Season 1 Finale) made cameo appearances.[14]
They released a video in 2019 celebrating their new YouTube Silver Play Button, after crossing 100,000 subscribers (കിട്ടുമോ?), promoting more viewers to subscribe, as they aimed for the Golden Play Button.[15][16]
In 2020, after a small break due to the COVID-19 crisis and the resulting lockdown, Karikku gradually started to upload videos, beginning with an episode based on a video call, creating a spin-off of the episode Bhaskaran Pillai Technologies.[17]
In collaboration with Netflix, Karikku released a video titled Ripper - The Wanted Killer on April 3, 2021. The Sketch is a promotion for the Malayalam motion picture Irul and was released on the official Netflix India YouTube channel.[18]
Cast
A 2020 listing of the frequently collaborated cast
- Anand Mathews - As Shambu(Thera Para), Eldho,Eldhappi(Plus Two)[19]
- Anu K Aniyan - As George(Thera Para), Babu(Doosra), Kallu Maathan(Ulkka), Unni(Plus Two), Dineshan/Janma'Dinesh'(Happy Birthday)[20][21]
- Arjun Ratan - As Sanju(Scoot), Scene Britto(Thera Para), Noushad Vava(Ulkka)
- Athira Niranjana - As Maths Teacher(Plus Two), Savitri(Family Pack)[22]
- Binoy John - As Shibu(Thera Para), Amal Iruttikunnel(Plus Two)
- Jeevan Stephen - As Malakk(Ulkka), Antony(Antappan), Francis(Thera Para)
- Sabareesh Sajjin - Lolan(Thera Para), Jackson(Plus two)[21]
- Sneha Babu[23]
- Sruthy Suresh[24]
- Unni Mathews[19]
Verticals of Karikku
Thera Para
Thera Para discusses the life of four ambitious and energetic, yet jobless young men. This is the story of four friends - George (Anu K Aniyan), Shambhu (Anand Mathews), Lolan (Sabareesh Sajjin) and Shibu (Binoy John). Out of the four, only Shibu is employed, but his job remains unknown to others. George is searching for a job, while Shambu is a technology geek and Lolan is depicted as a good-for-nothing fellow. Lolan has an online girlfriend known as Ashwathy Achu.[25]
+2 Class
It portrays the life of Class XII Students and the different experiences of their lifetime. In the series, the boys of the class go for a trip to a resort along with a mysterious new student who looks much older than them. Unni (portrayed by Anu K Aniyan) had mortgaged his gold chain in order to obtain the fund for the trip. The gold chain is with the new student (portrayed by Unni Mathews) and Unni is constantly worried about the gold chain and is suspicious about the new student. He informs one of his friends about the same and they both try to follow the new student and get back Unni's gold chain.
A total of 6 episodes of the series has been released on Karikku's YouTube Channel. The production and release of the other episodes had been halted due to the Covid situation.
Doosra
This is a 3 episode webseries which continues the plot of their blockbuster sketch comedy Arrangement Kalyanam. Filmed during the Covid-19 pandemic, the story continues where Justin and his buddy accompanied by the naïve Bengali migrant worker Babu, buy a flat with the hope of getting Veni, the daughter of Balasubramaniam Namboothiri but are trapped in a maze of lies orchestrated by Vaithi, Veni's cousin, who is also secretly trying to woo Veni.
Karikku Fliq
Karikku Fliq is a vertical of Karikku for multi-genre webseries content. It features mainly two types of contents - Webseries produced under the Karikku label with new/inhouse talent like it's series "Rock Paper Scissors", "Scoot!", "Average Ambili" and "Better Half" . It also features webseries produced by outside production houses with new talent and creators like it's latest flick "Insomnia Nights".
Rock Paper Scissors
Rock Paper Scissors is a story about three girls who live in the same house. They share a good bond and lead their own eventful lives. The series was well received and has 2 seasons.
Scoot
The series revolves around the lives of Antony and Sanjay, whose ambition is to build a turf but end up in a dilemma as they fund their dream. The story also focuses on Shyam Kandithara, a friend of theirs, who also helps them in achieving their dream. This series is considered one of the best web-series of Karikku team.
Insomnia Nights
Insomnia Nights is a 5-episode series produced by the platform. It revolves around the events happening in the life of a former doctor - Surjith, who is facing mental disturbance and has insomnia. The series stars Vishnu Agasthya in the role of Surjtih. It is written and created by Thamby (Amal Sheela Thamby).
Average Ambili
Average Ambili is the latest offering from Karikku Fliq. It's maiden episode was released on the Karikku Fliq YouTube Channel on July 19, 2021. The series revolves around the life of Ambili, an average girl in a not-so average society.[26]
Karikku Tuned
Karikku Tuned is a vertical of Karikku which produced music videos made by and featuring various artistes. It is aimed at encouraging independent artistes and talents in the field. Some of the well known tracks published in Tuned include "Pambaram" by the hip-hop group Street Academics which went viral.[27]
Karikku Fuse
Karikku Fuse is one of the newest verticals of Karikku which is mainly intended for influencer/talent management and marketing.
Karikku Wybe
Karikku Wybe is the merchandise store of Karikku. Their merchandise mainly includes designer t-shirts carrying popular catchphrases from Karikku videos and pop culture. They have setup their stalls in many prominent fests.
Karikku Zero
Kariku Zero is the news vertical of Karikku. It started as an experimental news aggregator project in social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
References
- "Karikku owns 1 Million followers with just 30 uploads". The Times of India. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- "Christmas സമ്മാനവുമായി കരിക്കിന്റെ ജിഞ്ച". Zee News Malayalam (in Malayalam). 2020-12-25. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
- "List of winners in Mazhavil Entertainment Awards 2019". Mazhavil Manorama. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
- "Mazhavil Entertainment Awards show winners revealed". MediaNews4U. 2019-05-14. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
- "Meet the creator of YouTube's viral 'Karikku' team". The Hindu. 2019-08-02. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
- S, Harikumar J. (2020-10-22). "'Karikku' special 'Thera Para' is ruling over the hearts of Keralites". The Hindu.
- "Thera Para". Madhyamam (Malayalam).
- "Thera Para, the online sensation, gets a filmy makeover". The Times of India.
- "'Karikku' team comes up with 'Thera Para' movie; Motion poster trends on YouTube..." Mathrubhumi.
- "Karikku to try ot 'Thera Para' film". Malayala Manorama.
- "The epic Thera Para to be made to into a movie. (Malayalam)". Madhyamam (Malayalam).
- "Quantum leap in Malayalam content on YouTube". The Hindu. 26 July 2019.
- "How Saniya Iyappan became Aswathy Achu in Karikku web series?". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- "Tovino joins other Mollywood stars to act a role in Karikku". Malayala Manorama. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
- "These guys are behind the popular online channel Karikku". OnManorama. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
- Although they never created a video celebrating the Golden Play Button after the channel crossed 1 million subscribers.
- "COVID-19: Popular social media stars in Kerala release comic shorts on the lockdown". The Hindu.
- "Malayalam content creator Karikku's debut sketch video on Netflix grabs eyeballs".
- alokviswa@mpp.co.in, കെ വിശ്വനാഥ് |. "കഥയുടെ കടലൊരുക്കി പി.എഫ്. മാത്യൂസ്; കരിക്കിൽ ചിരിയുടെ മറുകരയിലേയ്ക്ക് കൊണ്ടുപോയി ഉണ്ണിയും ആനന്ദും". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
- "Did you know 'Karikku' fame George has played a role in 'Argentina Fans Kattoorkadavu?'". The Times Of India.
- Raghavan, Biju. "A tete-a-tete with 'Karikku' stars". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
- "Athira Niranjana Suresh".
- "'Karikku' fame Sneha Babu plays Kalasadhan Dhanya in 'Ganagandharvan' - Times of India".
- "'കരിക്കിലെ ലേഡി ലോലൻ'; ഈ സുന്ദരിയുടെ പുത്തൻ മേക്കോവർ ചിത്രങ്ങൾ കണ്ടിരുന്നോ നിങ്ങൾ?".
- "How Saniya Iyappan became Ashwathy Achu in Karikku web series?". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
- "What's wrong with average?". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
- "Void full of memories". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
