From screen to suite: Diya Krishna’s delivery video echoes 'Three Idiots', says Alleppey Ashraf

Filmmaker Alleppey Ashraf says that the viral childbirth video of Diya Krishna echoes the emotional delivery scene from the 2009 Hindi film 'Three Idiots.' In that movie, Aamir Khan and his friends help deliver a baby during a tense situation, an emotionally charged scene that left many Indian viewers in tears. According to Ashraf, Diya’s father, Krishnakumar, and his family deliberately followed a similar emotional arc.

Sharing his observations through his YouTube channel, Ashraf also notes that while earlier childbirth videos such as those of actress Shwetha Menon for a film and Pearle Maaney on YouTube faced backlash, Diya and her family have largely received praise.

Using the moment to reflect on changing times, Ashraf speaks about how family life has transformed across generations. “There was a time when five to ten people lived together in just two rooms. Today, houses have five or six rooms, but only two or three people live in them. In those days, homes were filled with conversation and shared experiences. Now, even minimal communication between parents and children is replaced by mobile phones. What used to be private is now public—real-life moments, including childbirth, are being live-streamed,” he said.

In the past few weeks, three childbirth videos have surfaced on YouTube. The most prominent among them is that of Diya Krishna, affectionately known as 'Ossi', whose video is approaching one lakh views. She gave birth to a baby boy who became a social media sensation within hours of his arrival.

In a time when many in the younger generation accept live-in relationships but are hesitant about childbirth, Diya stands apart. She married young, lives happily with her husband, and gave birth via a natural hospital delivery, thus offering a counter-narrative that is also very inspiring.

“Krishnakumar and his family are content creators. They produce original, lifestyle-based videos that have drawn lakhs of viewers. The childbirth video is simply an extension of their content stream,” Ashraf explains. He believes that societal attitudes will continue to evolve. “There will always be supporters and critics. But change is inevitable. It will keep coming, whether we like it or not,” he says.

Ashraf then recalls his own childhood to reflect on how childbirth practices have changed. “My Umma delivered me at home. We were seven children. My mother’s sister had ten kids. That made 17 children and their parents under one roof. I was one of the brothers for these ten sisters. My father’s only sister had 12 children, including six girls. So, altogether, 29 children were born at home. All of them were normal deliveries and all had gone through the agony of natural labour.”

In those days, childbirth was considered safe and natural, even at home. The search for a midwife begins only after labour pains start and postnatal care follows a 40-day period of herbal treatment for both mother and newborn. Ashraf draws a contrast between the traditional birth with today’s hospital births, backed by medical professionals and emotional support. 

“Diya Krishna delivered in a suite at a modern hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. Her doctors, parents, and sisters were present to encourage and support her. Through the video, Diya also gave her viewers a chance to become part of that intimate family moment,” he said.

Ashraf points to the emotional impact of the delivery scene in Three Idiots, which showed a mother enduring labour pains, complete with groans and cries. That raw emotion helped the film earn over Rs. 400 crore at the box office. Diya’s video, he says, has used a similar ''upper-body only' camera framing. It captures the intense emotion of labour, with repeated calls of 'push, push, push', as in the movie. Applause and cheers followed the baby’s birth, mirroring the film’s emotional crescendo. Both deliveries, he notes, were runaway hits and brought in substantial attention and revenue.

That same week, two other live-streamed childbirth videos were released on YouTube but failed to attract attention. These were reportedly flagged for violating YouTube’s content policy, likely due to full-body exposure, and were excluded from monetisation. The creators eventually had to re-edit and re-upload the videos. Meanwhile, Diya’s video drew overwhelming praise, though not without some criticism. One female YouTuber claimed the delivery was 'staged',  arguing that the use of epidural anesthesia, which reduces pain, made Diya’s groaning and writhing seem theatrical.

She also questioned certain inconsistencies: “Pregnant women given enemas are usually not fed once labour begins. But in this video, everyone keeps talking about ‘feeding, feeding.’” She sarcastically likened the production to something on a “Nayanthara-level.” At one point, Diya’s mother even says the delivery happened without much pain, thanks to an injection.

Criticisms were also directed at Diya’s appearance, pointing to her makeup before delivery and suggesting it was done for show. However, many defended her, saying it was likely part of preparing to film the labour. Despite these critiques, viewers across genders rallied behind Diya, calling the video a raw, unfiltered portrayal of what mothers endure during childbirth.

According to Ashraf,  the video should serve as a wake-up call, especially for those who abandon their ageing mothers at temples or orphanages.“Diya delivered her child with an epidural, yet she still went through immense pain. It makes us think, 'if this is what she went through with medical support, what must our mothers have endured when they gave birth to us?' They stare death in the face and yet the moment they see their baby’s face, they say, ‘It was an easy delivery.’ That’s the love only a mother can give. Diya has given us a moment to reflect on whether we’ve truly done justice to our own mothers.”

“As time rolls on, we might not just see claps and cheers in the delivery room, but maybe even dancing, singing, or drum beats! Whatever happens, I wish Diya Krishna and her baby, born a celebrity in a celebrity family, all the very best,” he concludes.