Here Are Films That Are Definitely NOT Going The OTT Way, Despite What The Rumours May Say So Far

The film industries across the country are facing major losses with every passing Friday that films don’t release on the big screen due to the ongoing lockdown. So far biggies such as 83, Sooryavanshi, Coolie No.1 has passed their announced release dates and future films too might face issues meeting deadlines set as shoots remain suspended.

After over a month and a half of the lockdown conversations over the digital release of movies have already started with films like Angrezi Medium and Baaghi 3 that were eyeing a re-release after their premature exit from theatres having already found their way on OTT platforms. Now Akshay Kumar’s Laxxmi Bomb, Ayushmann Khurrana’s Gulabo Sitabo and even Salman Khan starrer Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai are said to be in talks for a release online.

Additionally, Ananya Pandey, Ishaan Katter’s Khaali Peeli, Janhvi Kapoor’s Gunjan Saxena, Sooryavanshi, 83 have all being speculated to get an OTT release. Among south films there has been heavy controversy over Jyothika’s Tamil film Pon Magal Vandhal skipping a theatrical release.

Even though producers are willing to explore the OTT route there has been opposition and pleas from multiplex owners to wait out the lockdown and not take their films to digital platforms especially for the big films. While there’s no confirmation on most of these films going online here are films that are certainly NOT going to release on digital platforms.

’83 – The sports drama was one of the most awaited films of the year which will be recreating India’ thunderous victory in the 1983 cricket world cup. Starring Ranveer Singh who is playing Kapil Dev, filmmaker Kabir Khan has confirmed that the movie that was to release in April will not go the OTT way. The producers are willing to wait upto six months and therefore a digital release is off the cards.

Sooryavanshi – Akshay Kumar’s cop drama which will also see Ranveer Singh and Ajay Devgn has already had its trailer release and the film slated for an end of March release is waiting for the lockdown to be over.

Master – Vijay Sethupathi’s will be seen as an antagonist in this Tamil biggie and while there were reports were that Amazon Prime Video had offered makers a Rs. 125 crores deal for a direct OTT release the producer clarified that the film will release in theatres.

Gunjan Saxena – Janhvi Kapoor led Gunjan Saxena was also due for an April release but has now been in the news for considering the option of an OTT release. Karan Johar who is the producer of the project has however wasted no time in tweeting out about baseless rumours of films heading for digital releases indicating that he too wants to wait out the lockdown.

Nishabdam – Anushka Shetty and R. Madhavan starrer Nishabdam has been constantly in headlines over speculations of the film skipping a theatrical release to arrive directly on OTT platforms. The makers of the film, however, have clarified in April that the reports claiming so are just rumours.

To go OTT or not is a catch 22 situation for producers as both ways it is a big risk for their projects. So far big films are definitely waiting for theatres to re-open but smaller ones are definitely weighing in the digital options.