With the increasing uncertainty about almost everything due to COVID-19, producers have decided to depend on OTT platforms.Seeing it as a potential savior and the most logical possible step in a year marred by the COVID-19 pandemic, filmmakers have finally decided to take the plunge.?
Being critical of the decision and how it'll affect the overall business, trade-analyst Taran Adarsh told a news agency, "There is a lot of big money involved. Also, if you release on OTT you cannot release it in theatres¡ If you release a film in the theatre it will come on satellite as well as digital later."?
He added, "One can't say the film will lose or gain from a digital release, because when you release a good film in theaters, the sky is the limit."?
But for more than a month, there have been reports on how several films were looking at a direct to digital release amid the lockdown.?Online video streaming platform Amazon Prime Video on Friday announced the online release of seven Indian films.?
These seven films include Shoojit Sircar's 'Gulabo Sitabo', that will skip theatrical release and premier directly on Amazon Prime Video.?
Maybe it's time to make peace with the fact that releasing films on OTT may just be the new normal. Time to block your calendar as here's a list of 10 high-anticipated Bollywood movies that will skip the theatres and release directly on OTT platforms.?
Star cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Ayushmann Khurrana and Nalneesh Neel
The film helmed by Shoojit Sircar would be skipping a theatrical release but don't lower down your expectations. In a first, the audience will get to witness the magic of a veteran superstar Amitabh Bachchan and India's most dependable actor Ayushmann Khurrana! Let's see how that goes. The movie will release on June 12, 2020, on?Amazon Prime Video.
Star cast: Akshay Kumar, Kiara Advani, and Tusshar Kapoor
Starring Akshay and Kiara in lead roles, this horror-comedy is an official remake of the Tamil film Muni 2: Kanchana. The release date of the film is not decided but it'll release on?Disney+Hotstar?
Star cast:?Amitabh Bachchan, Akash Thosar and Rinku Rajguru
The film has been directed by Nagraj Manjule. It is loosely based on the life of Vijay Barse, the founder of NGO Slum Soccer. Strong reports suggest that the film may release on Netflix.?
Star cast:? Abhishek Bachchan, Rajkummar Rao, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sanya Malhotra, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Pankaj Tripathi, and Rohit Suresh Saraf
This multi-starrer film was one of the most anticipated releases of the year. This Hindi language dark anthology comedy film has been helmed by Anurag Basu. The film will soon be releasing on Netflix.
Star cast: Jhanvi Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Vineet Kumar Singh, Angad Bedi, and Manav Vij?
The film will revolve around the journey of Gunjan Saxena who is one of the first female pilots to fly in combat.Produced by Dharma Productions and Zee Studios, the film chronicle how she played an important role in rescuing injured soldiers during the Kargil War in 1999 and was awarded the gallantry Shaurya Vir Award for displaying courage during the war.?
Directed by Sharan Sharma, the film was initially planned for a release in theatres on March 13, 2020. The film is reportedly headed for a Netflix release.?
Star cast: Kiara Advani, Aditya Seal, and Mallika Dua
After playing the docile Preeti in Kabir Singh, Kiara was excited for her lead role of Indu Gupta, a feisty girl from Ghaziabad. In an interview, she said, ¡°It is really exciting and relevant because the story is set in today¡¯s time. It¡¯s a very lovable character. It¡¯s hilarious and I am quite excited to start the film,¡± she gushes.
The film marks the Hindi directorial debut of Bengali writer-filmmaker Abir Sengupta. This Kiara Advani starrer is being touted as a coming-of-age comedy film.? The producers are still on a hunt to look for an apt platform for its release but the film is definitely skipping the theatres.?
Star cast: Ishaan Khattar and Ananya Panday?
A film that is being touted as a remake of Taxiwaala (transl.?Taxi driver) is a 2018 Indian Telugu-language supernatural comedy thriller film, this Ananya Panday and Ishaan Khattar-starrer went on floors last year on September 11.Bankrolled by Ali Abbas Zadar and Zee Studios, 'Khaali Peeli' was scheduled to hit the theater on June 12 this year but will now release on Netflix.
Star cast: Kriti Sanon, Pankaj Tripathi, and Sai Tamhankar?
After two heart-winning performances in 'Luka Chuppi' and 'Arjun Patiala', Kriti Sanon is all set for her third venture 'Mimi' with producer Dinesh Vijan.Kriti reunited with her Bareilly Ki Barfi on-screen father Pankaj Tripathi for this film.The film is based on National Award-winning Marathi film 'Mala Aai Vhhaychy' which deals with the practice of women being used as surrogates by foreigners.?
Inspired by true events, the film has been directed by 'Luka Chuppi' filmmaker Laxman Utekar. Sanon had described its script as "the most beautiful script read so far". The producers have chosen a Netflix release for the film.?
Star cast: Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra,?Jisshu Sengupta, and Amit Sadh
The film was earlier slated to hit the big screens on May 8 but was postponed due to the shuttering of cinema theatres due to coronavirus outbreak.?
Helmed by Anu Menon, the story revolves around the journey of the real-life genius Shakuntala Devi, known as 'human-computer' and 'mental calculator' for her ability to make incredibly swift calculations on her fingertips.?Vidya Balan on Friday announced that her much-awaited biographical drama 'Shakuntala Devi' will be released on Amazon Prime Video.?
Star cast: Radhika Madan, Sunny Kaushal, Mohit Raina, and Diana Penty
Shiddat: Journey Beyond Love is an Indian 2020 upcoming Hindi language romantic drama film directed by Kunal Deshmukh and produced by T-Series and Maddock Films. The film was announced on 16 May 2019 and is now headed for a digital release on an OTT.?
The other five films include legal drama 'Ponmagal Vandhal,' Keerthy Suresh starrer 'Penguin,' Malayalam drama 'Sufiyum Sujatayum', Kannada legal drama 'Law' and another Kannada drama 'French Biryani.' these movies will premiere exclusively on Prime Video over the next three months and will be available in 200 countries and territories worldwide.