Theatres shut, Bachchan, Akshay, Vidya Balan films might stream on Netflix, Hotstar
14 May, 2020
Big ticket releases such as for example Amitabh Bachchan’s Gulabo Sitabo may possibly bypass theatres and premiere on digital platforms, being regarded as a potential saviour for the film industry on a year marred by the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainty over when cinemas will available.
Faced with the question of going ‘direct to digital’ or perhaps looking forward to theatres to open after the situation improves, various filmmakers and production houses are exploring the choice of going to streaming platforms, sector insiders said.
Shoojit Sircar’s Amitabh-Ayushman Khurrana starrer Gulabo Sitabo, Anu Menon’s eponymous biopic about math genius Shakuntala Devi, with Vidya Balan found in the title role, and also Chehre, another Amitabh film, are among the films apt to be released soon on a good streaming platform.
“The offer of releasing ‘Gulabo Sitabo’, a quirky comedy occur Lucknow, and ‘Shakuntala Devi’ on Amazon Prime Video has been locked. The state announcement for both the films is most probably to be produced this week,” a supply near to the streamer advised PTI.
Ronnie Lahiri, producer on “Gulabo Sitabo”, neither confirmed nor denied studies when PTI reached out to him but asked journalists to hold back for an official statement.
An insider in the team of “Shakuntala Devi” also didn't comment about the film’s digital launching.
“Chehre” producer Anand Pandit said a digital release was in mind.
“Given how the lockdown is panning out, an electronic release for ‘Chehre’ has been mulled,” Pandit explained, adding they would wait till the first week of June to take a final call.
The main one official announcement was the release of Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s film “Ghoomketu”, which streamed on ZEE5 the other day.
Most other plans are shrouded in secrecy with officials reluctant to come on record. But the list of 2020 films which will be released on streaming platforms is long, said insiders.
Top rated on the list is Laxmmi Bomb, featuring Akshay Kumar and backed by Fox Star Studios, which includes reportedly been found by the recently launched provider Disney+ Hotstar. However, Hotstar representatives taken care of a “no comment” stance as does producer Tusshar Kapoor.
The movie, directed by Raghava Lawrence, was scheduled to be released on, may 22 in theatres. That's unlikely to happen without signs of cinema theatres opening even if the lockdown ends.
The other 2020 releases-Varun Dhawan-starrer Coolie No 1, Bachchan’s Jhund and Jahnvi Kapoor’s ‘Gunjan Saxena’-are also more likely to check out different OTT platforms.
Kiara Advani-starrer Indoo Ki Jawani, co-produced by Nikkhil Advani and Bhushan Kumar, can be reportedly buying digital release.
However, Advani explained the film happens to be being edited “despite physical constraints” and the team is usually optimistic it'll be ready “soon”.
“We happen to be exploring all practical avenues. Nothing stands confirmed or committed. When we are clear about just how ahead, we can make a statement,” he stated.
Bhushan’s T-Series’ has two other films, Ludo and Jhund.
While questions sent to Bhushan on the slate of his films were unanswered, a resource from the production property confirmed that T-Series is planning to release its films digitally and talks are currently on.
Additionally, there are some producers who wish to wait it out.
Producer Jackky Bhagnani, who was simply looking towards the theatrical let go of Coolie No 1 on, may 1, said he's not considering films right now.
“Let us overcome this crisis and we'll announce found in happier times,” Bhagnani said when asked about whether he was looking at releasing the film digitally.
Reliance Entertainment said it'll wait release a two of this year’s most awaited films - Akshay starrer Sooryavanshi, and ‘83’, fronted by Ranveer Singh.
The team will await the lockdown to be lifted and release these videos in theatres.
“We will primary complete the film then we will wait. If six or nine months down the road the situation becomes much worse we will take a call in those days. There is absolutely no hurry. Same is the case with Sooryavanshi and our various other movies,” Reliance Entertainment Group CEO Shibashish Sarkar advised PTI last month.
Irrfan Khan’s previous film Angrezi Medium headed to OTT platforms immediately after its theatrical launch as the lockdown led to cinema halls appearing closed.
“There is a large amount of big money involved. Also, in the event that you release on OTT you cannot launch it in theatres. In the event that you to push out a film in theatre it'll come on satellite together with digital later,” explained trade analyst Taran Adarsh.
The other day, the Multiplex Association of India (MAI) appealed to studio partners, producers, artistes and content creators to aid the cinema exhibition sector by holding their films and releasing them in theatres after they reopen.
The statement followed reports that several films were searching at a direct to digital release amid the lockdown.
The combo of “pent-up demand” and the promise of new videos would boost film business and contribute massively in reviving the industry, the association said.
“The collective, social connection with watching films on the big screen has to be preserved and it could be done so only with the collective support of most stakeholders,” the statement from your body read.
“One can’t say the film will lose or gain from a digital release, since when you to push out a good film found in theatres, the sky is the limit,” Adarsh added.
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