Covid surge: Bollywood films eying OTT release as uncertainty looms over reopening of cinemas 


By Rajesh Ahuja

Uncertainty over opening of cinema halls in the country due to the unabated second wave of COVID-19 pandemic  and the looming threat of a  third wave  has led an increasing number of filmmakers to mull an OTT release of their films.

With the less than encouraging response to Salman Khan's Radhe following its simultaneous release on various digital platforms and theatres abroad, makers of many small to medium budget films , scheduled for release in cinemas in the coming months, could go for a release on various digital platforms like Amazon Prime Video,  Netflix and Disney Hotstar.

Trade sources said that makers of mega starrer Bell Bottom,  which features Akshay Kumar,  vaani Kapoor, Huma Qureshi and Lara Dutta,  were recently in talks with various digital platforms for an OTT release for the film.

They said that Pooja Entertainment of Jacky Bhagnani,  the producers of the film,  have signed a deal with Amazon Prime video for a release of the film on the platform in August.  Though Akshay Kumar,  in a statement,  said that reports of an August release of Bell Bottom are speculative,  the film is likely to release on Amazon Prime Video in August or September.

Makers of Bell Bottom eying an OTT release for the film 



Apart from Bell Bottom,  makers of many films that were scheduled for release in the coming months could go for an OTT release given the continued uncertainty on reopening of cinema halls in the country. 

The last few weeks have seen an unprecedented surge in covid cases in the country.

The number of COVID-19 cases recorded in the country daily  still remains above the 2 lakh mark.

An unprecedented surge in covid cases in the country in recent weeks has resulted in makers of mega starrers Haathi Mere Saathi, Bunty Aur Babli2, Chehre, Sooryavanshi , Satyamev Jayate 2 and Toofan postponing release of these films till a later date.

https://raju0568.blogspot.com/2021/05/excel-entertainment-postpone-release-of.html

The grave Covid situation  adversely impacted the earnings of recently released Bollywood films Roohi, Mumbai Saga, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar and Saina.

https://raju0568.blogspot.com/2021/03/surge-collections-of-mumbai-saga.html

With the theatrical release of the above films failing to attract audience  footfalls in cinema halls,  all these films have now been released on various OTT platforms.

Roohi, Mumbai Saga, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar and Saina have been released on Amazon Prime Video in recent weeks.

Further,  the past few months have witnessed the OTT release of crime thriller Silence Can You Hear it  on ZEE5,  murder mystery The Girl On The Train and the family drama Sardar Ka Grandson on Netflix  and Radhe on ZEE5.

With uncertainty continuing on reopening of cinema halls,  the coming weeks could witness release of more films on OTT.

Trade sources said that  the makers of the Ranveer Singh starrer 83 are also in talks with various OTT platforms for a digital release of the film  in the coming months.

Makers of 83, which has been directed by Kabir Khan,  had earlier announced release of the film in cinema halls on June 4. However,  with the Covid-19 situation in the country still far away from normalcy,  the possibility of a theatrical release of the on its scheduled date is bleak.

Similarly,  other Bollywood releases like Kartik Aryan starrer Dhamaka and the Ayushmann Khurana Rakul Preet Singh starrer Doctor  G  could also go for an OTT release if situation in the country does not return to normalcy soon.


83 and Dhamaka also likely to go for an OTT release 



Uncertainty also  looms on the theatrical release of the Ayushmann Khurana Vaani Kapoor starrer Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui,  the john Abraham starrer Attack and  Akshay Kumar Sara Ali Khan starrer Atrangi Re , which are scheduled to hit theatres in July and August.




Uncertainty also looms on the theatrical release of Doctor G 











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