Sangati Jogwar

News Highlights

  • KGF 2, Liger, Pushpa, Sooryavanshi, RRR, and 83 will release only in theaters.
  • Filmmakers of these big-budget movies have confirmed that they will not release their movies on OTT.
  • Holding on to such a big investment in an unpredictable situation is a big gamble but the makers are unaffected by it.

The Corona pandemic has affected the Bollywood industry very badly. While a few state governments have allowed theatrical releases with only 50% capacity, there are many more states like Maharashtra where theaters are still closed. No one knows when this threat of the pandemic will subside. In such a situation, holding on to big-budget movies for theatrical release instead of streaming them on OTT is a very big gamble.

But producers of mega movies like KGF 2, Pushpa: The Rise, RRR, Liger, and Sooryavanshi have decided to postpone the releases of these much-awaited flicks instead of making them available on OTT. There have been rumors that Pen India Ltd. that holds the digital rights of RRR was pressurizing SS Rajamouli to release the movie on OTT. But now its chairman Jayantilal Gada has clarified that not only RRR, but its two other releases Alia Bhatt’s Gangubai Kathiawadi and Attack will also release only in theaters.

Yash starrer KGF 2 is also one of the most awaited movies of India also starring Sanjay Dutt and Raveena Tandon in crucial roles. It is a fact that a big amount has been invested in the second installment of the KGF franchise but even then the team has decided to release it in theaters next year.

The same goes true for Vijay Deverakonda and Ananya Panday starrer Liger and Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna’s Pushpa: The Rise. While the shooting of RRR, Liger, Pushpa: The Rise, and KGF 2 was wrapped up this year or is still going on, Sooryavanshi is one Bollywood big-budget movie that completed all its schedule last year and is just ready for release. Starring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif and directed by Rohit Shetty, producers have decided to release Sooryavanshi only when things are favorable for its theatrical release.

is the case with Ranveer Singh’s 83, a biopic on former Indian captain Kapil Dev. All the producers of these movies know that there is no guarantee when the theaters will open to full capacity. They also are well aware that it will not be easy to lure the audience back to the theaters because of the danger of Coronavirus. Also, the lockdown has enhanced the importance of OTT platforms which now the audience prefers as it is much safer and cheaper.

But the magnanimous effects of VFX and big screen cannot be compared to OTT or home theater experience. And that is why these filmmakers believe that only theatrical releases can justify the experience of watching their big-budget flicks offering larger-than-life heroes and canvas. And for that, they are ready to play this gamble.

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