Films released in theatres can stream on OTT platform only after 42 days

INDIA-HEALTH-VIRUS-ENTERTAINMENT
A cinema theatre in Bengaluru. Photo: AFP/Manjunath Kiran/Representative image

Kochi: Come April, films released in theatres will have to wait for 42 days before they can be screened on OTT (over the top) platforms. Currently, films can be screened on OTT platforms a month after theatre release. The Kerala Film Chamber had given permission for OTT streaming of films after a month, while taking into account the Covid situation. This relaxation will end on March 31 next year.

In effect, theatres and OTT media platforms will continue to traverse parallel paths. Films that are first screened on OTT will not be released in theatres later. If films that are being screened at the theatres move on to the OTT platforms, then their theatre screening will come to an end.

Mohanlal-starrer 'Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea' and Dulquer Salmaan's 'Kurup', which were released at the theatres, are available on OTT platforms. And hence these films will not be screened in theatres from now on. Film Exhibitors United Organisation of Kerala (FEUOK) president K Vijayakumar has said that these two movies have followed all the pre-agreements and terms while making the shift to the OTT.

Films set for January release

Several films are set to be released in January at the theatres, that are on a path of revival after the Covid crisis. S S Rajamouli's big-budget film 'RRR', Bollywood film '83' that is based on Indian cricket team’s first World Cup victory, Prabhas-starrer 'Radhe Shyam', 'Salute' starring Dulquer Salmaan, Pranav Mohanlal's 'Hridayam', and Nivin Pauly's ‘Thuramukham’ are on the list of movies set for theatre release.

Mammootty's film 'Puzhu' is also likely to hit the theatres in January. Another film of Mammootty 'Bheeshma Parvam', directed by Amal Neerad, could be released at the theatres in January or February. 'Aarattu' directed by B Unnikrishnan and starring Mohanlal is likely to hit the theatres in February.

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