Due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, Akshay Kumar’s Sooryavanshi and Ranveer Singh’s 83 have been postponed. There were reports stating that these two films will get an OTT-release. However, the makers have denied such rumors and said that it’ll be getting a proper theatrical release.
The makers of these two movies, in an interview, stated that they are willing to wait for a couple of months and will not rush for an OTT release. In an exclusive interview with Mid-day, Shibasish Sarkar, group CEO, Reliance Entertainment said, “Sooryavanshi and 83 have been made for the big-screen experience. We are hoping theatres will open [in the near future], and we will be able to release our films. For now, we are willing to wait for four to six months [before considering an alternate course of action].”
Addressing the financial risk, he said, “We are taking a risk in terms of our equity and return. But we believe in our films and want to see them on the big screen. Also, theatres are an important part of the entertainment ecosystem.”
Manoj Desai, executive director of Gaiety-Galaxy also quoted as saying, “Almost 50 percent of my losses will be recovered if Sooryavanshi is the first release after the lockdown is lifted. If such films consider [a direct-to-web release], I will have to down the shutters of my theatres.”
However, many producers in the South industry are considering the OTT platform release. Reportedly, Tamil actor Suriya has decided to take his wife Jyothika’s upcoming Pon Magal Vandhal to release on Amazon Prime. Following this, the Tamil Nadu theatre owners association has condemned this move. The association’s general secretary Paneer Selvan released a new video on the decision to not release Suriya films in theatres.