With the number of Covid-19 cases going down in the country, filmmakers across industries have resumed shooting. The makers of Dhanush’s upcoming Tamil film, tentatively called D43, announced that its filming will begin this month. The shooting for actor Ravi Teja and director Sarath Mandava’s upcoming thriller film, on the other hand, began on Thursday in Hyderabad.
However, with theatres across the country remaining shut, the releases of several films stand postponed indefinitely and streaming platforms continue to provide a welcome avenue for the premieres of new films and series.
Here is a list of seven films and series, including the Malayalam film Sara’s and the science-fiction film The Tomorrow War, that are releasing on OTT platforms this week.
1. Audible – Netflix (July 1)
This coming-of-age story follows Football player Amaree McKenstry-Hall and his Maryland School for the Deaf teammates in their attempt to defend their winning streak while coming to terms with a friend’s suicide. The graduating students face mounting pressures when entering the hearing world while tackling adversity and demanding to be heard.
2. Haseen Dillruba – Netflix (July 2)
The mystery thriller film directed by Vinil Mathew is about the gruesome death of a man that rocks a small town and casts a shadow of suspicion on his wife. According to Netflix, “Nothing is as it seems in this unpredictable tale of love, seduction, and deception.”
3. The 8th Night – Netflix (July 2)
The Korean language horror-thriller film is directed by Kim Tae-Hyung. According to Netflix, the film follows a monk, with prayer beads in one hand and an axe in the other, hunting down a millennia-old spirit that’s possessing humans and unleashing hell on Earth.
4. Pogaru – Aha Video (July 2)
Written and directed by Nanda Kishore, the Kannada-Telugu bilingual action drama film stars Dhruva Sarja and Rashmika Mandanna in the lead roles. According to IMDB, the film follows “Shiva, a local Ruffian who is unstoppable in his path as he had garnered the support and affection of the general public by fighting against the injustice that comes their way.” Pogaru was released in theatres on February 19 and is now getting its premiere on the OTT platform.
5. The Tomorrow War – Amazon Prime Video (July 2)
The science-fiction action film follows Dan Forester (Chris Pratt) who teams up with a scientist (Yvonne Strahovski) and his estranged father (JK Simmons) in a desperate quest to rewrite the fate of the planet and save the world for his young daughter. According to Amazon Prime Video, “The world is stunned when a group of time travellers arrive from the year 2051 to deliver an urgent message: Thirty years in the future mankind is losing a global war against a deadly alien species. The only hope for survival is for soldiers and civilians from the present to be transported to the future and join the fight. Among those recruited is a high school teacher and family man Dan Forester.”
6. Sara’s – Amazon Prime Video (July 5)
Directed by Jude Anthany Joseph, Sara’s explores the idea of women’s freedom and their right to make choices. Per the synopsis from Amazon Prime Video, a cheerful and fun-loving Sara working towards her dream of becoming a filmmaker meets Jeevan with whom she relates on several of her choices, especially the choice to not have a child. The film is a light-hearted take on how society and family pressurize young couples in matters concerning relationships, marriage and pregnancy. It features actors Anna Ben and Sunny Wayne in the lead roles.
7. Dogs Season 2 – Netflix (July 7)
Dogs is an American documentary television series created by Glen Zipper. The show explores dog-human bonds across different countries. The first season premiered on Netflix in November 2018. The second season will have four episodes. “Whether it’s the story of an astronaut, a priest, a military contractor, or the handler of a legendary university mascot, Dogs shows us how these beautiful animals occupy the same place in all of our hearts — one reserved not just for pets, but for family,” Netflix’s description reads.
