The Covid-19 pandemic continues to shake the film industry, and with cases surging, theatres across several states have been forced to limit occupancy. Scheduled releases of big films such as Radhe Shyam, and Acharya, among others, stand postponed as a result. However, a few films are still going ahead with theatrical premieres. These include the Tamil movie Sila Nerangalil Sila Manidhargal on January 28, and the Malayalam film Hridayam on Friday.
Meanwhile, streaming platforms continue to provide new content to entertain the audiences. Silverscreen India brings you this list of seven upcoming releases on OTT platforms this week.
Shyam Singha Roy – Netflix (January 21)
Presenting a blend of Bengali and Telugu cultures, this film features Nani in the titular role, alongside three female leads, Sai Pallavi, Krithi Shetty, and Madonna Sebastian, who play a devadasi, a graduate of Psychology, and a lawyer, respectively. A drama set in the 1970s, the film makes references to significant events of that time, including the Naxalbari uprising, the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, India’s Emergency in 1975, and the rise of Communism, according to director Rahul Sankrityan, who had spoken to us earlier.
Shyam Singha Roy released in cinemas last month and gets its digital premiere this Friday.
Akhanda – Disney+ Hotstar (January 21)
Headlined by Nandamuri Balakrishna, this Telugu film was released in theatres on December 2. The film collected approximately Rs 15.35-15.40 crore (gross) in the Telugu states on its first day, and entered the 100-crore club within 11 days of its release. It is directed by Boyapati Srinu and it revolves around “a fierce devotee of Lord Shiva, who stands tall against evildoers,” according to IMDb. Following its success, Boyapati Srinu also announced a sequel at a recent press meet.
Bro Daddy – Disney+ Hotstar (January 26)
Malayalam actor Prithviraj Sukumaran’s second directorial, Bro Daddy features Mohanlal in the lead role. It also stars Prithviraj himself and has an ensemble cast that includes Kalyani Priyadarshan, Meena, Lalu Alex, Murali Gopy, Kaniha, and Soubin. It is written by Sreejith N and Bibin Maliekal, who earlier told Silverscreen India that Bro Daddy is a “feel-good family-entertainer with casual fun elements.”
Bachelor – SonyLIV (January 21)
Musician-turned-actor GV Prakash’s Bachelor tells the story of a “deeply flawed guy with behavioural issues and conservative background,” who embarks on a live-in relationship with a “hep modern girl,” and the problems that arise out of it, according to IMDb. The film also stars Divyabharathi, Muniskanth, and Bhagavathi Perumal. It is written and directed by Sathish Selvakumar.
Unpaused: Naya Safar – Amazon Prime Video (January 21)
Comprising of five short films, this Hindi anthology provides a “window into how the COVID 19 pandemic has changed us, making us value life and emotions more than ever,” according to its makers. Emotions such as love, longing, fear, and friendship, are portrayed in the various segments, helmed by filmmakers Shikha Makan, Ruchir Arun, Nupur Asthana, Ayappa KM, and Nagraj Manjule.
Bhoothakaalam – SonyLIV (January 21)
This Malayalam film stars actors Revathi and Shane Nigam as a mother and son duo. It is directed by Rahul Sadasivan, who, in an earlier interaction with Silverscreen India, said, “They are from a middle-class family. The story follows their emotional journey in life. I thought it would be a unique blend of performances with actors Revathi and Shane on board as we have not seen such a combination.” Noting that they have decided to keep the film’s genre a secret, he added that the film will explore the duo’s coping mechanisms, the change in power dynamics at home, and much more.
Mudhal Nee Mudivum Nee – ZEE5 (January 21)
This film is musician Darbuka Siva’s directorial debut, and its synopsis reads, “In the 1990s, a group of high school students in a strict Catholic school navigates their way through everyday teen pressures.”
