Just as Indian cinema had seemingly found a nice balance between theatres and OTT, with a big-screen release like Pushpa and Netflix’s Minnal Murali receiving equal praise, the country has been hit by the Omicron variant of Covid-19 leaving the film industry in disarray. States like Kerala, Delhi, Karnataka, and Maharashtra have announced various restrictions like night curfews and the shutting down of theatres. This has led to much uncertainty surrounding upcoming theatrical releases.
SS Rajamouli’s RRR appears to be on track for its January 7 release as of now, but Shahid Kapoor-led Jersey, which was supposed to hit theatres on Friday, has been postponed.
Valimai and Radhe Shyam are still scheduled for theatrical releases in January, while Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Bro Daddy, starring Mohanlal, and Deepika Padukone-starrer Gehraiyaan, are set to premiere on Disney+ Hotstar and Amazon Prime Video, respectively.
With Omicron leaving the fate of theatres in question, it is likely that more films will opt for a direct-digital release.
On that note, Silverscreen India brings you a list of six upcoming films and shows that are releasing on OTT platforms this week.
1. Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts (January 1) – Amazon Prime Video
Set to premiere exclusively on Amazon Prime Video on New Year’s Day in India, this reunion special is a first for the Harry Potter franchise. It will focus on the personal accounts of the actors who essayed the films’ three primary characters: Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Rupert Grint (Ronald Weasley), and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger).
Additionally, several other notable film alumni will be joining the special, such as producer David Heyman, filmmakers Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Newell and David Yates, and actors Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman, Tom Felton, and many more. The special is produced by Warner Bros.
2. Senapathi (December 31) – Aha
An Aha original, Senapathi is a Telugu film starring veteran actor Rajendra Prasad in the lead role. In a previous conversation with Silverscreen India, director Pavan Sadineni mentioned that Senapathi is a crime drama that is loosely inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s 1949 Japanese film, Stray Dog.
The film marks the OTT debut of Rajendra Prasad, and it is produced by Sushmitha Konidela and Vishnu Prasad under Gold Box Entertainments.
3. Stay Close (December 31) – Netflix
Starring Cush Jumbo, James Nesbitt, Richard Armitage, Stay Close is a mini-series that Netflix calls,“ominous, suspenseful, emotional.” As per IMDb, it follows the lives of three people – a photojournalist, a soccer mom, and a homicide detective – who get affected by a “terrible event” from the past.
4. Kitz (December 31) – Netflix
According to Netflix, Kitz revolves around a waitress from Kitzbühel, who seeks revenge on the girl she blames for her brother’s death. Do to so, she infiltrates the “glitzy world of a group of wealthy Munich teens.” Created by Nikolaus Schulz-Dornburg and Vitus Reinbold, this German suspense drama series features actors Sofie Eifertinger, Bless Amada, and Valerie Huber.
5. Keshu Ee Veedinte Nadhan (December 31) – Disney+ Hotstar
Starring Malayalam actor Dileep, who has been accused of sexual assault, Keshu Ee Veedinte Nadhan is directed by Nadhirsha and written by Sajeev Pazhoor. The comedy-drama also features an ensemble cast that includes actors Urvasi, Harisree Ashokan, Jaffer Idukki, Kottayam Nazeer, Kalabhavan Shajon, Hareesh Kanaran, Anusree, and Swasika.
6. Cobra Kai Season 4 (Netflix) – December 31
The fourth season of the American martial arts comedy-drama Cobra Kai will release on New Year’s Eve. The series is a sequel to The Karate Kid films. Created by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, it stars Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, and Xolo Maridueña. The series’ plotline on Netflix reads: “Decades after the tournament that changed their lives, the rivalry between Johnny and Daniel reignites.”
