With the number of Covid-19 cases surging across the country, the restrictions imposed on cinema halls have returned and theatre owners are bracing themselves for uncertain times ahead.
In a big blow to Tamil Nadu theatre owners, the release of Ajith Kumar-starrer Valimai, which was scheduled to hit the theatres for the occasion of Pongal on January 13, was postponed. And with other big-budget films like RRR and Radhe Shyam opting out of the festive race, several small and medium-budget films like Naai Sekar, Kombu Vatcha Singamda, Carbon and Enna Solla Pogirai have announced their releases. On the other hand, Dulquer Salmaan-starrer Malayalam film Salute which was scheduled to release on January 14, has also been postponed.
As makers of big-budget films like RRR and Valimai have announced that they will continue to wait for restrictions to be lifted to release the films in theatres, several others have decided to take the OTT route. Here are seven new films and shows you can stream this week :
Putham Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyaadha– Amazon Prime Video (January 14)
The Tamil film is an anthology of “five stories of hope and love that celebrate the resilient human spirit in these uncertain times”. In the four-part anthology, the shorts are directed by Halitha Shameem, Balaji Mohan, Richard Anthony, Surya Krishna and Madhumita. The film features Gouri G Kishan, Teejay Arunasalam, Arjun Das, Lijo Mol Jose, Joju George, Nadiya Moidu, Dhilip Subbarayan, Sananth, Nirmal Pillai and Aishwarya Lekshmi among others.
The American Dream– Aha (January 14)
Written and directed by Vighnesh Koushik, the upcoming Telugu film starring Prince Cecil and Neha Krishna is produced by Pradeep Reddy. In a conversation with Silverscreen India, director Vighnesh said that the film is a crime-comedy drama. “It is a story about a guy from a middle-class family in India who goes to the US to chase after the American dream and make it big. This film is primarily about the hurdles he faces, the people he meets, and how he overcomes the challenges that are thrown at him. The film has a hint of a crime genre too.”
Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein– Netflix (January 14)
Starring Tahir Raj Bhasin, Shweta Tripathi Sharma and Anchal Singh, Netflix’s Hindi thriller series is created by Sidharth Sengupta. “Relentlessly pursued by a powerful politician’s daughter who will do anything to make him hers, a man slips down a dark, risky path to reclaim his life,” reads the series’s logline.
Human– Disney+ Hotstar (January 14)
The Hindi web series is a medical thriller created by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and Mozez Singh. It features Shefali Shah and Kirti Kulhari in lead roles.
The Tragedy of Macbeth– Apple Tv+ (January 14)
Directed by Joel Coen, The Tragedy of Macbeth features Denzel Washington, who won two Academy Awards for Glory and Training Days, along with Frances McDormand, who recently won her fourth Academy Award for Nomadland. According to a report by Indiewire, McDormand said, “In Joel’s adaptation, we are exploring the age of the characters and in our adaptation the Macbeths are older. Both Denzel and I are older than what is often cast as the Macbeths. We’re postmenopausal, we’re past childbearing age. So that puts pressure on their ambition to have the crown. I think the most important distinction is that it is their last chance for glory.”
The Journalist– Netflix (January 13)
The Japanese language series follows a dedicated journalist who doggedly pursues the truth about a government corruption scandal even as powerful enemies seek to neutralize her reporting.
Brazen– Netflix (January 13)
According to the streaming platform, “Prominent mystery writer and crime expert, Grace (Alyssa Milano), hurries back to her family home in Washington, D.C. because her estranged sister summons her. When her sister is killed and her double life as a webcam performer is revealed, Grace ignores the warnings of cool-headed detective Ed and gets involved in the case.”
