Last week, makers of several highly-anticipated films announced the theatrical release dates for their projects, including actor Sivakarthikeyan‘s Doctor (October 9), director Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan (summer of 2022) and actor Ajith Kumar‘s Valimai (Pongal 2022).
Even with theatres across the country returning to normalcy, several filmmakers are still open to releasing their films on OTT platforms. On Thursday, the makers of actor Tovino Thomas’ Minnal Murali announced that the film will premiere on Netflix on Christmas eve (December 24).
On that note, here are 11 new films and shows releasing on OTT platforms this week:
1. Sunny – Amazon Prime Video (September 23)
According to the official synopsis, Sunny revolves around the life of titular character (played by actor Jayasurya). Sunny leaves Dubai dejected and returns to his hometown, Kerala amidst a global pandemic. Quarantined in a hotel room away from human contact, he goes through a myriad of emotions and unfathomable pain having lost his family, his money and his best friend. A gleam of hope emerges through encounters with some strangers.
2. Alanti Sitralu – ZEE5 (September 24)
In Alanti Sitralu, the lives of a gangster, an amateur boxer, a prostitute, and a guitarist take an unexpected turn after they cross paths with each other.
3. Season 2 of Kota Factory – Netflix (September 24)
Kota Factory is built around the trials and tribulations of preparing to get into the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). The show follows the life of Vaibhav, a young student on his journey to Maheshwari – one of Kota’s leading training institutes, and how he tries to balance his friendships, his relationship with his mentor and the looming pressure of getting into IIT.
4. Raame Aandalum Raavane Aandalum – Amazon Prime Video (September 24)
Raame Aandalum Raavane Aandalum is a political satire about the primary character, Kunnimuthu, a 35-year-old innocent farmer who loses his beloved bulls, Karuppan and Vellaiyan. When searching for his bulls, he meets a reporter who decides to help him. Soon the village is breaking news on all television channels across India. However, the villagers don’t have electricity to watch TV.
5. Naduvan – SonyLIV (September 24)
Naduvan is a thriller drama set against the hill station backdrop of Kodaikanal. Talking to Silverscreen India, filmmaker Sharang said, “Bharath plays the role of a businessman and certain negative events happen around him without his knowledge. People around him wear masks and are fake and not faithful. Finally, he understands what is happening and how he reacts forms the rest of the film.”
6. Season 4 of Goliath – Amazon Prime Video (September 24)
Goliath revolves around Billy McBride, a disgraced lawyer, who agrees to take on a wrongful death lawsuit in hopes of getting revenge on the firm he helped create. According to the official summary, in season 4 of Goliath, Billy returns to his Big Law roots after Patty takes a job at a prestigious white-shoe law firm in San Francisco. Together, they try to take down one of America’s most insidious Goliaths: the opioid industry.
7. Britney VS Spears – Netflix (September 28)
American pop singer Britney Spears has been in a conservatorship under her father since 2008 following several public meltdowns. It gave him control over her financial affairs, estate, and her personal life. Recently, her father filed a petition to end the 13-year long conservatorship. Investigated by journalist Jeni Eliscu and filmmaker Erin Lee Carr, Netflix’s documentary Britney VS Spears is said to feature several exclusive interviews, confidential evidence and memos, and audio recordings of Spears. The documentary is set to premiere just a day before the next scheduled hearing of the case to end the conservatorship.
8. Aakashavaani – SonyLIV (September 24)
According to filmmaker Ashwin Gangaraju, his upcoming Telugu film Aakashavaani is a serious drama about people living in the forest. Speaking to Silverscreen India, he said, “The film happens in a remote forest where people live far away from the normal populated world. It will have references to the zamindar rule which controls the belief system of these people. The film’s theme is based on how their belief system is related to their lifestyle. When people live in the forests unconnected with others, they are not polluted and remain innocent. When you are innocent, your belief system is stronger.”
9. The Starling – Netflix (September 24)
The Starling tells the story of a married couple, suffering hardship. Jack heads off to deal with grief while Lilly remains in the “real” world, dealing with her own guilt and a crippling internal struggle to live with a dark secret. Soon a starling bird that has nested in her backyard begins to harass and attack her. This starling comes to represent all of Lilly’s problems, and she becomes comically obsessed with killing it. Lilly eventually finds guidance from Larry, a quirky psychologist-turned veterinarian with a troubled past of his own. The two form a unique and unlikely friendship as both help the other to explore, acknowledge and confront their problems.
10. Foundation – Apple TV+ (September 24)
Based on the award-winning novels by Isaac Asimov, Foundation chronicles a band of exiles on their monumental journey to save humanity and rebuild civilization amid the fall of the Galactic Empire.
11. Midnight Mass – Netflix (September 24)
Midnight Mass revolves around an isolated island community, who begin experiencing miraculous events and frightening omens after the arrival of a charismatic, mysterious young priest.
