We at Binged had reported earlier that Vashu Bhagnani and David Dhawan, makers of upcoming masala potboiler Coolie No.1, are contemplating a hybrid release for their upcoming film. This means that they are keen to release Coolie No. 1 simultaneously in single screen theatres along with on Amazon Prime Video, which has bought the direct to digital streaming rights of the movie. Multiplex owners had, at the time of the release of Laxmii itself, declined any interest in screening a film that will simultaneously release directly on any streaming platform. But single screen owners are certainly interested in screening Coolie No. 1.
The movie has the prospect of doing good business in tier II and tier III towns if released in single screen theatres. Its slapstick comedy, along with Varun Dhawan’s star appeal, is a definite crowd puller for smaller towns. It is a remake of the 1990s Govinda – Karisma Kapoor hit of the same name. The new iteration of Coolie No. 1 has Varun Dhawan and Sara Ali Khan in the lead.
But it has now come to the fore that Amazon Prime Video has rejected the plan outright. It is not ready to share the movie’s release with single-screen theatres, even if it will be in tier II and tier III towns. After all, Amazon Prime Video has paid a bomb to acquire the exclusive premiere rights to the masala entertainer.
When Vashu Bhagnani and David Dhawan had first presented the idea, Amazon Prime Video had been quite agreeable with the plan of simultaneously releasing the film in single screen theatres. The move would also have acted as a counter to the illegal airing of pirated copies of films in theatres in smaller towns, as happened recently with Laxmii.
But now that Amazon Prime Video has nixed the idea, that plan is down the drain. Coolie No.1 will thus enjoy an exclusive release on OTT, on Amazon Prime Video, on Christmas Day, that is 25th December!
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