Indian film industries are on top of their game this Sankranthi. Eight buzzy films from Hindi, Tamil and Telugu cinema hit theatres today and tomorrow for the auspicious Sankranti festival. Ayalaan, Captain Miller, Mission Number 1 from Tamil cinema, Guntur Kaaram, HanuMan, Naa Saami Ranga and Saindhav from Telugu cinema, and the Hindi – Tamil film, Merry Christmas – all hit theatres as a festive treat for audiences.
On the other hand, Sankranti has turned out to be a particularly damp squib for OTT platforms. No OTT platform has deemed it fit to release a single buzzy movie or series on their platforms for Sankranti and its extended weekend. What a huge miss for OTT platforms!
The only movies releasing on OTT platforms this weekend are small-budget ones, with negligible buzz. Ditto with series. Prime Video India is sitting on the hotly anticipated Panchayat Season 3, but no – it has decided not to delight viewers on the festive occasion with their desired show. Oh, the meanness!
ZEE5 was supposed to release the much-awaited and asked-for The Kerala Story this weekend. Even that has been a no-show. And the least said about Netflix, Disney Plus Hotstar and Sony LIV, the better.
Indian OTT platforms should learn from their western counterparts who go all out to premiere shows and movies on their buzzy days. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day – it’s a non-stop festival of compelling content on foreign OTT platforms on all these festivals.
But will Indian OTT platforms learn how to make the most of festivals?
Nah! Doesn’t look like it; now or ever!