There’s been huge buzz and tons of updates about the direct to digital release of Sivakarthikeyan‘s Tamil film, Doctor. The news of Doctor‘s direct OTT release has been doing the rounds since early June. Disney Plus Hotstar is said to have grabbed the digital rights to premiere Doctor on its platform.
But while social media has been abuzz with the news of Doctor going in for a direct OTT release, there has been no update from the co-producers of the film, Sivakarthikeyan Productions and KJR Studios. Even Disney Plus Hotstar has not released any statement regarding its acquisition of Doctor for a digital premiere.
So then, the question on everybody’s minds is – what is happening regarding the release of Doctor?
The fact is that the release of the medical action drama Doctor is stuck in limbo at present. Now that the Covid-19 pandemic is waning in most regions, the producers of Doctor are keen to explore the option of a theatrical release for the film. Theatres are slowly opening up in several markets. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, where Tamil films traditionally do well, have opened up theatres since June. Karnataka theatres reopen from tomorrow, 18th July. Tamil Nadu theatres might resume film screenings from 1st August, as will theatres in Maharashtra.
In view of the above, the makers of Doctor are waiting it out for some more time, and will observe the changed scenario and then decide on the ultimate release plan for Doctor. The Sivakarthikeyan film is one of the most awaited since long. The Nelson Dilipkumar directed film was to release on 26th March 2021, but was postponed due to the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections. A new date was announced, for Eid 2021, that is May 13th, which was again cancelled owing to the Covid second wave.
In May, when clamour from fans for an update on Doctor grew, producer Kotapadi J Rajesh of KJR Studios shared the following message on their social media –
“As a producer, I’m bearing all the financial and material constraints caused by Covid-19 with a fully-ready film in hand. I’m doing everything within my power to get the film the right release”.
In view of the buzz surrounding Doctor, and producer Kotapadi J Rajesh’s promise to give it the best release, we hope that Doctor releases in the theatres and not on OTT as speculations suggest. Keeping fingers crossed!
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