When Sirai began streaming on ZEE5, many viewers were immediately disappointed. The film was available only in low quality 1080p, even though it was shot and finished in much higher resolution. This quickly led to backlash on social media, with audiences questioning why a premium platform would release a film in such poor quality.
The issue became more serious when the colorist of Sirai publicly responded to a complaint. He clarified that he had personally ensured ZEE5 received UHD and Dolby Vision IMF packs. This meant the platform already had access to the best possible version of the film but still chose not to stream it that way. This response shifted the blame away from the filmmakers and directly onto the platform.
After continued criticism, ZEE5 updated the film to 4K. While this move was welcomed, the relief did not last long. The 4K version came with a very low bitrate, which affected image clarity and detail. It technically met the 4K label, but the viewing experience still felt compromised.
This is not the first time ZEE5 has faced such complaints. Similar issues have occurred with other films, making the platform a frequent target of frustration. If audiences are paying for a subscription, they deserve content presented in the quality it was created in. Good films deserve to be seen and heard properly, and platforms must take that responsibility seriously.