Tollywood usually keeps a steady rule for theatrical to OTT releases. Most films wait about four weeks before they appear on streaming platforms. This gap gives them enough time to perform in theatres and build some buzz. But this pattern has broken in a surprising way with Paanch Minar.
The film, starring Raj Tarun and Rashi Singh, was released in theatres on November 21, 2025. Only seven days later, it appeared on Amazon Prime Video. Such a fast shift is rare in the Telugu industry and immediately raised questions about what went wrong. Paanch Minar did not manage to hold its ground in cinemas. Weak promotions and weaker content pulled it down within days. The film could not create the initial push that most movies rely on.
Directed by Ram Kadumula, Paanch Minar had a few moments that worked, but it could not keep the audience interested for long. Supporting actors like Ghosh, Brahmaji, Srinivasa Reddy, and Sudharshan added value, but the film still slipped out of theatres quickly. The failure was sharp enough that the makers decided to push it to OTT immediately, hoping that a digital release might give it a second chance.
While the Hindi industry has extended its OTT window to eight weeks, Tollywood seems to be dealing with its own challenges. Paanch Minar is a clear example of how a massive box office failure can force an early jump to streaming. Now the real question is whether the film will find any life on OTT after its early exit from theatres. We predict a big NO.
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