BY SACNILK

Bengaluru, October 27 - The exhibitors of Karnataka finally had a moment of joy this year with Rishab Shetty-fronted Kantara Chapter 1 doing excellent business and bringing people to theatres in big numbers. They were hoping for more to come, but their happiness has been cut short by a disappointing and questionable move by the makers. Despite the film continuing its very good run and showing remarkable stability across regions, the team has decided to drop it on the OTT platform much sooner than expected. At a time when almost every South Indian film is dropping on OTT after just four weeks of its theatrical release, Kantara Chapter 1 had the perfect chance to break the trend. The Rishab Shetty directorial was still performing excellently at the box office, showing no signs of slowing down even in its fourth weekend. With a strong hold and exceptional word of mouth, the film was well on its way to extending its glorious run and setting new benchmarks for long theatrical sustainability in the post-pandemic era. In its fourth weekend alone, the film grossed over 30 crores domestically, with nearly half of that coming from the Kannada version. These are solid numbers for a film that opened to massive numbers in its initial week, proving its continued dominance and audience connection. A longer exclusive theatrical run could have easily pushed the film's lifetime total significantly higher, adding many more crores to its already stellar tally. However, the makers have now officially confirmed the film's OTT release. The period folk actioner will drop on Amazon Prime Video on October 31st in Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Tamil versions, four weeks after its release. This decision comes across as both disappointing and questionable, especially considering the film's ongoing momentum at the ticket windows. In opting for an early digital release, the team may have left considerable box office potential untapped, undermining what could have been an even more historic run. Beyond the numbers, this move also affects exhibitors, particularly in Karnataka, where Kantara Chapter 1 has been a saviour amid a dull theatrical year. A longer theatrical run would have benefited both the film's legacy and the local theatre chains, reinforcing the power of strong content to sustain on the big screen. Instead, this shortened window feels like a missed opportunity for both the industry and the film's makers, and more importantly, for the theatre ecosystem, which has been struggling this year in Karnataka. Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

The week of October 20 – 26 brings a dynamic mix of theatrical hits making their way to OTT platforms — They Call Him OG, Param Sundari, Mirage and Sakthi Thirumagan. Each title stands apart in tone, scale, and storytelling style, offering something for every streaming mood. They Call Him OG Release Date: October 23, 2025 OTT Platform: Netflix Genre: Action / Gangster Drama Cast: Pawan Kalyan, Emraan Hashmi, Priyanka Arul Mohan, Arjun Das Highlight: With a massive box-office haul of around ₹ 293.65 Cr and one of the biggest openings of 2025, They Call Him OG delivers a power-packed mix of style, emotion, and scale. Directed by Sujeeth, the film stands out for its slick visuals, Thaman’s pulsating score, and Pawan Kalyan’s electrifying presence — a must-watch for lovers of gritty underworld sagas. Param Sundari Release Date: October 24, 2025 OTT Platform: Prime Video Genre: Romantic Comedy Cast: Sidharth Malhotra, Janhvi Kapoor, Manjot Singh, Sanjay Kapoor Highlight: Collecting over ₹ 84.26 Cr worldwide, this breezy romance brings a refreshing pairing of Sidharth and Janhvi to the screen. Set against the scenic backdrop of Kerala, Param Sundari charms with its playful chemistry, colorful frames, and foot-tapping soundtrack — making it a delightful watch for fans of modern rom-coms. Mirage Release Date: October 20, 2025 OTT Platform: SonyLIV Genre: Mystery / Thriller Cast: Asif Ali, Aparna Balamurali, Sampath Raj, Deepak Parambol Highlight: Directed by Jeethu Joseph, this tightly-woven Malayalam thriller earned ₹5.3 crore in India Net and was praised for its smart storytelling and unpredictable twists. Mirage offers an immersive, cerebral experience that rewards patient viewers with a gripping payoff — perfect for fans of intelligent suspense cinema. Sakthi Thirumagan Release Date: October 24, 2025 OTT Platform: JioHotstar Genre: JioHotstar Cast: Vijay Antony, Vagai Chandrasekhar, Sunil Kripalani, Trupthi Ravindra Highlight: Grossing around ₹9.3 crore at the box office, this socially-charged drama blends mass action with a political message. Director Arun Prabu crafts a raw, emotional narrative anchored by Vijay Antony’s intense performance. Sakthi Thirumagan is a compelling watch for those drawn to stories of power, justice, and rebellion. This week’s OTT lineup stands out for its range and variety, offering a film for every mood. From the high-octane energy of They Call Him OG and the charming romance of Param Sundari to the suspenseful depth of Mirage and Vijay Antony’s powerful dual outings in Sakthi Thirumagan, audiences are in for a rewarding week of entertainment. Each film brings something different — action, drama, or suspense — giving viewers a simple and enjoyable mix of stories to watch at home. For the complete list of upcoming OTT releases, visit Latest OTT Movie Releases

BY SACNILK

Hyderabad, October 14 - Powerstar Pawan Kalyan’s gangster action thriller They Call Him OG is all set for its digital premiere. Directed by Sujeeth, the high-octane entertainer is nearing the end of its theatrical run after emerging as the biggest grosser of Pawan Kalyan's career at the worldwide box office. Produced by DVV Entertainment, They Call Him OG has grossed approximately 290 crore globally so far, and will miss the 300 crore milestone. Despite that, the film has turned out to be a strong box office success, marking Pawan Kalyan's first 200-crore film and his most successful outing in years. According to the latest official announcement, the movie will begin streaming on Netflix from October 23 in all languages - Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam. Having been released in theatres on September 25, the film follows the standard 28-day theatrical window before heading to digital platforms. The South Indian films continue to stick with a 4-week theatrical window despite the criticism from the trade and media, as they believe the short window is not sufficient, as it cuts short the full box office potential of a movie. The film stars Pawan Kalyan in the titular role, alongside an ensemble cast including Emraan Hashmi (in his Telugu film debut), Priyanka Mohan, Arjun Das, Sriya Reddy, Prakash Raj, Abhimanyu Singh, Sudev Nair and Harish Uthaman. Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, October 10 - The wait for Netflix's science fiction horror drama Stranger Things 5 just got even more intense. The blockbuster series is gearing up for its grand finale, and the newly revealed episode runtimes have sent fans into a frenzy. Ross Duffer, who co-created the Netflix juggernaut with his brother Matt Duffer, revealed the length of the first four episodes for the final season of the show on his Instagram account on Monday. The Season 5 premiere, The Crawl, will run for one hour and 8 minutes; Episode 2 will run 54 minutes; Episode 3 will run one hour and 6 minutes; and Episode 4 will run one hour and 23 minutes. The official runtime, however, refutes viral social media posts that have claimed that every episode of Season 5 would run at least 90 minutes long. Some reports also claimed that the last couple of episodes will clock nearly 3 hours of runtime. The Duffer Brothers reportedly captured over 650 hours of footage this time. "This is our biggest and most ambitious season yet. It’s like eight blockbuster movies," said creator Matt Duffer in an earlier interview. The budget of the show is another jaw-dropping aspect of it. Per reports, each episode of Stranger Things Season 5 costs $50 to $60 million ( Rs 450 crore - Rs 550 crore) to make. Though it is not the costliest show, the kind of money involved in it is something you'd expect from big-screen productions, not TV. The season will release in three volumes, with Volume 1, consisting of four episodes, streaming from November 26, followed by Volume 2 (three episodes), releasing on December 25 (Merry Christmas, Hawkins style), while Volume 3 – The grand finale, just one epic episode, dropping on December 31. Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, September 4 - Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan made his directorial debut with Netflix's satirical action comedy drama series The Ba***ds of Bollywood. Aryan also created and co-wrote the series, which has been making noise on social media. Despite the huge hype and several cameos of Bollywood superstars and directors, including Shah Rukh Khan, The Ba***ds of Bollywood debuted at number 4 in the non-English category on Netflix. The series scored 2.8 million views in its opening weekend. The show has been trending at number 1 in 9 countries, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Mauritius. The series is 5 hours and 12 minutes long, which helped the streamer score 14.8 million viewing hours. The viewership of the series is decent, but not up to the sky-high expectations, especially considering the top-tier cameos of SRK, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, SS Rajamouli, Emraan Hashmi, Karan Johar, and many others. Produced by Gauri Khan under Red Chillies Entertainment, the series stars Bobby Deol, Lakshya Lalwani, Raghav Juyal, Sahher Bambba, Anya Singh, Manoj Pahwa, Manish Chaudhari, Rajat Bedi, Meherzan Mazda, Divik Sharma, Mona Singh, Gautami Kapoor, Vijayant Kohli, Neville Bharucha, and Armaan Khera, in prominent roles. The series follows actor Aasmaan Singh from Delhi, whose successful debut under producer Freddy Sodawallah leads to a role opposite Karishma Talvar in Karan Johar's film, but he must contend with Freddy's multi-film contract, interference from Karishma's father, Ajay Talvar, emerging romance, and unforeseen complications. Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, September 19 - Kaleem Productions and Hombale Films Mahavatar Narsimha has completed its glorious box office run, emerging as the biggest Indian animated blockbuster of all-time by a massive margin. The movie is directed by Ashwin Kumar. The first film in the 7-part planned Mahavatar Cinematic Universe was released amid low hype, but it did well at the box office was unthinkable. Made on a modest budget of around 10-15 crores, the movie went on to become one of the highest-grossing titles of the year with over 300 crores worldwide. After completing its dream run, Mahavatar Narsimha began streaming on Netflix on September 19. It has been in theatres for 8 weeks, which is mandatory for a Hindi film. Unlike rumours, it is originally in the Hindi language and was premiered in Hindi at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in 2024. Netflix acquired the film's post-theatrical streaming rights for all languages, including Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Tamil versions. It has started streaming at 12:30 PM today. This is one of the first Indian animated films for the streamer. Watch Mahavatar Narsimha, out now, on Netflix.#MahavatarNarsimhaOnNetflix pic.twitter.com/JS46QjjxuU— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) September 19, 2025 Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, September 17 - After scripting history at the box office, debutante Ahaan Pandey and Aneet Padda's romantic drama Saiyaara continues to wave its magic as it has taken Netflix by storm by emerging as the number 1 non-English movie worldwide this past week. Directed by Mohit Suri, Saiyaara started streaming on Netflix from 12 September after completing the mandatory 8-week theatrical run. Despite the majority of its target audience having already watched it in theatres, the film has soared to number 1 on the streamer with 3.7 million (37 lakh) views in the first 3 days. With 3.7 million views or 9.3 million viewing hours, Saiyaara is among the most-watched Indian films in the first weekend on Netflix this year. It is also trending at the number 1 in 9 countries this week, including India, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Mauritius, while trending in the top 10 in 15 countries. It has been observed in the past that those films have fared better on Netflix, which did better at the box office, than those which began streaming directly, and Saiyaara, with a solid start, has proved that again. This is probably one of the main reasons why streamers have started refusing to take most of the films directly and wait for the box office validation to acquire them. Saiyaara, meanwhile, has been a box office breakout of the year. Made on a medium-range budget of around 50 crores, this Yash Raj Films production stunned the trade with its phenomenal box office run. The movie finished its theatrical journey with over 570 crores worldwide as the highest-grossing romantic Indian film of all-time and one of the highest-grosser of the year. Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Hyderabad, September 11 - The much-awaited sequel to Nandamuri Balakrishna's blockbuster Akhanda has been delayed, but the anticipation for the film shows no signs of slowing down. Directed by Boyapati Srinu, Akhanda 2 is now aiming for a grand worldwide release in the first week of December, in multiple languages. In 2025, the sequels failed to justify the massive expectations, except for a few, and despite that, the trade is supremely confident in Akhanda 2. Not just theatrical ambitions, the film has managed to strike a massive post-theatrical streaming deal with Netflix, possibly without a Hindi version. According to the latest Telugu media reports, Netflix has acquired the streaming rights of the movie for 80+ crores, which is the biggest for Balakrishna. It is not reported whether the streamer has bought the rights for all languages or just for the South Indian versions. Akhanda 2 is expected to have a full-fledged release in Hindi version, meaning an 8-week theatrical window, which is beyond Netflix's agenda. Produced by 14 Reels Plus and Sarke Studio, Akhanda 2 was supposed to be released on September 25, but the makers recently announced that due to the extensive post-production, it has been postponed. There is Pawan Kalyan's highly-awaited OG on September 25, so the trade believes it was the right decision to move back the release of the sequel. The big success of Akhanda (2021) has boosted the box office prospects of Akhanda 2, which is expected to open with massive collections all around. If word of mouth also turns out to be positive, then it is sure to become the biggest blockbuster of NBK. Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, August 29 - Director Anurag Basu's Metro... In Dino had a decent outing at the box office, amid the low buzz and anticipation. Released in July first week, the big ensemble urban romantic drama has wrapped up its theatrical journey and moved to digital after 8 weeks of theatrical run. Featuring a star-studded cast including Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Ali Fazal, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Pankaj Tripathi, Konkona Sensharma, Anupam Kher, and Neena Gupta, Metro In Dino was reportedly made on a budget of around 50 crores, and grossed approximately 70 crores worldwide, including around 64 crores in India. After completing its box office journey, the spiritual sequel to Basu's acclaimed 2007 anthology film Life in a... Metro has started streaming on Netflix on August 29. As per unofficial reports, the film was sold to Netflix for 40 crores, as a result of the box office outcome. The film is expected to score good viewership on Netflix as it received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its ensemble performances, thematic depth, and Pritam's music. The movie, however, has its limitations due to its urban theme, which doesn't resonate with the masses. Metro... In Dino may not have shattered box office records, but it emerged as a critically appreciated and commercially decent venture. With its 70 crore worldwide gross and now a Netflix release, the film is expected to find new viewers beyond cinemas, much like Basu's earlier works that grew stronger with time. Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, August 22 - Kajol's much-talked-about supernatural horror thriller Maa is all set to make its digital debut, after completing its theatrical run. The film will begin streaming on Netflix from August 22, giving audiences another chance to experience its eerie and emotional storyline. ## The film, directed by Vishal Furia, combines elements of supernatural suspense with a strong emotional core, centring around a mother’s unbreakable bond in the face of dark forces. Kajol received praise for her performance in the intense portrayal of the titular character. ## Produced by Ajay Devgn under Devgn Films in association with Jio Studios and Panorama Studios, Maa had a decent run at the box office, collecting around 50 crores gross worldwide. While not a blockbuster, the film managed to recover costs and gained appreciation among horror-thriller fans for its atmosphere and gripping narrative. ## With its arrival on Netflix, the film is expected to reach a much wider global audience. Horror as a genre has seen growing popularity in recent times, and the film’s mix of star power and supernatural thrills could help it find a new wave of viewership online. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, July 20 - Netflix has been a home for most of the top Indian movies after their theatrical runs for the last few years. The streamer has had a mixed bag of success with Indian titles, as some of the films that were bought at huge prices didn't attract much viewership, while there were some expected hits on the platform. ## Here are the top 10 most watched Indian films (theatrical) on Netflix, according to Filmy View - ## 1. RRR (2022, Telugu) – 43.65M (only Hindi) ## Directed by S.S. Rajamouli, RRR is a fictionalised tale of two real-life Indian revolutionaries, Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem (Jr. NTR). Packed with electrifying action, patriotic fervour, and stunning visuals, it struck a chord with global audiences. After the mega blockbuster success at the box office with over 1200 crores gross worldwide, the film's Netflix release run drew massive international attention, becoming a cultural phenomenon. ## 2. Jawan (2023, Hindi) – 31.90M ## Superstar Shah Rukh Khan-fronted Jawan, directed by Atlee, is a stylised vigilante action thriller that blends mass appeal with socio-political commentary. It was a huge theatrical success with a worldwide collection of over 1000 crores, and that momentum carried over to Netflix, where fans around the world praised its high-octane action, dual role twist, and SRK's powerful screen presence, along with a strong female ensemble and iconic soundtrack, which added to its rewatch value. ## 3. Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022, Hindi) – 29.64M ## Gangubai Kathiawadi was one of the first Bollywood films, with Akshay Kumar's Sooryavanshi, which brought audiences back to theatres post the COVID-19 pandemic. A powerful biopic, starring Alia Bhatt in the title role and directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Gangubai Kathiawadi follows the journey of a woman who rises from forced prostitution to become a formidable brothel madam and activist in Mumbai. The film grossed over 200 crores worldwide and also drew big viewership on Netflix globally. ## 4. Laapataa Ladies (2023, Hindi) – 29.50M ## Directed by Kiran Rao, Laapataa Ladies is a heartwarming and socially insightful comedy-drama set in rural India, which revolves around two newlywed brides mistakenly swapped during a train journey. It was a decent success at the box office and turned into a big success on Netflix. ## 5. Animal (2023, Hindi) – 29.2M ## An A-rated gritty action-drama exploring a troubled father-son relationship, Animal features Ranbir Kapoor in a dark, intense, and violent role unlike anything in his career. Directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the film was a huge blockbuster at the box office with over 900 crores gross collection globally. It was released with an extended cut on Netflix. ## 6. Crew (2024, Hindi) – 27.2M ## A heist comedy starring Tabu, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Kriti Sanon as flight attendants who get caught in an unexpected twist of fortune and fraud. Crew delivered a fresh genre mix of female camaraderie, satire, and suspense, resonating with a wide demographic and pushing strong digital viewership post-release. It was a success at the box office. ## 7. Maharaja (2024, Tamil) – 27.10M ## Starring Vijay Sethupathi, Maharaja is a gripping revenge thriller about a barber seeking justice for the mysterious loss of something he calls Lakshmi. The film's dark, layered screenplay and emotional resonance made it a standout sleeper hit on Netflix. Before that, it was a big box office blockbuster with around 200 crores worldwide, including around 100 crores collection from China. ## 8. Fighter (2024, Hindi) – 26.30M ## Directed by Siddharth Anand, Fighter is touted to be India's first aerial action film. It pairs Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone as elite Air Force pilots taking on terrorism. With slick action choreography, patriotic elements, and VFX-heavy dogfights, it became a major Netflix draw after a decent theatrical run, especially with fans of high-octane war thrillers. ## 9. Lucky Bhaskar (2024, Telugu) – 26.30M ## A fictionalised account of a modest bank employee who uncovers a massive financial fraud, Lucky Bhaskar blends real-world tension with a heist-like thriller format. Starring Dulquer Salmaan, the movie was a blockbuster success at both theatrically and digitally. ## 10. Shaitaan (2024, Hindi) – 24M ## A supernatural thriller starring Ajay Devgn, R. Madhavan, and Jyothika, Shaitaan explores black magic and demonic possession within a family drama. Its fast-paced narrative and eerie tension made it a box office hit and one of the most-watched horror thrillers on Netflix. ## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, June 1 - Netflix has finally announced the release date(s) of its highly anticipated sci-fi Stranger Things 5, which is the final season of one of the streamer's most successful series. ## On Sunday (June 1) IST, Netflix announced that the final season of Stranger Things will debut in three parts, with Volume 1 debuting on November 26, followed by Volume 2 on Christmas (December 25) and Volume 3 on New Year's Eve (December 31). ## The announcement was made during Netflix's Tudum fan event at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, with stars Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, and Noah Schnapp running through some look-back clips before revealing the dates for season five via a teaser, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. ## The streamer had earlier announced that there will be a total of 8 episodes in the final season of the blockbuster show. It is revealed that the first four episodes will be released in Volume 1, followed by three episodes in Volume 2, and the final episode in Volume 3. ## Stranger Things stars Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Priah Ferguson, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Maya Hawke, Joe Keery, David Harbour, Winona Ryder and Brett Gelman. ## The fight isn’t over yet. Get ready for the epic series finale of Stranger Things.Volume 1: November 26, 5pm PT*Volume 2: Christmas, 5pm PT*The Finale: New Year's Eve, 5pm PT**releasing worldwide all at once, date may vary based on your local timezone #TUDUM pic.twitter.com/nBcx9Ast9x— Netflix (@netflix) June 1, 2025 ## Stay tuned...