Tollywood
Paanch Minar OTT Release: Raj Tarun & Rashi Singh's film out on digital in 1 week; Joins Double iSmart in early streaming trend
In a surprising turn of events, the survival thriller Paanch Minar has made its digital premiere on Amazon Prime Video barely a week after hitting the big screen. The film, which was released in theaters on November 21, 2025, is now available for streaming as of today, marking one of the shortest theatrical windows in recent times. #RajTarun’s #PaanchMinar Streaming now on Prime video....just 7 days gap! pic.twitter.com/QCzFCEiEB7— T2BLive.COM (@T2BLive) November 28, 2025 Usually, films follow a standard 4-to-8-week window between their theatrical release and OTT premiere. However, Paanch Minar has broken this norm, landing on streaming platforms in just 7 days. According to industry insiders, the decision was likely driven by a dismal performance at the box office. Reports suggest the film struggled to attract footfall from Day 1, facing stiff competition and a lack of pre-release buzz. With shows being cancelled in several locations due to zero occupancy, the makers seemingly opted to cut their losses and trigger an early digital release to capture the home audience. Directed by Ram Kadumula, Paanch Minar features an ensemble cast led by Raj Tarun, who has been looking for a solid comeback hit.Raj Tarun plays the protagonist ‘Kittu’, alongside Rashi Singh as the female lead. The film boasts a strong lineup of seasoned performers, including Brahmaji, the versatile Ajay Ghosh, and comedy staples Srinivas Reddy and Sudarshan. This isn't the first time a film has taken the express route to OTT. In 2025, several small to mid-budget films that failed to garner traction in theaters have opted for early digital premieres (often within 2 weeks) to salvage revenue through streaming rights. Paanch Minar is the latest addition to this list. Here are some of the other notable films that opted for an early digital premiere following poor theatrical performance: 1. Double iSmart (2024) Theatrical: August 15, 2024 OTT: September 5, 2024 (Prime Video) Gap: 21 Days. This was a major shock to the industry as it involved big names like Ram Pothineni and Sanjay Dutt. 2. Mr. Bachchan (2024) Theatrical: August 15, 2024 OTT: September 12, 2024 (Netflix) Gap: 28 Days. Released alongside Double iSmart, this Ravi Teja film also crashed and arrived on Netflix under the standard 4-week mark. 3. Operation Valentine (2024) Theatrical: March 1, 2024 OTT: March 22, 2024 (Prime Video) Gap: 21 Days. The film struggled significantly at the box office, leading to this rushed release. 4. The Lady Killer (2023) Theatrical: November 3, 2023 OTT Fate: Released for free on YouTube (T-Series channel) in September 2024. Context: This is a famous industry case study. The film had such a disastrous limited theatrical run (reportedly selling less than 300 tickets on Day 1) that it couldn't secure a standard OTT deal for months, eventually landing on YouTube for free. For producers, this Express Route serves as immediate damage control, allowing them to monetize streaming rights while the marketing buzz—however faint—is still alive. But for the industry at large, Paanch Minar setting a 7-day benchmark is a worrying sign. It reinforces the audience's growing belief: Why pay for a ticket when it will be on my phone next week? As the gap between the big screen and the small screen vanishes for underperforming films, the theatrical business faces its toughest test yet. For now, Paanch Minar has found its permanent home on Prime Video—whether it finds an audience there remains to be seen.
