The OTT release of Malayalam actor Mohanlal’s blockbuster film ‘Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea,’ directed by acclaimed filmmaker Priyadarshan, has encountered a snag, with Kerala Minister for Films Saji Cherian insisting on theatrical distribution.
Cherian stated that the OTT component was considered when the movie theatres were closed, and that the government is adamant in its belief that films should be distributed in theatres first, as he anticipates with ‘Marakkar.’
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu presented the 67th National Film Awards in an event held at Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan on Monday (October 25). The 67th National Film Awards were announced in March this year for the greatest works of 2019, however owing to the epidemic, the award presentation was postponed.
After a six-month wait, movie theatres in Kerala finally began showing films on Wednesday, with strict Covid standards permitting just 50% of the entire seating capacity, putting a damper on producers and theatre owners.
Antony Perumbavoor, the producer of ‘Marakkar,’ originally said that the filmmakers are considering all alternatives, including an OTT distribution, and that they have now almost finalised the arrangement for a Prime Video release.
This decision has irritated the state’s theatre owners, who are struggling financially and believe that if a big picture like ‘Marakkar’ goes on OTT, they would be in danger. Perumbavoor requested a minimum guarantee from theatre owners, according to a source, but the sum Perumbavoor is asking for is quite large.
This film has cost Perumbavoor a whopping Rs 85 crore, so he’s not going to back down, and with Cherian also pushing for a theatrical release, it’ll be interesting to see what happens next.
