PremiumZEE5 snaps up OTT rights of MT Vasudevan Nair anthology, starring Mohanlal and Mammootty, from Netflix?
MT Vasudevan Nair anthology - The project had started filming in 2021 with director Santosh Sivan's segment. Netflix had reportedly in talks with the makers for the digital rights initially.
Mohanlal and Mammootty
Last Updated: 05.29 PM, Jul 13, 2024
Disagreements between its OTT platform and producers caused the much-anticipated Malayalam anthology, which was based on MT Vasudevan Nair's works and featured superstars like Mammootty, Mohanlal, Fahadh Faasil, and Asif Ali, to remain in limbo. But now that ZEE5 has acquired the project's digital rights, the problem has been fixed. Further updates about the anthology are expected in the coming days.
Initially, Netflix bought the digital rights of the anthology
The project had started filming in 2021 with director Santosh Sivan's segment. It was intended to be Netflix's first Malayalam anthology, following Navarasa and Pitta Kathalu in other languages, respectively. According to a prominent director of the anthology who wishes to remain anonymous, this prompted the producers to present the project to another OTT platform. The source says, "They have not received the amount they wanted for its rights, which is why there is a delay."
The filmmaker goes on to explain that another reason Netflix might have pulled out is that "OTT platforms' strategies keep changing." When anthologies were popular, Santosh Sivan's segment marked the beginning of the project's work. However, the budget increased when Mammootty and Mohanlal got onboard the project, and it probably did not make sense to stream a Malayalam anthology given their prior contributions to the project."
All about the much-anticipated Malayalam anthology
The nine segments, which included actors like Mohanlal, Mammootty, Biju Menon, Fahadh Faasil, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Asif Ali, Madhoo, Siddique, and Indrajith Sukumaran, were directed by eight renowned filmmakers: Priyadarshan, Ranjith, Santosh Sivan, Jayaraj, Rathish Ambat, Shyamaprasad, Mahesh Narayanan, and MT's daughter Ashwathy V Nair.
It was reportedly intended for each anthology segment to have a duration of 40–50 minutes. While Santosh Sivan directed Siddique in Abhayam Thedi, Jayaraj collaborated with Indrans, Nedumudi Venu and Surabhi Lakshmi for Swargam Thurakunna Samayam, and Ashwathy helmed Vilpana with Asif Ali and Madhoo, Priyadarshan directed two segments: Biju Menon's Shilalikhitangal and Mohanlal's Olavum Theeravum.