Rider OTT release: When and where to watch Nikhil Kumar’s romantic action drama

Nikhil Kumar’s fourth film and third as leading man (after Jaguar and Seetharama Kalyana) was Rider, dir ected by Vijay Kumar Konda of Oka Laila Kosam and Gunde Jaari Gallanthayindende fame. Backed by Chandru Manoharan’s Lahari Films and Sunil Gowda’s Shivanandi Entertainments, this film marked Vijay’s Kannada cinema debut.

The film, which had Kashmira (making her Kannada cinema debut) and Sampada Hulivana (making her filmi debut) as the leading ladies, followed an age-old formula of childhood friends separated and reuniting years later. The action-based entertainer that also touches upon old-school romance, is about Kitty and Chinnu, who were tight buddies during their brief stay at an orphanage, only to be separated and later find their way to each other again. The film received mixed reviews, with critics lauding Nikhil’s much-improved acting, dancing and action skill sets.

Rider had music by Arjun Janya, with songs like the Armaan Malik number Davva Davva making it to the charts as well. The film, which released in theatres on December 24, 2021, also starred Chikkanna, Shivaraj K R Pete, Manju Pavagada, Achyuth Kumar, Rajesh Nataranga, and Garuda Ram, among others.

The film, we hear, has been picked up for satellite and digital rights by Zee5, and is set to be available to stream from March 11, 2022.

Meanwhile, Nikhil’s next is a film directed by Manju Atharva, produced by KVN Productions, called Yaduveera, for which he has been sporting a rugged avatar, with long locks and a beard.