Tovino Thomas’ Adrishya Jalakangal OTT rights sold for this whopping sum, here's why film hit Netflix early | Exclusive

Malayalam actor Tovino Thomas’ latest movie Adrishya Jalakangal has already begun streaming on OTT on Netflix, just two weeks after its theatrical release. Post the reopening of cinema halls after the pandemic lockdown, it’s probably the first time that a Malayalam movie has bypassed the one-month window to begin streaming.

The reasons for this early digital release can be ascribed to the whopping price the platform had paid to acquire the OTT rights of the movie, which is directed by Dr Biju and has Tovino, Nimisha Sajayan and Indrans as part of the cast.

Also read: Adrishya Jalakangal movie review - Tovino Thomas plays a man with no value 

Netflix pays a huge sum to acquire Adrishya Jalakangal’s OTT rights

A source close to one of the production houses of Adrishya Jalakangal told OTTplay exclusively that the film’s OTT rights had been sold for an amount close to Rs 12 crore. It’s not the first time that Tovino’s movies have fetched such huge prices for its digital rights, especially with Netflix.

His film Minnal Murali’s direct-to-OTT rights were bought by the leading streaming platform for a sum closer to Rs 15 crore and the post-theatrical digital rights of Vaashi was sold to Netflix for Rs 10 crore, according to its producer G Suresh Kumar last year.

Also read: ‘It’s sad to see children losing their lives’ – Tovino Thomas on why Adrishya Jalakangal’s anti-war theme is relevant 

This whopping deal is also the key reason for Adrishya Jalakangal’s early OTT release. Incidentally, the movie’s co-producers Mythri Movie Makers that has bankrolled the film along with Tovino’s own production firm, is also backing the Minnal Murali actor’s upcoming movie Nadikar Thilakam. Reports are already rife that its OTT rights could also be snapped up by Netflix.

Adrishya Jalakangal’s anti-war theme is relevant: Tovino Thomas

In an earlier interview with OTTplay, Tovino had told us that what attracted him most about the movie, which has him essaying a nameless man who can talk to dead people amid an impending war, is its relevant theme.

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The actor said that the film showcases how it’s usually the people who have nothing to do with the decision to go to war, are the ones that suffer the most when it’s waged. He also pointed out the example of the deaths on both sides in the ongoing Israel-Palestine war and how it has adversely affected the civilians of the two countries, and how the onus is on people across the world to ensure that “innocent children aren’t killed”.