PremiumTovino Thomas and Anna Ben’s Naradan to release directly on OTTs due to Omicron threat?
The movie was scheduled to hit theatres on January 27 but was deferred due to the surge in COVID-19 cases
Last Updated: 06.47 AM, Jan 17, 2022
After the theatrical release of Naradan was deferred due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, the team of Aashiq Abu’s upcoming film starring Tovino Thomas and Anna Ben could go in for a direct-to-OTT release, as per reports.
The film, scripted by Unni R, was scheduled to hit theatres on January 27 but on Friday, the makers had announced that the release of the film had been postponed. While the film had been cleared by the censor board with an U/A certificate, Naradan was the second Malayalam film after Dulquer Salmaan’s Salute to defer its release due to the Omicron threat.
With the cases still rising, it remains to be seen if the government will impose new guidelines. Theatres in other parts of the country, which are also major revenue centres for Mollywood films, have also been shut due to the third wave of COVID-19.
Rumours suggest that while Aashiq, who has also co-produced the movie with Rima Kallingal, was keen on a theatrical release, the film could now head for a direct-to-OTT release, considering the situation.
What could be an added advantage to the team, who is behind acclaimed movies such as Mayanadhi and Virus, is that Tovino’s previous film, Minnal Murali, had broken all records for a Malayalam OTT release. The movie, which is streaming on Netflix, has been on the Global Top 10 (non-English) charts since its release on December 24.
In an earlier interview with OTTplay, Tovino told us, “I know this space that I have now is hard-earned and I have to be more responsible now. Like how they say with great power comes great responsibility, in cinema, with more reach comes more responsibility. I know that it’s not the same number of people who have seen my previous films who will be watching my next projects. Minnal Murali has introduced me to a wider audience.”
Naradan, which is set against the backdrop of the media, has the actor playing a journalist who questions his own principles after being forced to resort to sensationalism for TRPs.