Tollywood Producers Failed To Follow Their Own Rules Regarding OTT Release

Hyderabad, November 14 - The OTT platforms have been on the rise since the covid-19 pandemic and they have also caused threats to the theatrical biz, especially the low and medium-budgeted films. To save small films, the Tollywood film industry recently announced some rules regarding post-theatrical OTT releases.

The Tollywood producers decided in August this year that all producers must hold their theatrical movies for at least weeks before releasing them on digital platforms. It was a welcome move from the producers' council and was lauded by the filmmakers.

Despite the big promises, it seems the Telugu producers have forgotten their own rules regarding OTT releases, making a mockery of the so-called unity in the Producers council. Since the rule has come into effect, there have many films that haven't followed the 6-week rule.

Movies like Swathi Muthyam and Ori Devuda were released on OTT within 3 weeks. Nagarjuna Akkineni's "The Ghost" too didn't follow the rule and was available to stream on the digital platform within 4 weeks. The thing here to notice is that producers do not follow rules if they are not beneficial for them.

The Telugu film industry has been one of the major contributors to the all-India theatrical business post the covid-19 pandemic, but the early OTT release of the films has been affecting distributors and theater owners the most. While producers have been claiming that they are with the theatrical exhibition, their move indicates otherwise. Hope there is an effective implementation of rules by producers to save the most entertaining medium of cinema.

Stay tuned...