Small movies eye OTT jackpot

Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the single screen theatres and multiplexes remaining shut, the over the top (OTT) platforms like Amazon Prime, Netflix, Zee5, etc., took the space of entertaining the audience with new content and changed the audience' perception towards watching a movie.

The film industry has already witnessed a ruckus between the Kollywood producers and actor Suriya, with the latter wanting to release his wife Jyotika's latest movie 'Ponmagal Vandhal' on the OTT platform.

This bold step taken by Suriya not only made his movie reach to a wide-range audience, it also paved way for other flicks to opt for OTT platforms.

One of the reasons for films being released on small screens is while high-budget movies can wait till the authorities permit theatres to open, but the producers with limited finances can incur huge losses.

Not only movies, even the web series on these platforms are bagging millions of views. Last week Amitabh Bachchan starrer 'Gilabo Sitabo' was released and, Keerthy Suresh's 'Penguin' and Vidya Balan's 'Shakuntala Devi', are all set to hit the OTT screens soon.

The latest web series 'Loser' made the audience to stick to their seats at home with its intriguing content. Be it Priyadarshi, Shashank, Anni, Kalpika Ganesh, Komali, Abhay Bethaganti and Sayaji Shinde, they all hooked audience with their powerful performances and left no stone unturned in carrying the emotions on the screens.

Even Tollywood's original web series Chadarangam also bagged decent reviews with audience loving to see the veteran actor Srikanth essaying the role of both actor and politician in a single frame. He reminded the visionary late NTR and made the audience stick to the screens with his ultimate screen presence.

The other Zee 5 originals like 'Anaganaga', 'Hawala' and 'Ekkadiki Parugu' web series are popular with their unique stories and grabbed the eyes during lockdown period.

Coming to Hot Star, Netflix, Sun Next and other OTT platforms, they are also keeping the audience engaged with their original stories. Be it a crime subject, love stories, thrillers, suspense drama's or kids' content, everything is available on these platforms.

So, every movie lover is now hooked to OTT platforms with varied content from comedy to drama. Well, we need to wait and watch whether the digital route makes the small movies completely depend on OTT platform or not!!!