Prithviraj Sukumaran's Aadujeevitham OTT release delayed: Why Disney+ Hotstar is holding back
Aadujeevitham was supposed to make its streaming debut on Disney+ Hotstar on May 26. However, the day has come and gone, but the film is nowhere to be seen on the platform.
Updated : May 26, 2024 04:08 PM ISTAadujeevitham was supposed to make its streaming debut on Disney+ Hotstar on May 26. However, the day has come and gone, but the film is nowhere to be seen on the platform.
Aadujeevitham poster
The latest Malayalam movie Aadujeevitham has stayed off streaming platforms longer than expected. Even as the film approaches two months since its theatrical release, there is no update about its digital debut. This is quite unusual for a movie of this scale.
Several reports earlier claimed that Aadujeevitham would make its streaming debut on Disney+ Hotstar on May 26. However, the day has come and gone, but the film is nowhere to be seen on the platform. There is also radio silence from the filmmakers regarding the film's streaming release.
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Even before the release, it was announced that Disney+ Hotstar had acquired the streaming rights to Aadujeevitham, aka The Goat Life. Typically, new films licensed by the platforms become available within eight weeks of their initial release. In most cases, new movies arrive on streaming within four weeks of their theatrical debut.
The platform seems to have a different plan for the film's digital release. Only recently, Malayalam cinema's biggest blockbuster, Manjummel Boys, premiered on Disney+ Hotstar, and the film continues to spark debate on social media. The platform is probably waiting for all the buzz around Manjummel Boys to subside completely before releasing Aadujeevitham. It seems like a strategic decision to avoid either film overshadowing the other.
Aadujeevitham was released in cinemas on March 28. The release marked the culmination of director Blessy's 14-year ambition to transform writer Benyamin's iconic novel into a big-screen experience. The film was first announced in 2008. However, Blessy was not able to take the project to the floors due to budget restrictions. The growing fan base and popularity of Malayalam movies helped Blessy secure the required funding and launch the project in 2019. However, the production was delayed due to the pandemic.
Eventually, when Aadujeevitham opened in cinemas, it garnered positive responses from both critics and audiences. It earned more than Rs 160 crore from its ticket sales, making it one of the biggest hits of 2024 in Malayalam cinema.