Thalavan on OTT: Why the Asif Ali-Biju Menon thriller isn't streaming yet

The latest Malayalam movie Thalavan, starring Asif Ali and Biju Menon in the lead roles, is one of the awaited movies among streaming audiences. The film has performed decently in terms of ticket sales, but it's not currently a hot movie at the box office. Does that mean the filmmakers will expedite its streaming debut? The short answer is, unlikely.

Thalavan was released in cinemas on May 24. As per the popular trend, the film should have made its streaming debut by now. Typically, new movies with decent critical and commercial performances in the South have their digital premieres just after a four-week run in theatres. However, that trend is slowly changing in the Malayalam film industry.

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Malayalam filmmakers don't always find lucrative pre-release deals from streaming platforms. Most of them need to first prove their merits in cinemas before securing profitable deals with streaming partners. It's noteworthy that many Malayalam movies don't find a home on leading OTT platforms.

Under these circumstances, the Malayalam film industry seems to be gradually reducing its dependence on pre-release theatrical revenue to offset box office disappointments. The industry is now churning out movies designed to provide memorable theatrical experiences, and it’s working. The Malayalam film industry had a glorious run in the first six months, with almost all movies performing well in theatres and collectively generating more than Rs 1000 crore in box office receipts.

Many blockbuster movies sign streaming partners post their theatrical release. This growing trend allows filmmakers to release their movies on OTT platforms on their own terms. Many seem to be opting for an extended theatrical run as opposed to an early OTT release.

According to reports, SonyLIV has bagged the streaming rights to Thalavan after its theatrical release. Based on current trends, the film may remain out of streaming for at least a few more weeks.

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