Devara OTT release date confirmed: When, where to stream Jr NTR's latest blockbuster
The highly anticipated Devara Part 1, starring Jr NTR, will make its streaming debut sooner than expected.
Jr NTR in and as Devara
The streaming release date of Telugu superstar Jr NTR's Devara Part 1 has been revealed. The film is set to become available for streaming on Netflix on November 8, six weeks after its initial theatrical release. While the film received a strong opening across India, especially in Hindi multiplexes, many had expected it to adhere to the North Indian standard of an eight-week gap before a streaming release. In North India, multiplex exhibitors often require an eight-week window between theatrical and digital premieres; films that don't comply face a potential boycott from major multiplex chains.
In contrast, South Indian producers generally follow a four-week release window, allowing movies to hit streaming platforms sooner. This practice has stirred debate among theatre owners, but Southern producers have maintained it as a viable model. In the North, however, this policy is stricter, especially for films seeking a robust multiplex release. South Indian films that don’t adhere to the eight-week norm often find it difficult to secure significant screens in multiplexes, which can limit their box office revenue. Still, producers can often offset potential losses by securing premium streaming rights for an early digital release.
Interestingly, Devara premiered smoothly in Hindi multiplexes and secured substantial screen space, leading many to assume it would observe the eight-week standard. However, it has chosen an earlier digital debut, slightly longer than the South’s typical four weeks but earlier than the North’s mandate.
Despite opening to mixed reviews, Devara saw impressive global box office earnings, reportedly surpassing Rs 500 crore. Directed by Koratala Siva and featuring Saif Ali Khan and Janhvi Kapoor alongside Jr NTR, Devara.
Devara is set on a fictional island surrounded by a vast sea and centres on the legend of a tribal leader who goes to great lengths to guide his people toward a more civilized way of life, urging them to abandon savagery and embrace transformation.