Kottukkaali on OTT: When and where to watch Soori-Anna Ben's acclaimed film outside India

After making its rounds on international film festival circuits and through a theatrical release, the Soori-starrer rural drama Kottukkaali is all set for its OTT debut. Directed by PS Vinothraj, the Tamil film, starring Soori and Anna Ben (in her Tamil debut), revolves around a family’s efforts to help their daughter, whom they believe is possessed by a spirit. Now, OTT platform Simply South has taken to social media to announce that the Tamil drama will be available for streaming starting September 27, 2024. However, the acclaimed film will only be available for streaming outside India; the OTT release date for India is yet to be announced.

Kottukkaali theatrical reception and other controversies

After receiving overwhelming responses on the film festival circuit, Soori’s Kottukkaali made its theatrical debut on August 23, 2024. However, upon its release, many netizens found the film’s slow pacing slightly underwhelming. Although critics praised the movie, the sluggish screenplay and confusing plot contributed to its underperformance at the box office. Additionally, the film’s clash with Mari Selvaraj’s Vaazhai, which had more appeal, further affected its box office performance.

Also read: Kottukkaali Review: Anna Ben, Soori are extraordinary in this cinematic intersection of feminism and faith

The film also became the subject of controversy after director Ameer shared his appreciation for the film but expressed that the critically acclaimed Kottukkaali should have been released on OTT platforms to avoid unfavourable box office comparisons. He mentioned that if he had been the director, he would have opted against a theatrical release and would have preferred the film be sold to streaming platforms to protect its reputation from being affected by box office results. Ameer also noted that the producer, Sivakarthikeyan, who wields significant influence, could have negotiated a better deal by choosing an OTT release for the film.

All you need to know about Kottukkaali

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker PS Vinothraj, Kottukkaali was first showcased at film festivals, where it received the Special Jury Award at the Transilvania International Film Festival and became the first Tamil film to debut at the Berlin International Film Festival. The story primarily focuses on the lead actress’s silence, which is a result of patriarchal pressures placed upon her. Soori and Anna Ben play the characters Pandi and Meena, respectively.

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