Laughing Buddha OTT release: You can stream this Rishab Shetty-produced Kannada gem right now

The latest Kannada movie, Laughing Buddha, made its digital debut on Friday and is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, exactly seven weeks after its initial theatrical release.

Laughing Buddha didn’t have a streaming partner before its release in theatres. Unlike Tamil and Telugu films, Kannada movies have a tough time finding a home on streaming platforms. Streaming players cite a lack of demand and interest among home audiences as justification for their limited investments in Kannada films. As a result, many movies risk disappearing into oblivion. Only some movies, especially those with A-list star casts and good box office performance, catch the attention of major streaming platforms.

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In that sense, Laughing Buddha is fortunate to have landed on such a big platform. Notably, the film's producer, Rishab Shetty—who gained national fame with the success of Kantara—had previously expressed frustration over the "step-motherly" treatment of Kannada films by streaming platforms.

Rishab revealed that despite his influence in the Indian film industry, he wasn’t able to secure pre-release revenue for Laughing Buddha. This meant he couldn’t make money from selling the audio, streaming, and satellite rights of the movie, relying solely on box office returns.

Although Laughing Buddha was well-reviewed, it failed to make a significant impact at the box office. However, given the film's modest budget, it seems to have been a profitable venture for its producers. Whether the movie can find a larger audience through its streaming release remains to be seen.

Laughing Buddha centres on a kind-hearted, low-ranking police officer, played by Pramod Shetty. He’s taken for granted by his colleagues and is the department’s go-to guy to play "good cop" when extracting the truth from suspects with his warm personality. His family life seems content and happy, but he faces his greatest challenge when he’s asked to lose weight and get into better shape if he wants to keep his job. His world is turned upside down. The film is written and directed by M. Bharath Raj and also stars Teju Belawadi, Sundar Raj, and Diganth.

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