Lubber Pandhu OTT release delayed: All you need to know
Tamizharasan Pachamuthu's directorial debut, Lubber Pandhu, has surpassed expectations at the box office, but its overseas streaming release has hit an unexpected delay.
Lubber Pandhu poster
Lubber Pandhu, written and directed by debutant Tamizharasan Pachamuthu, was expected to become available for streaming for audiences outside India this week. However, the movie's overseas streaming partner has announced that it won't make its digital debut on October 18 as originally planned.
In an official statement, Simply South explained that this decision was made due to the film's sustained performance in theatres.
"Since Lubber Pandhu is still performing exceptionally well in theaters, we are postponing its streaming release. The new streaming date will be announced later on our social media handles. Follow us and keep the notifications ON for the streaming announcement," said the platform.
Besides Simply South, Lubber Pandhu was also set to debut on Tentkotta on the same day, but this release has also been cancelled for the time being.
According to industry insiders, the delay stems from the objections raised by the movie’s Indian streaming partner. Reportedly, the ongoing merger between Hotstar and JioCinema played a crucial role in pushing back the overseas release, as the film is now contractually bound to have its digital premiere in India first.
Despite these streaming setbacks, Lubber Pandhu continues to thrive in theaters, especially in Tamil Nadu. Initially released with little fanfare, the film features Harish Kalyan and Attakathi Dinesh in lead roles. It quickly garnered glowing reviews from critics and benefited from strong word-of-mouth, resulting in a rewarding box-office run. Many are already hailing it as one of the best cricket films in Tamil cinema, and Attakathi Dinesh, who plays the role of Gethu in the film, has earned the affectionate moniker "Gethu Dinesh" among fans.
Set in a small town in Tamil Nadu, Lubber Pandhu centers around the rivalry between two local cricket teams, blending the drama of sports with themes of community and perseverance.