Actor Dhanush's upcoming Tamil movie Jagame Thandhiram is reportedly set to premiere directly on a leading streaming platform. 'D' recently commented on the matter and said that he is 'still hopeful' for a theatrical release, adding a new dimension to the discussion. While most fans want the Karthik Subbaraj-directed film to hit the screens, a 'direct to digital' release also has its fair share of advantages.
Not a 'Master'
Actor Vijay's latest movie Master emerged as a big hit in Tamil Nadu despite releasing at a time when theatres were operating at 50 percent capacity. Jagame Thandhiram too is expected to open to a good response at the box office. It, however, is unlikely to be another Master as Dhanush is not as big a draw as 'Thalapathy'.
The Maari star's last major release Pattas had grossed around Rs six crore in Tamil Nadu on day one. Vijay's Bigil, on the other hand, had collected Rs 25.6 crore on the opening day despite clashing with Kaithi. As such, a 'direct to OTT' release for Jagame Thandhiram will not be a major loss for theatres.
OTT's time is now
OTT was initially perceived as a medium for films that lacked star power. Things, however, changed following Suriya's decision to release Soorarai Pottru on a streamer as it proved there was nothing wrong in films featuring A-listers skipping the theatrical route. A digital release for Dhanush's film is likely to help Kollywood further embrace the trend.
An opportunity for Dhanush?
Malayalam actor Mohanlal recently garnered a fair deal of attention when the makers of his movie Drishyam 2 opted for a 'direct to digital' release as opposed to a theatrical one. The film has piqued the curiosity of the fans and may help 'Lalettan' add a new dimension to his career. His other film Marakkar, which is expected to be a moneyspinner--will release in theatres. Many feel that these developments have helped the veteran get the best of both worlds. Dhanush too is in a similar situation. Jagame Thandhiram is likely to help him explore the digital space while Karnan, slated to hit the screens in April, has the potential to do well at the box office.
Good reach
Jagame Thandhiram is likely to reach a wider audience if it opts for a digital release. This may benefit Dhanush in the long run as he is set to woo the global audience with his latest international project The Gray Man.