Another Telugu film, 18 Pages, is in talks for an OTT release

Amid reports of Akhil Akkineni's Telugu film Most Eligible Bachelor opting for an OTT release, we hear that another project under the same banner GA 2 Pictures, 18 Pages is also contemplating a direct-to-OTT release on a leading streaming platform. 18 Pages, directed by Current, Kumari 21F filmmaker Surya Pratap Palanati, stars Nikhil Siddhartha and Anupama Parameswaran in pivotal roles. 

Rangasthalam-director Sukumar has written the film's story and screenplay. The arresting first look of 18 Pages, with a curly-haired Anupama and a blindfolded, dapper-looking Nikhil, wowed audiences recently. One would have thought a film with Nikhil, who enjoys a decent following his sensible choice of films, should be a safe bet in theatres. With theatres only expected to open with 50% occupancy at best, looks like the producer isn't willing to take a risk. 

GA 2 Pictures is a banner floated by veteran producer Allu Aravind to helm small/medium-budget films. It's a well-known fact that the production house distributes films across the Telugu states too. Now that two prominent banners in Telugu cinema, Suresh Productions and Geetha Arts have more or less finalised all their upcoming projects for OTT is a worrying sign for theatre-owners and multiplexes across AP and Telangana and could set a wrong precedent for the theatrical business. 

Beyond 18 Pages, some of the most prominent films that are likely to take the digital release route are Maestro, Narappa, Drishyam 2, Most Eligible Bachelor, Gully Rowdy, Crrush and Virata Parvam.