Upcoming Kannada OTT releases in 2023 – Netflix, Prime Video, SunNXT, JioCinema, Zee5 and others

The year 2023 has been abysmal for the Kannada film industry as far as OTT releases go. While there have barely been any direct OTT outings, quite a few of the 100-off films that released in the first half of the year are yet to find a digital partner. Netflix does not take Kannada films, while Amazon Prime Video picks the occasional title. The hope, then, is for Sun Network or Jio CInema to do the needful, but even there, the Kannada releases have been few and far between. 

KRRANTHIVEERA

Ajith Jayaraj plays the lead in this biopic on the life of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. Directed by Aadat MP, the film, which also has Pramod Shetty and Dharma in pivotal roles, will be in theatres and on OTT simultaneously.  

Streaming on: Cinebazzar
Streaming date: September 29

AVALAKKI PAVALAKKI

This film explores Dharma in modern times and follows an ancient divine amulet belonging to a tribe that goes missing.

Streaming on: Cinebazzar
Streaming date: September 29

MELODY DRAMA

Starring Satya Shraya, Supritha Sathyanarayan, Rangayana Raghu, among others, in the lead, this film is about a young couple that drifts apart following a misunderstanding. When they then meet a year later, will they rekindle their love?

Streaming on: NammaFlix
Streaming date: October 6, 2023

NODADHA PUTTAGALU

A fantasy love story following protagonist Aditya, whose future has been put down on the pages of a special book, which draws the attention of Chitrakasha from Yamaloka. 

Streaming on: NammaFlix
Streaming date: October 20

GHOST

MG Srinivas' action heist thriller is still a month away from its date with audiences, but the team is believed to have cracked a mega digital streaming deal already. 

Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video
Streaming date: TBA

SAPTA SAGARADAACHE ELLO

An intense love story that director Hemanth M Rao is presenting in two parts, Sapta Sagaradaache Ello Side A follows Rakshit Shetty as Manu and Rukmini Vasanth as Priya. 

Read our review: Sapta Sagaradaache Ello Side A review: Hemanth M Rao's throbbing love story leaves you wanting more

TOBY

Toby, directed by Basil Alchalakkal, is a film that Raj B Shetty wrote and acted in. It is based on a short story by TK Dayanand, from which Raj picked a few characters, including the lead one, and the setting. The film is about Toby, a speech-impaired orphan, who has a violent streak in him, and yet, yearns for a simple life too, with the woman he likes and the daughter he rears. 

Read our review: Toby movie review: Raj B Shetty presents a heart-achingly beautiful and tragic tale 

Streaming platform: Amazon Prime Video
Streaming date: TBA

NAM NANI MADUVE PRASANGA

This comedy, written and directed by Hemanth Hegde, touched upon the pertinent subject of men in the business of farming not finding suitable brides. 

Nam Nani Maduve Prasanga: I’ve used slightly naughty comedy to convey the difficulty of finding a bride, says Hemanth Hegde

YADHA YADHA HI

Yadha Yadha Hi, which stars Hariprriya, Vasishta N Simha and Diganth in the lead, is the official Kannada remake of the Telugu film, Evaru. 

Streaming platform: TBA
Streaming date: TBA

SHIVAJI SURATHKAL: THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF MAAYAVI

This is the second instalment in the Kannada detective saga featuring Ramesh Aravind in the lead. Set six years after the original, this is case number 131 for the sleuth. 

Read our review: Shivaji Surathkal 2 review: Ramesh Aravind shines in a clumsy thriller that works sparingly 

Streaming platform: Zee5 Kannada
Streaming on: TBA

PENTAGON

A collection of five short films helmed by five different filmmakers, Pentagon is an overarching view of life, death and everything in between. Starring Kishore, Pruthvi Ambaar, P Ravishankar, Tanisha Kuppanda, Prakash Belawadi, among many others.  

Read our review: Pentagon review: An enterprising, 'theme-rich' attempt that keeps you hooked 

Streaming platform: Amazon Prime Video
Streaming date: TBA

THOTHAPURI 2

Owing to the box office failure of Thothapuri 1, it was reported that the makers are looking at taking the second part directly to OTT, but Thothapuri 2 is also getting a theatrical outing shortly.

Streaming platform: Zee5 Kannada
Streaming date: TBA

PREMAM POOJYAM

Nenapirali Prem's milestone 25th film was a tragic love story, in which he played a cardiologist pining for his long-lost love. The film introduced Brunda Acharya as a leading lady. 

Premam Poojyam movie review: Prem’s ‘heartbreaking’ love saga is a lesson in patience   

Streaming platform: Cinebazzar
Streaming date: TBA

VIJAYANAND

The biopic of Padma Shri Vijay Sankeshwar, the founder of VRL logistics, is releasing in theatres on December 9. Led by Nihal Rajput as Vijay, the film has an ensemble cast including Bharath Bopanna, Anant Nag, V Ravichandran, Siri Prahlad, Archana Kottige, Shine Shetty and Prakash Belawadi, among others. 

Vijayanand review: Vijay and Anand Sankeshwar take out an expensive but unappealing personal advertisement 

Streaming platform: Amazon Prime Video
Streaming date: To be announced