PremiumUpcoming Kannada OTT releases in 2024 – Netflix, Prime Video, Sun NXT, Zee5, Namma Flix, Cinebazzar, JioCinema and others
Yuva, Avatara Purusha 2, Ondu Sarala Prema Kathe are among the Kannada films that have a streaming partner on board and will stream in due course of time
Last Updated: 02.03 PM, Apr 30, 2024
Despite a stellar year at the box office in 2022, powered by films like KGF: Chapter 2, Vikrant Rona, 777 Charlie and Kantara, 2023 was not great for Kannada cinema, especially with respect to finding a digital partner. Much like 2022, more than 50 per cent of the films that made their way to theatres in 2023 are yet to come to OTT, a direct impact of streamers’ reluctance to pick Kannada content following below par performance of some titles. Very few films found takers on Prime Video, Zee5 Kannada and Sun NXT, with some, like Orchestra, Mysuru! and Daredevil Musthafa getting hybrid deals for 6 months only. Despite this, Kannada filmmakers continue to shun homegrown platforms like Namma Flix and Cinebazzar, among others, preferring instead to be on ‘more popular’ streamers, a dream that still remains distant for most.
KANTARA A LEGEND CHAPTER 1
Actor-filmmaker Rishab Shetty's much-awaited prequel to Kantara A Folklore is yet to go on floors, which he says should happen sometime in April. A massive set has been set up in Rishab's hometown Kundapura for the film produced by Hombale Films.
Streaming partner: Amazon Prime Video
Streaming date: TBA
AVATARA PURUSHA 2 (TRISHANKUPAYANAM)
The second instalment of director Suni's Avatara Purusha is coming to theatres almost two years after the first part. Led by Sharan, the film is a horror comedy about dark magic, involving the quest for a magical element that will give the possessor unspeakable powers. Srinagara Kitty, Ashuthosh Rana, Ashika Ranganath, among others, complete the cast.
Streaming partner: Amazon Prime Video
Streaming date: TBA
BLINK
Dia fame Dheekshith Shetty's Blink is a sci-fi subject that also explores the Oedipus Complex. The film also stars Chaithra J Achar, Gopalkrishna Deshpande, Vajradheer Jain, among others.
Streaming partner: Amazon Prime Video
Streaming date: TBA
SHAKHAHAARI
Rangayana Raghu and Gopalkrishna Deshpande were pitted against each other in this thriller by debutant Sandeep Sunkad. Raghu played a small-time hotelier, who offers refuge to a fugitive, which ends up with disastrous consequences.
Streaming partner: Amazon Prime Video
Streaming date: TBA
BAD MANNERS
Jr Rebel Star Abishek Ambareesh's second film, directed by Sukka Suri, had him in the role of a young police officer, who loses his service revolver and then finds a way to resolve the issue by procuring a locally-made pistol. The film also stars Rachita Ram and Priyanka Kumar, among others and has music by Suri's regular collaborator, Charan Raj.
Streaming partner: Amazon Prime Video
Streaming date: TBA
KSHETRAPATHI
Naveen Shankar led this story about an agrarian issue, but sadly, the subject did not appeal to Kannada film audiences. Naveen played an engineering graduate, who is forced to return to his home town, after his father, a farmer, takes his life. When he then realizes how corporates trick farmers out of getting their due for their produce, he decides to fight this system.
Streaming partner: Amazon Prime Video
Streaming date: TBA
KALAVE MOSAGARA
This action-based love story with Bharath Sagar in the lead will probably be the first direct to OTT release from Kannada for the year.
Streaming partner: Cinebazzar
Streaming date: TBA
RAKSHASA
Nothing much is known about Prajwal Devaraj's newest collaboration with Mummy Save Me and Devaki maker Lohith H, who has also made the as-yet-unreleased Mafia with the actor. Along with the first look poster, it was revealed that the team already has satellite and digital partners onboard through Sun Network.
Streaming partner: Sun NXT
Streaming date: TBA
KARATAKA DAMANAKA
Yogaraj Bhat's film brought Prabhudeva back to Kannada cinema. Shivarajkumar and Prabhudeva played conmen, who are sent on a mission to a remote village by the jailer. The film also stars Priya Anand, Nishvika Naidu, P Ravi Shankar, Rangayana Raghu and Rockline Venkatesh.
Streaming partner: Zee5
Streaming date: TBA