iWorld
SonyLIV bids high on South content, bags digital rights for two Malayalam films
Mumbai: With an aim to bring diverse content across languages and genres, streaming platform SonyLIV has bagged the direct-to-digital release of two new Malayalam films “Salute” and “Puzhu.” This is for the first time that father-son duo Mammootty and Dulquer Salman will be launching their films on the same OTT platform.
Dulquer-starrer “Salute” is the investigative drama, whereas Mammootty will be seen in the crime thriller “Puzhu.”
Helmed by Rosshan Andrews, “Salute” marks the first association of Dulquer with the director as well as the writer-duo of Bobby and Sanjay. Produced under his production banner Wayfarer Films, it will also be the Malayalam debut of Bollywood actor Diana Penty and will also star Manoj K Jayan in a pivotal role.
Dulquer will also be producing Mammootty’s “Puzhu” under his banner along with S George’s Cyn Cyl Celluloid. Helmed by debutante director Ratheena PT, the film will also star Parvathy Thiruvothu in the lead.
“The story of ‘Puzhu’ excited me the most,” said actor Mammootty. “As an actor, it has always been my aim to keep reinventing myself, and to take up newer, more exciting projects. ‘Puzhu’ marks another step in that direction. We tried to tell a story that we believed in and put our hearts into. Hope the viewers like what they see.”
‘It was a great experience working on ‘Salute,’” said actor and producer Dulquer Salman. “I have always been drawn to roles that push me beyond my comfort zone and challenge me as an actor. Bobby and Sanjay have done a remarkable job with the script. It is an intriguing and taut thriller with the characters going through various emotional conflicts and bearing the consequences of their actions. I have always admired Rosshan Andrews’ craft, and it was an honour to work with him. This is very different from the other films I have done so far, and I cannot wait for the audiences to watch it.”
iWorld
Subedaar puts Indian original cinema on the global map with record-breaking Prime Video debut
MUMBAI: Prime Video has a runaway hit on its hands. Subedaar, the gritty action drama starring Anil Kapoor, has stormed to become the most-watched Indian original movie on the platform in its opening weekend, cracking the Top 10 across 31 countries and landing in 91 per cent of India’s pin codes within days of its March 5 premiere.
The film, a visceral, emotionally-charged story of a retired soldier, Subedaar Arjun Maurya, wrestling with civilian life amid crime and corruption, has struck a nerve. Directed by Suresh Triveni and co-starring Radhikka Madan, Mona Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal, Faisal Malik, and Khushboo Sundar, the film is already being hailed as a showcase for what Indian original storytelling can achieve on the world stage.
“Subedaar’s success is a reflection of the growing scale and global resonance of Indian storytelling,” said Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals at Prime Video India. “The film’s emotional narrative, its rooted portrayal of a soldier confronting his toughest battles beyond the battlefield, has struck a chord. Anil Kapoor delivers an acting masterclass, while Suresh Triveni’s solid direction and great performances from the ensemble cast have resulted in love and appreciation from customers across the world.”
Kapoor, 62, has been here before, but rarely at this altitude. Written by Triveni and Prajwal Chandrashekar, with dialogues by Triveni, Saurabh Dwivedi, and Chandrashekar, the film is a production by Opening Image Films in association with Anil Kapoor Film & Communication Network (AKFCN), produced by Vikram Malhotra, Kapoor, and Triveni.
Subedaar streams exclusively on Prime Video in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu across India, and in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.
For Prime Video, the numbers tell the real story: one weekend, one film, a global footprint, and a very loud signal that Indian original cinema is no longer just travelling well. It’s arriving.
