Aavesham to Premiere on Prime Video on May 9: Here's How Much Fahadh Faasil's Film Was Reportedly Sold For Its OTT Rights!
Aavesham, starring Fahadh Faasil in the lead as gangster Ranga, is also produced by the actor along with Nazriya Nazim and Anwar Rasheed. The film reached theatres on April 11, and is dropping on Prime Video 28 days after the theatrical release.
Malayalam cinema in 2024 has seen its fair share of box office hits, notably Jayaram-Mammootty's Abraham Ozler and Chidambaram's Manjummel Boys, the latter being the highest-grossing Malayalam film globally this year. Joining the ranks is Aavesham, a recent addition to the club. Jithu Madhavan's crime-comedy has amassed over Rs 150 crore worldwide, despite facing tough competition from Varshangalkku Sesham and encountering screen issues at PVR and Inox theaters. Aavesham Movie Review: Fahadh Faasil’s Swag-Show As Ranga Brings the Much-Needed Rizz in Jithu Madhavan’s Partly-Enjoyable Gangsta Comedy.
Remarkably, Aavesham has emerged as Fahadh Faasil's highest-grossing film as the lead actor, continuing to rake in profits at the box office on a daily basis. Hence, it's surprising that Aavesham is set for an OTT release within a month of its theatrical debut. To note, Prime Video has not made an official announcement on this, but the film appeared in the platform's weekly release listings.
Aavesham, which premiered in theatres on April 11, is scheduled to debut on Prime Video on May 9 at midnight. The short gap between its theatrical and OTT releases may raise eyebrows, particularly since the film continues to pull in at least Rs 1 crore at the Kerala box office as of May 7. However, such a move isn't unprecedented in Malayalam cinema. Films like 2018, Neru, Bramayugam, and Anweshippin Kandethum also opted for early OTT releases despite their ongoing success in theatres. Conversely, blockbusters like Premalu and Manjummel Boys made their way to Disney+ Hotstar once their theatrical run was nearly exhausted.
Watch the Trailer of Aavesham:
According to reports, Aavesham secured a substantial sum to enhance its early OTT release deal. The reports suggest that the film was acquired by Prime Video for Rs 35 crore, a significant selling price for a Malayalam film, considering Aavesham was reportedly made on a budget of Rs 30 crore. Aavesham: Samantha Ruth Prabhu Has the Best Reaction After Watching Fahadh Faasil-Jithu Madhavan’s Action Comedy.
While the OTT deal is certain to have delighted the producers, which includes lead star Fahadh, exhibitors may not share the same enthusiasm. Once the film debuts on OTT platforms, theatres will cease screening it in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the exhibitor's association FEUOK, which mandates a mandatory 42-day gap between theatrical and OTT release windows. Interestingly, Fahadh had also served as the producer of Premalu (theatrical release on February 9), which saw its premiere on Disney+ Hotstar on April 12, surpassing the 42-day window. Perhaps the delayed Telugu theatrical release played a role in this delay.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 08, 2024 05:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).