When Mammootty Made Dulquer Cancel A 40cr OTT Deal

Dulquer Salmaan’s latest outing Kurup is all set for its release on November 12. Based on the life of real-life gangster Sukumara Kurup, this movie is released in multiple languages. It is the first Malayalam biggie to have a theatrical release after the pandemic.

Meanwhile, it is reported that the makers had almost decided to go for a direct digital release after waiting for more than a year for the reopening of theatres. But it was Mammootty who persuaded the team to go for a theatrical release by breaking the OTT contract.

Kurup was initially slated to hit the screens during summer 2020. But the COVID-19 pandemic postponed its release. Eventually, the makers got a lucrative deal from Netflix and they had also apparently sold the exclusive rights for Rs. 40 crores.

It is heard that Mammootty watched the film and advised the makers that this movie needs to be watched in theatres and not on any OTT platforms.

It seems that he also said that films like these help the distributors and exhibitors to earn well after being hit hard by the pandemic.

Mammootty wanted to help the theatre owners in these tough times and asked Kurup’s makers to cancel the OTT deal. Dulquer, who is also the producer of the movie, eventually cancelled the contract with Netflix and decided to go for a theatrical release.