From Theatres to OTT in Just 20 Days!

Mowgli, which released in theatres earlier this month, is making a quick move to OTT. The film will begin streaming just 20 days after its theatrical release, once again showing how difficult the box office situation has become for small films.

The movie hit theatres on December 13 with fair expectations. It was an important film for Roshan Kanakala, son of anchor Suma, especially after his debut Bubblegum failed to click. Actress Sakshi Madolkar made her debut with this film. Director Sandeep Raj, who earned appreciation for Color Photo, had been waiting for a proper theatrical release for a long time, making Mowgli a crucial project for him. Actor Bandi Saroj Kumar also hoped the film would give him a good break.

However, things did not go as planned. Negative reviews from day one hurt the film badly, and Mowgli failed to attract audiences to theatres. The movie ended up as a box office flop and became another setback for People Media Factory. Releasing it alongside Akhanda 2 turned out to be a risky move that did not work in its favor.

Now, within just three weeks of its release, Mowgli is set for its digital premiere. The film will start streaming on ETV Win from January 1. This means audiences can watch it online just 20 days after its theatrical run.

Interestingly, producers often talk about increasing the gap between theatre and OTT releases to protect cinemas. But when a film underperforms, the same producers rush to OTT platforms to recover losses. This trend has become common in Tollywood, and Mowgli is the latest example.

With small films struggling to get strong digital deals, producers are opting for early OTT releases, even with short gaps. Now, it remains to be seen whether Mowgli finds a better response from OTT viewers.