Fox Star Studios has finalised a deal for the premiere release of its Lootcase on an OTT platform. The deal implies that the film will not be released in cinema houses but will come directly on an OTT platform. The agreement between the producers and the platform is for digital as well as satellite rights.
The film, starring Kunal Kemmu, Rasika Duggal, Ranvir Shorey, Vijay Raaz, Gajraj Rao and others, has been discussed for its quirky trailer and equally quirky posters. However, the fear in the case of such films with not very saleable stars (read stars who do not command an initial) is that however strong the buzz around them, the opening is likely to be dull more often than not. And in today’s times, when there are so many films releasing week after week, one can’t even expect that such a film will grow with mouth publicity because there are newer and newer films hitting the screens every week. In such a scenario, the producers of Lootcase may have thought that it’s better to hedge the risk by having its premiere on an OTT platform rather than hoping that the audience gives it its love in the cinema halls.
Just recently, Karan Johar signed a deal with Netflix to premiere his long-in-the-making Drive, starring Sushant Singh Rajput and Jacqueline Fernandez. Karan’s Dharma Productions had announced its release on several occasions and then postponed the film. Madhuri Dixit had also forgone the theatrical release of her Marathi film, 15th August, when Netflix offered her a lucrative deal for its premiere on the platform.