Latest news with #SunielNarang
India Today
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
They decide the date, not us: Kuberaa producer slams OTT's growing control
As the Akkineni Nagarjuna and Dhanush-starrer 'Kuberaa' gears up for release, producer Suniel Narang has revealed how OTT platforms have become increasingly an interview with Gulte, 'Kuberaa' Producer Suniel Narang said, 'OTT platforms are deciding the release date. When we thought there might be a delay of a week or two, I requested a date in July. But they asked me to release on the initially agreed date, June 20. If not, they said they would cut 10 crore from the agreed amount.'advertisementSpeaking about the larger situation in the Telugu film industry, he said, 'The industry has taken a hit because of a few incidents. We are completely dependent on Qube, the cinema service provider. Without satellite, the film couldn't be released. Then there's BookMyShow. Stop the internet for an hour, and collections will drop to zero. We've become reliant on all of that and then OTT.' On this growing dependence, he added, 'Earlier, it was only satellite and theatrical. Based on that, we made our films. Now, we're making movies depending on these platforms. Slowly, they're becoming the kings of the industry. These three are happy regardless of whether the film works or not.'Sharing his views on reducing actors' remuneration, he said, 'People keep saying reduce artistes' pay. But why? We have a population of 145 crore, and out of that, barely 40–50 stars across India. That means they're practically gods. We go to them, invest in them, make films. It's not like they're calling us and asking us to make films, right?'advertisementHere's the trailer of 'Kubera': Meanwhile, Sekhar Kammula's 'Kuberaa', starring Dhanush, Nagarjuna, Rashmika Mandanna, and Jim Sarbh in the lead, is set to release on June Watch
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
OTT partner threatens ₹10 crore cut for the delay in the release of Dhanush starrer 'Kuberaa', reveals producer
'Kuberaa,' a high-profile pan-Indian socio-drama directed by Sekhar Kammula , is set to hit theatres on June 20, 2025. Featuring an ensemble cast including Dhanush, Nagarjuna, Rashmika Mandanna, Jim Sarbh, and Dalip Tahil , the film was initially slated for an April release but faced delays due to post-production demands. Shot in both Tamil and Telugu, with dubbed versions in Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi, 'Kuberaa' promises to be a gritty exploration of power, ambition, and consequence. Producer alleges ₹10 crore threat from Prime Video However, producer Suniel Narang has raised serious concerns about the growing influence of OTT platforms on theatrical schedules. In a recent interview with Gulte, Narang revealed that Amazon Prime Video, Kuberaa's streaming partner allegedly threatened to slash their deal by ₹10 crore if the film wasn't released on the pre-agreed date of June 20. This, he says, reflects a troubling shift in power where digital platforms now dictate release timelines. Post-production plea rejected by OTT Partner Suniel Narang shared that despite requesting a few extra weeks due to post-production delays, the platform was unwilling to budge. 'I requested a July date, but they said they'd deduct ₹10 crore if we missed the June 20 release. It all goes according to their will now,' he said. According to Narang, Telugu films typically land on OTT within 28–30 days, giving producers little room to maneuver when delays occur. Will the digital release of 'Kuberaa' be affected? Suniel Narang further voiced frustration about the industry's dependency on external platforms. 'People talk about cutting actors' pay. Why should we? Out of 145 crore people, we have barely 50 superstars. They are gods. The problem isn't them—it's everything else. These other entities profit regardless of whether a film succeeds or not,' he added, hinting at a deeper imbalance in today's filmmaking ecosystem. We have to wait to see whether Suniel Narang's revelation about the OTT partner's quarrel will affect the film's digital release or not.
Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Kuberaa producer claims Prime Video threatened to cut ₹10 crore from deal if film isn't released on time
For long, there has been chatter about producers and distributors feeling begrudged about how OTT platforms have also become a major player in deciding film release dates. It looks like this is true because producer Suniel Narang of Asian Cinemas, in an interview with Gulte, claimed that Prime Video threatened to cut ₹10 crore from their deal when it comes to Sekhar Kammula's Kuberaa. (Also Read: Dhanush's short hair and moustache look from Tere Ishk Mein set has fans going: 'Is that you Hardik Pandya?') When asked about how an OTT window of 4 weeks has become unavoidable, even for films that are faring well in theatres, Suniel said, 'Yes, Telugu films come on OTT platforms in 28 days, sometimes we drag it to 30 days. They have overtaken everything, and it all goes according to their will. I requested them (Prime Video) to give me a few weeks' time and a July date because there might be a delay in post-production. They said they'll cut ₹10 crore if I don't release on 20 June as planned.' He also claimed that the film industry is 'finished' when it comes to certain things, like relying on Qube Cinema for projection, BookMyShow for ticketing and OTT platforms for post-theatrical revenue. 'And yet people say artists' remuneration should be reduced. Why should we do that? India has a population of 145 crore, only 50 of them are superstars. They are gods, in my opinion. The issue lies with everything else but them. These other entities are happy irrespective of films being a hit or a flop,' said the producer. Kuberaa is directed by Sekhar Kammula and produced by Suniel Narang and Puskur Rammohan Rao under Amigos Creations. The cast includes Dhanush, Nagarjuna, Rashmika Mandanna, Jim Sarbh, and Dalip Tahil. The film's OTT rights have been sold to Amazon Prime Video, and it will be released in theatres on 20 June. It was supposed to be released in April but was delayed.
