Small screen won't do for India's big moment

Despite lucrative offers from OTT platforms, 83 producer asserts Ranveer Singh-starrer will only be theatre-bound; team apparently eyeing December release

Ranveer Singh’s 83, originally meant to hit the marquee in April 2020, has waited out two lockdowns and 15 months to enjoy a theatrical run. In the interim, several big-budget movies have taken the safety net of a digital premiere. Given the promise that the Kabir Khan film — which offers a retelling of India’s victory at the 1983 Cricket World Cup — holds, leading OTT platforms are naturally vying for its premiere rights.

“The makers have got many lucrative offers from streaming giants, but they have stuck to their guns, believing that the movie deserves to play out on the big screen. The sports drama will not only be released in five languages, but will also have a 3D version,” says a trade source. The latest buzz suggests that a December release is on the cards. The source adds, “The team is still figuring out the date, depending on the situation across the country and the reopening of theatres.”

Though tight-lipped about the possible December outing, producer Vishnu Vardhan Induri asserts that an OTT release is out of the question. “83 is made for [community viewing] like how people watch a cricket match. We have never entertained any conversation with OTT platforms regarding [its premiere],” he says.

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