Blockbuster Week Ahead: Thrilling Theater & OTT Releases!

The world of entertainment is like a buffet—there’s something for everyone, from spicy action flicks to sweet family dramas and tangy horror comedies. This week, movie lovers are in for a treat as theaters and OTT platforms bring a medley of releases to keep audiences hooked. Let’s explore the exciting lineup that promises to cater to every palate.

Mechanic Rocky, headlined by Vishwak Sen, is a rollercoaster ride of action and drama, directed by Raviteja Mullapudi. With Meenakshi Chaudhary and Shraddha Srinath as the leading ladies, the film is packed with powerful performances by Sunil and Naresh. Slated for release on November 22, it’s a must-watch for adrenaline junkies.

Another highlight is Devaki Nandana Vasudeva, starring Ashok Galla and directed by Arjun Jandhyala. With a unique mix of divine storytelling and gripping action, this family entertainer, initially delayed, is finally arriving on the same day. Mandira, a horror-comedy featuring Sunny Leone as a princess and Yogi Babu in a comical avatar, promises to tickle your funny bone while giving you goosebumps.

Adding to the roster is Roti Kapada Romance, a fresh narrative about modern-day relationships, helmed by Vikram Reddy and starring an ensemble cast. Fans of indie cinema can also look forward to Keshava Chandra Ramavath, a real-life-inspired drama directed by Garudavega Anji and starring Rocking Rakesh.

For those who prefer binge-watching at home, OTT platforms have a diverse lineup. Disney+ Hotstar brings Kishkindakandam, a mythological treat, while Netflix offers Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairy Tale, a documentary that takes fans behind the glamour of the beloved actress. Amazon Prime and Jio Cinema add spice with titles like Campus Beats 2 and Dune: Prophecy, while animated hits like Pokemon Horizons The Series 4 and Spellbound ensure fun for the younger audience.

Whether you’re grabbing popcorn at the theaters or cuddling up with your couch snacks, this week’s entertainment choices are as varied as a mixed masala dosa. And let’s admit it, where else can you jump from action-packed mechanics to a princess ghosting you in a haunted palace?

Rana Daggubati says India’s low screen count is triggered by rising real estate cost

Actor Rana Daggubati, who is known for ‘Arrambam’, ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’, ‘Baby’, ‘Housefull 4’ and others, has shared his insights on the Indian entertainment industry’s eternal problem of a diminishing screen count.Rana spoke with IANS ahead of the release of ‘All We Imagine as Light’ which won the Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival.

Rana, who is presenting the film to the audience across the country, told IANS, “India is definitely very very underscreened. In terms of the number of screens it has, 14, 000 is a very large number. India has only about 6000-8000 working screens, the rest are all diminishing in many ways. Out of which, a large part of it is in Andhra and Telangana, the areas that I live in.

He further mentioned, “But no, we just feel like it can be much more. Screens for different kinds of people, and the number of people that are around”.

He then pointed toward the axel that drives the problem of screen count: India’s real estate market.

The actor told IANS, “It would solve that problem but India’s real estate is not as cheap as the rest of the world. We have less land, and many people unlike the USA or China which have much more land mass than us. We can build many more things. So that would change. But it’s like a chicken and egg. Look at the cinemas now. Every festival we are over full”.

“And we feel like there is no space for new films. But the rest of the year as exhibitors. We just sit idle because there is no film. It’s that trick that we are falling in, I just feel like. Unless exhibitors also know that there is more cinema that they can play, different types of audience that they can reach out to, different types of marketing techniques, that they can start exploring”, he added.

‘All We Imagine as Light’ is set to arrive in cinemas in India on November 22.