The Telugu movie Baapu, which had a great cast of actors, has followed an unexpectedly rapid path to OTT. Following its poor performance at the box office, the movie will now be available to stream on Jio Hotstar from March 7, just two weeks after its release on February 21.
Baapu featured Brahmaji, Amani, Sudhakar Reddy, Dhanya Balakrishna, Srinivas Avasarala, and Rachha Ravi, to name a few. Though there was an established cast of actors, the movie was unable to create a buzz and attract crowds. Negative word of mouth and negative reviews led to its poor run in theaters, eventually winding up with a box office share of zero.
Theatrical Failure Compels Premature OTT Release
Several movies flounder at the box office but are later vindicated on OTT platforms. The producers of Baapu hope this time is no different and the movie does better on OTT after failing at the box office. There have been instances in the film industry when films flopped in theaters but emerged sleeper hits on digital platforms.
The two-week interval between OTT and theater releases indicates that the producers of the film took quick recourse to the new situations. They didn’t lose time in arranging for an OTT deal so that Baapu has another shot at connecting with the audience.
What Went Wrong for Baapu in Theaters?
Several reasons can explain Baapu’s box office failure:
Weak Promotions: The movie did not generate excitement prior to its release. It had no strong promotions, and so it could not draw people’s attention.
Negative Reviews: Reviewers and the initial audience provided negative reviews, which discouraged others from seeing it in cinemas.
No Star Power: Even though the movie had quality actors, it did not have a major star to draw crowds to cinemas.
Limited Screen Presence: Baapu was unable to get a good theater count, as larger films took over the screens.
With these against it, the film had no hope of survival at the box office.
Can Baapu Succeed on OTT?
Baapu’s early OTT release may prove to be a second opportunity for the film to make an impact. While theatrical success is based on footfalls and first-week shows, OTT platforms enable films to gain popularity over time.
Some films that failed at the box office fared well on streaming platforms because of:
Convenience of watching at home
- No financial outlay for viewers
- Greater access to niche content
- If Baapu picks up among OTT audiences, it can still revive its image in spite of box office disappointment.
Read Also :- Bhagyashree Borse Joins Prabhas in a Big-Budget Film
Last Thoughts: Will Baapu Shine on Jio Hotstar?
Baapu’s rapid transition to OTT indicates the evolving landscape of the movie business. Cinema halls are no longer the sole yardstick for success, and streaming services have become a potent alternative for movies that flop at the box office.
The movie might not have made audiences in cinemas sit up and take notice, but its genuine effort and heart-warming performances might convince OTT audiences. Whether Baapu gets a second lease of life on Jio Hotstar or not is yet to be seen. Will it finally get its due, or will it lie forgotten? That will become clear after its streaming release on March 7.
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