ETV Bharat / sitara

To hold, or to release: Rohit Shetty and Fahadh Faasil's polarised opinions

For more than 16 months the pandemic continues to hamper the film industry across the globe. While makers of many big-budgeted films are holding up the release, there are enough examples of films meant for big-screen experience taking OTT route.

rohit shetty on sooryavnashi release
To hold, or to release: Rohit Shetty and Fahadh Faasil's polarised opinions
author img

By

Published : Jul 9, 2021, 9:58 AM IST

Mumbai: It has been a long wait for Rohit Shetty's cop drama Sooryavanshi, but the director believes his much-anticipated film will stand the test of time whenever it arrives in the theatres. Malayalam superstar Fahadh Faasil, however, opines that every narrative has an expiry date.

While many producers are opting for a digital release for their films amid the uncertainty around the reopening of the cinema halls during the coronavirus pandemic, the makers of the Akshay Kumar-starrer continue to stick to their promise of delivering the film as a theatrical experience.

Sooryavanshi was originally scheduled for a release on March 24 last year. The makers had later announced in June 2020 the movie will hit the screens during Diwali but it was postponed again and was set to arrive in cinema halls on April 30 this year. There is no update on the new release date of the film, also featuring Katrina Kaif, as theatres continue to remain shut across the country.

Asked if there was a concern about the content of the film going stale as they wait for the situation to return to normal, Shetty said thanks to the subject of the movie and the way it has been shot, Sooryavanshi will "never look old".

READ | Confirmed! Ranveer Singh, Rohit Shetty to collaborate on Comedy of Errors' adaptation Cirkus

"I never believe content will become old or something like that where my film is concerned. We had a promo out. There have been films that were shot and ready for three years and are all waiting... In the meantime, I have a film that is ready, I will start with the editing of Cirkus now. I am not thinking that the film will look stale, that will not happen for sure," the director told in an interview.

While it is a "challenge" to hold a film for a long time, the release of Sooryavanshi depends on when the theatres will resume operations, the director said.

Contrary to Rohit's opinion, Malayalam superstar Fahadh Faasil says he wants the audience to watch his films as soon as they are ready to be released as he believes storytelling being an evolving process can render the content stale if held on beyond a point of time.

  • " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="">

That's why the team of his upcoming Malayalam film Malik, which was primarily designed as an out-an-out theatrical experience, unanimously decided to release the crime drama on the streamer Amazon Prime Video as theatres remained close due to the pandemic.

READ | Neena Gupta on being axed from Rohit Shetty's Sooryavanshi

Faasil, known for Malayalam films Bangalore Days, Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum, Kumbalangi Nights and Tamil movie Super Deluxe, said he is looking forward to the film's digital world premiere on July 15.

"I truly believe that every narrative has an expiry date. I'm personally very impatient with my films. I just want people to see it, no matter where they see it. They'll experience Malik in a very good quality experience. It's a world premiere with 240 countries streaming it. I'm excited about it," the National Award-winning actor said in an interview.

  • " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="">

Written and directed by Mahesh Narayanan, the film chronicles the journey of Sulaiman Malik (Faasil), a charismatic leader bestowed with unconditional love and loyalty from the people of his community who leads a revolution against authoritative forces that try to encroach on the lives of his people.

Two of Faasil's recent films C U Soon, also directed by Narayanan, and Joji, directed by Dileesh Pothan, had their digital premieres on Amazon. Irul released on Netflix in April.

While the two platforms -- theatres and streamers -- offer two different experiences to the audience, the actor said the latter marks the beginning of a new culture of convenience, which is advantageous during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Mumbai: It has been a long wait for Rohit Shetty's cop drama Sooryavanshi, but the director believes his much-anticipated film will stand the test of time whenever it arrives in the theatres. Malayalam superstar Fahadh Faasil, however, opines that every narrative has an expiry date.

While many producers are opting for a digital release for their films amid the uncertainty around the reopening of the cinema halls during the coronavirus pandemic, the makers of the Akshay Kumar-starrer continue to stick to their promise of delivering the film as a theatrical experience.

Sooryavanshi was originally scheduled for a release on March 24 last year. The makers had later announced in June 2020 the movie will hit the screens during Diwali but it was postponed again and was set to arrive in cinema halls on April 30 this year. There is no update on the new release date of the film, also featuring Katrina Kaif, as theatres continue to remain shut across the country.

Asked if there was a concern about the content of the film going stale as they wait for the situation to return to normal, Shetty said thanks to the subject of the movie and the way it has been shot, Sooryavanshi will "never look old".

READ | Confirmed! Ranveer Singh, Rohit Shetty to collaborate on Comedy of Errors' adaptation Cirkus

"I never believe content will become old or something like that where my film is concerned. We had a promo out. There have been films that were shot and ready for three years and are all waiting... In the meantime, I have a film that is ready, I will start with the editing of Cirkus now. I am not thinking that the film will look stale, that will not happen for sure," the director told in an interview.

While it is a "challenge" to hold a film for a long time, the release of Sooryavanshi depends on when the theatres will resume operations, the director said.

Contrary to Rohit's opinion, Malayalam superstar Fahadh Faasil says he wants the audience to watch his films as soon as they are ready to be released as he believes storytelling being an evolving process can render the content stale if held on beyond a point of time.

  • " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="">

That's why the team of his upcoming Malayalam film Malik, which was primarily designed as an out-an-out theatrical experience, unanimously decided to release the crime drama on the streamer Amazon Prime Video as theatres remained close due to the pandemic.

READ | Neena Gupta on being axed from Rohit Shetty's Sooryavanshi

Faasil, known for Malayalam films Bangalore Days, Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum, Kumbalangi Nights and Tamil movie Super Deluxe, said he is looking forward to the film's digital world premiere on July 15.

"I truly believe that every narrative has an expiry date. I'm personally very impatient with my films. I just want people to see it, no matter where they see it. They'll experience Malik in a very good quality experience. It's a world premiere with 240 countries streaming it. I'm excited about it," the National Award-winning actor said in an interview.

  • " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="">

Written and directed by Mahesh Narayanan, the film chronicles the journey of Sulaiman Malik (Faasil), a charismatic leader bestowed with unconditional love and loyalty from the people of his community who leads a revolution against authoritative forces that try to encroach on the lives of his people.

Two of Faasil's recent films C U Soon, also directed by Narayanan, and Joji, directed by Dileesh Pothan, had their digital premieres on Amazon. Irul released on Netflix in April.

While the two platforms -- theatres and streamers -- offer two different experiences to the audience, the actor said the latter marks the beginning of a new culture of convenience, which is advantageous during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

ETV Bharat Logo

Copyright © 2024 Ushodaya Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., All Rights Reserved.