When Sitaare Zameen Par was released and in the subsequent weeks, Aamir Khan, the superstar, was adamant that the film would not be released on OTT platforms. He had initially planned to stream it directly on YouTube after its theatrical release. However, it seems the actor has changed his mind, as the film is now preparing for a digital debut on a streaming service.
Sitaare Zameen Par to be released on OTT platform
It was revealed on Monday that Sitaare Zameen Par is set to premiere on Sony LIV. The movie, which debuted in theaters last June, will be available for streaming eight months following its initial release.
According to the streaming service's announcement, 'the release represents a significant achievement for the platform, as Sitaare Zameen Par is the first Hindi theatrical film to debut on the service.' The digital premiere date for the film has not been disclosed yet, with the platform indicating that it will be 'released soon.'
The movie, directed by RS Prasanna, features Aamir Khan, Genelia Deshmukh, Ashish Pendse, Aroush Datta, Aayush Bhansali, Rishi Shahani, Gopikrishnan K Varma, Rishabh Jain, Vedant Sharma, Simran Mangeshkar, Samvit Desai, and Naman Misra. It is produced by Aamir Khan and Aparna Purohit under the Aamir Khan Productions banner, with B. Shrinivas Rao and Ravi Bhagchandka as producers.
Considered a spiritual successor to the 2007 blockbuster Taare Zameen Par, Sitaare Zameen Par narrates the tale of a basketball coach who, after a DUI conviction, is ordered by the court to instruct a group of neurodivergent people in the sport. The movie was well-received by critics upon its release and achieved box office success, grossing over ₹265 crore globally.
What did Aamir comment regarding the film's release on OTT platforms?
The launch of Sitaare Zameen Par ignited discussions about the theatre versus OTT debate, with the actor stating that the movie will not be available on any streaming service. Instead, he chose a pay-per-view approach through YouTube.
Aamir caused some controversy by criticizing the release of the film on OTT platforms before six months had passed since its theatrical debut, yet he made it available digitally on YouTube just six weeks later. The movie was released on YouTube on August 1, following its theatrical release on June 20, and was available for rent at ₹100.
In July of the previous year, Aamir organized a press conference in Mumbai to announce that Sitaare Zameen Par would bypass an OTT release and instead premiere directly on YouTube. The actor expressed regret for misleading the public for several weeks while promoting the film during its theatrical run and justified his position on the pay-per-view versus subscription models.
He expressed his regret, saying, "I clasp my hands and apologize for lying about Sitaare Zameen Par not being released on YouTube. I had no alternative but to do so to safeguard the film's theatrical revenue. My loyalty lies with theaters, as my journey started with cinema. Therefore, I have consistently worked to preserve the theatrical success of my films. Nonetheless, I apologize for having to lie, as it was necessary to keep my dreams for this film alive."
