Netflix has adopted a box office-based pricing model for Suriya 47, the upcoming film starring Suriya and directed by Jithu Madhavan, marking a significant change in how OTT platforms acquire film rights. The streamer secured the rights for a base price of ₹23 crore, with potential additional revenue tied to the film's theatrical performance.
Suriya 47 is being made in a Malayalam style focus on content, on a reasonable budget, with Suriya himself producing. This move reflects a broader shift in the industry, especially in Telugu cinema, which saw a pivot toward OTT deals post-COVID, often sidelining box office performance.
The new model means streaming platforms pay a base price, with further payouts linked to theatrical success. This brings the industry back to pre-COVID realities films now need strong box office numbers for producers and buyers to recoup investments. Overestimating potential could lead to heavy losses.
For producers and stars, this signals a need for realism about budgets and market potential. With content quality key, overspending without a hit story risks massive failures. Could this model reshape how Telugu films are made? Let's see.