In recent years, some movies have been released on OTT platforms within weeks or months of their theatrical debut, while others take much longer. One such delayed release is Kamal Haasan’s movie Abhay, originally released in theaters in 2001.
“Abhay,” known as “Alavandhan” in Tamil, is a psychological thriller where Kamal Haasan plays a dual role. Despite its initial release 23 years ago the film made its OTT debut. The movie is now streaming on Amazon Prime but needs an EROS subscription to watch it. This unexpected delay has intrigued many, especially as popular star movies typically appear on OTT platforms within a short span after their theatrical release.
When Abhay was released, it received considerable acclaim. Directed by Suresh Krishna, the film featured Kamal Haasan in both heroic and villainous roles, with Raveena Tandon and Manisha Koirala as the leading ladies. The movie’s plot combined with Haasan’s performance left a lasting impression on audiences.
Despite its artistic success and being considered one of the top ten films in Kamal Haasan’s career Abhay didn’t perform well commercially. It was produced with a significant budget of around 25 crores which was quite substantial at the time. While it didn’t achieve box office success it did win several awards and critical acclaim.
Now thanks to the increasing popularity of OTT platforms Abhay has been given a new lease of life. The movie has been released in a 4K version on Amazon Prime, allowing a new generation of viewers to experience this classic. Now fans can stream the film and appreciate the depth and complexity of Kamal Haasan’s dual performance.
