Jyotika’s Pon Magal Vandhal to be released on Amazon Prime; Tamil Nadu theatre owners oppose decision

The upcoming Jyotika-starrer Pon Magal Vandhal (2020), produced by her actor-husband Suriya, is going to have a direct OTT release in the first week of May. However, theatre owners in Tamil Nadu are not happy with this decision.

The film, originally scheduled to be released in theatres in May, will now be released directly on Amazon Prime Video next month. The decision is probably a product of the continuing countrywide lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the decision of 2D Entertainment to release Pon Magal Vandhal directly on an OTT platform, theatre owners in Tamil Nadu expressed shock and disappointment.

“We are shocked to learn about the plan to directly release Pon Magal Vandhal on an OTT platform. A film that’s made for cinemas should primarily have a theatrical release first and then be released on other platforms. We reached out to the makers and requested them to revoke the plan, but they didn’t listen. Therefore, we have decided not to release any films from their banner in theatres in future,” said Paneer Selvan, general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners Associations.

Since 2D Entertainment is owned by Suriya, theatre owners have also decided not to release any of the actor’s films in cinemas in future.

Directed by newcomer JJ Fredrick, Pon Magal Vandhal also stars K Bhagyaraj, R Parthiepan, Pandiarajan and Pratap Pothen. The film stars Jyotika in the role of a lawyer, a character she is playing for the first time in her career.

Jyotika was last seen on the big screen in the Jeethu Joseph-directed thriller Thambi (2019), co-starring Karthi. The film, despite garnering mostly positive reviews, tanked at the box office.

Ever since she made her acting comeback with 36 Vayadhinile (2015) after a hiatus of close to eight years, Jyotika has been choosing woman-centric projects.