For those in the Priyadarshan-Akshay camp, Netflix is putting out the welcome mat. The film that had people talking in cinemas is making its way to the streamer on June 12. Missed the theatre? Or in the mood for one more round of slapstick with a side of spooks? Here we go.
Why the OTT drop matters
Since it hit screens on April 16, there’s been plenty of audience interest in Bhooth Bangla, review or not. Now on OTT, it has a bigger room to work in. You’ll see where Priyadarshan’s kind of mayhem and Akshay’s timing really shine for the ones who like to put in a good binge.
There is something to be said for the old-school pairing. It is a throwback to when they made Hera Pheri (2000), Garam Masala (2005), Bhagam Bhag (2006), Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007), De Dana Dan (2009) and Khatta Meetha (2010). That history is enough to have fans marking off the date for some at-home fun.
Streaming date and platform
It is as straightforward as it gets: from June 12, you can watch Bhooth Bangla on Netflix. They made the announcement on social media and the comments are in – some are ready to rewatch, others are asking about the dubs for South Indian languages.
Your quick watch plan
A few easy steps to get in the zone:
– Put Bhooth Bangla on your list
– Make it the plan for a night in with some company
– Have some snacks on hand for the jokes and the jolts
Plot tease without spoilers
It is a premise you can’t help but be drawn to. Arjun and Meera, siblings, come into an old family home with its share of stories. Akshay’s Arjun makes it the site of his wedding. And then the fable of the house makes itself known.
Word on the street is to be wary of Vadhusur, a being that has made nuptials a non-starter in the area. Once the ceremonies start, you can count on some disarray. Priyadarshan doesn’t let things get too heavy; he lets the fear show but keeps it light, so the humor and the horror take turns with you.
Cast and crew
Priyadarshan is behind the camera and Akshay is front and centre in an ensemble with a lot of comic heft. You will also see Paresh Rawal, Tabu, Rajpal Yadav, Jisshu Sengupta, Wamiqa Gabbi, Asrani and Mithila Palkar. It is a Balaji Motion Pictures and Cape of Good Films production from Akshay, Ekta and Shobha Kapoor.
Box office snapshot
The numbers from Sacnilk show the film put down some roots in the theatres. By Day 55, it was at 219 shows and brought in a little over Rs 0.08 crore, down 20% from the day before. In India, the net is in at Rs 181.93 crore.
If you add in the overseas haul of Rs 53.75 crore to the India gross of Rs 215.47, you get a worldwide total of Rs 269.22 crore. After 243,622 shows, the film has made its case and now has an even larger crowd to answer to on streaming.
Audience pulse and early chatter
Look under the Netflix post and you will see the kind of response that means the film has struck a chord. From ‘can’t wait to see it again’ to some hard questions on the dubs. For a horror comedy, that is what you want to hear. Viewers are in for a good time and a few gags to replay.
What comes next for the team
They are not done with each other. They’ve already put to camera Haiwaan, a version of the 2016 Malayalam film Oppam with Saif Ali Khan in the mix. You can put that in your calendar for August. But for now, the OTT release of Bhooth Bangla is the event of the moment.
The timing is right for the Netflix premiere. The story is ripe for a meme, the faces are ones you know, and the box office tells you it has some legs. If you are for a scare that has a punchline, you are set for June 12. Only don’t make it a wedding party at a palace.
