The Australian edition of the popular mockumentary, The Office, releases this week on Amazon Prime Video. And an animated film, directed by Chris Sanders, The Wild Robot, makes its way to the big screen with a star-studded cast.
OTT RELEASES
Reeta Sanyal
Release date: October 14
Streaming platform: Disney+ Hotstar
Adapted from Amit Khan’s book of the same name, Reeta Sanyal has Adah Sharma in the lead role as Reeta, a lawyer who tackles complex legal cases while simultaneously trying to solve the murder of the father. The thriller promises a blend of drama and mystery owing to the bizarre cases she takes on. The show also stars Faisal Sayed, Rahul Dev, Ankur Rathee and Manik Papneja.
Woman of the Hour
Release date: October 18
Streaming platform: Netflix
Anna Kendrick makes her directorial debut with a gripping film in which she also stars as Cheryl Bradshaw, an aspiring actress who appears on the popular 70s game show The Dating Game, where she matches with Rodney Alcala (a real American serial killer in the 1970s). Little did Cheryl know that while on the show, Rodney was in the midst of a killing spree. The film also features Daniel Zovatto, Autumn Best, Katheryn Gallagher and Tony Hale.
1000 Babies
Release date: October 18
Streaming platform: Disney+ Hotstar
The Hotstar special revolves around the chilling investigation of a mass infanticide case. The Malayalam series stars Rahman as the lead investigator, determined to uncover the truth behind the crimes. Neena Gupta plays a mysterious elderly lady who lives in an abandoned house in the woods. Also featuring Ashwin Kumar, Adil Ibrahim, Sanju Sivram, Viviya Santh and Joy Mathew, the series is directed by Najeem Koya.
The Office (Australian edition)
Release date: October 18
Streaming platform: Amazon Prime Video
The Australian version of the popular U.K. and U.S. comedy show, The Office, will see a female lead, Hannah Howard, a packaging company’s managing director. When the head office announces a shift to remote work, she channels her inner “Michael Scott” to do everything in her power to prevent the branch closure. The series stars Felicity Ward, Edith Poor, Shari Sebbens, Steen Raskopoulos and Jonny Brugh.
The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh
Release date: October 17
Streaming platform: Amazon Prime Video
Inspired by the life of the creator of the show Vijay Patel, the show revolves around an Indian immigrant family who moves to Pennsylvania. It explores their journey as they navigate the complexities of adjusting to a new culture, with many adventures and the occasional culture shock. The show features Arjun Sriram, Sahana Srinivasan, Sindhu Vee and Ashwin Sakthivel.
THEATRE RELEASES
Bougainvillea
Release date: October 17
Directed by Amal Neerad, this gripping story focuses on the lives of a happily married couple, Royce and Reethu. She suffers a severe head injury in a car accident. The family then gets caught up in the investigation of the mysterious disappearances of tourists in Kerala, where Reethu is the prime suspect. The film stars Fahadh Faasil, Kunchacko Boban, Jyothirmani, Veena Nandakumar and Srinda.
The Wild Robot
Release date: October 18
Stranded on a deserted island, a robot called Roz must learn to adapt to, and survive in, the new surroundings, making friends with the animals of the area and befriending a baby goose. Directed by Chris Sanders, the characters are voiced by a star-studded cast with Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, Mark Hamill, Catherine O'Hara, Matt Berry, and Ving Rhames.
Smile 2
Release date: October 18
A sequel to the 2022 film, Smile 2 follows global pop sensation Skye Riley who starts experiencing unexplainable and frightening encounters, which starts to disrupt her performances. She realises that she must confront her haunting past to reclaim control of her life. Directed by Parker Finn, it stars Naomi Scott, Rosemary DeWitt, Lucas Gage and Ray Nicholas.
The Apprentice
Release date: October 18
In a compelling film directed by Ali Abbasi, Sebastian Stan stars as a young Donald Trump from an extremely wealthy family, who is eager to make a name in the world. Recognising Trump’s potential, Roy Cohn, a Democratic lawyer, takes him under his wing, and helps him create a mighty real estate empire. The film also stars Jeremy Strong, Maria Bakalova, Martin Donovan and Charlie Carrick.
Porattu Nadakam
Release date: October 18
A story, which is set in a town called Gopalapura in Kerala’s Malabar region, is based on the events which unfold in the village over 21 days. The film promises a mix of political satire and humour. Directed by Siddique, the film stars Saiju Kurup, Dharmajan Bolgatty, Ramesh Pisharody, Arjun Vijay, Rahul Madhav, Nirmal Palazhi and Rahul Raj.
Paani
Release date: October 18
Produced by Mahesh Kothare, Priyanka Chopra and her mother Madhu Chopra, Paani is a Marathi-language film directed by and starring Adinath Kothare, a man who single-handedly fights against the goons in his drought-stricken village, while also trying to solve the water crisis. The film also stars Rucha Vaidya, Rajit Kapur, Subodh Bhave and Kishor Kadam.