Critically acclaimed All We Imagine as Light – which won the prestigious Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year – will make its way to Disney+ Hotstar after its theatrical run. Meanwhile, Marvel is making way for the cinematic debut of supervillain Kraven in their upcoming film Kraven the Hunter.
OTT RELEASES
All We Imagine as Light
Streaming platform: Disney+ Hotstar
Release date: January 3
The Malayalam–Hindi feature film – which won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival – chronicles the life of two roommates, Prabha and Anu, who are nurses employed in a Mumbai hospital. Prabha receives an unexpected package from her estranged husband that turns her life topsy-turvy. Anu, eager to be alone with her boyfriend, tries to find a private spot in the big city. Directed by Payal Kapadia, the film stars Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhayam Kadam, Hridhu Haroon, and Azees Nedumangad.
Gladiator II
Streaming platform: Amazon Prime Video
Release date: January 1
Years after the death of Maximus, Lucius, the nephew of Commodus, enters the Colosseum after the emperors of Rome take over his home. Lucius carries the onus of bringing glory back to his people. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Denzel Washington, and features the returning cast of Derek Jacobi and Connie Nielsen.
Avicii – I’m Tim
Streaming platform: Netflix
Release date: December 31
Nearly five years after the death of the man who revolutionised EDM music, Henrik Burman brings to screen the life of Swedish DJ Avicii, known to friends and family as Tim. The documentary aims to explore the musician's early start in the industry through archival footage, his meteoric rise to fame, and the heavyweights that pulled him down.
Avicii – My Last Show
Streaming platform: Netflix
Release date: December 31
On August 28, 2016, Swedish DJ Avicii took his final bow at Ibiza's Ushuaïa. Now, with hit songs like Hey Brother, Wake Me Up, Levels, and Without You, the pressures of fame have led to his decision to step away from the spotlight. After eight years of creating music, Avicii performs his poignant swan song before retreating to his life as Tim Bergling.
Cunk on Life
Streaming platform: Netflix
Release date: January 2
Philomena Cunk is back to tackle all your burning questions. While grappling with her existential musings, the hilariously oblivious and deadpan documentarian promises answers—though accuracy isn’t guaranteed. Bringing in experts to discuss how many buildings were knocked down to make way for forests, and why animals exist, Cunk takes on the onus to find the answers. Philomena Cunk is played by Diane Morgan.
Gunaah: Season 2
Streaming platform: Disney+ Hotstar
Release date: January 3
Picking up where the last season left off, Abhimanyu continues his revenge mission after his release from prison and dramatic physical transformation. His quest is fueled by the anger caused by the one he loved the most, – his girlfriend – who betrayed him, by falsely accusing him of a crime he did not commit. Created by Anirudh Pathak, inspired by the Turkish series Ezel, the series stars Surbhi Jyoti, Gashmeer Mahajani, Darshan Pandya, and Shashank Ketkar.
Missing You
Streaming platform: Netflix
Release date: January 1
Eleven years after the disappearance of her fiancé Josh, Detective Kat Donovan is approached by a teenage boy who he believes that his mother has been kidnapped by a man – who she met through a dating app – named Josh. Using her detective skills as her primary asset, she digs deeper to find her fiancé’s true motives and uncover long-held questions. Based on the book of the same name by Harlen Coben, the series stars Rosalind Eleazar, Jessica Plummer, Richard Armitage, Lenny Henry, and Steve Pemberton.
THEATRE RELEASES
Kraven The Hunter
Release date: January 1
Marvel comics supervillain, Kraven the Hunter, a foe of Spider-Man, makes his cinematic debut. The story chronicles the transformation of Sergei Kravinoff into Kraven, a man with animal instincts after being attacked by a lion in his teenage years. Directed by J. C. Chandor, the film stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ariana DeBose, Fred Hechinger, Alessandro Nivola, and Russell Crowe.
Identity
Release date: January 2
Haran Shankar, a sketch artist, is tasked with finding the man responsible for the murder of a woman. When an eyewitness Alisha comes forward, her photographic memory proves to be an asset in finding the perpetrator. With the skills he possesses paired with his years of experience, Haran puts pen to paper to create an image resting in Alisha’s memory. Directed by Akhil Paul and Anas Khan, the film features Tovino Thomas, Trisha, Vinay Rai, Archana Kavi, and Aju Varghese.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Release date: January 3
In the third instalment of the series, Sonic the Hedgehog faces off against Shadow, who arrived via a meteorite on Earth in the 70s and was seized by the military. Sonic, along with Tails and Knuckles and their adoptive human parents Tom and Maddie, team up to stop Shadow, who is causing destruction and total obliteration of cities. Directed by Jeff Fowler, the film stars Ben Schwartz, Jim Carrey, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba, and Colleen O'Shaughnessey.
