Dhurandhar Makes OTT Debut Amid Fan Backlash and Technical Upgrades
Ranveer Singh's monumental blockbuster 'Dhurandhar' has finally made its highly anticipated OTT debut this weekend, following an extraordinary theatrical run that amassed a staggering Rs 1000 crore net at the domestic box office. The film, directed by the acclaimed Aditya Dhar, premiered exclusively on Netflix at the stroke of midnight on Friday, triggering an immediate surge of viewership as countless fans eagerly flocked to the streaming platform to relive the cinematic experience from the comfort of their homes.
Initial OTT Release Met with Widespread Criticism
To broaden its accessibility, the Hindi film was released online with meticulously dubbed Tamil and Telugu versions. However, the OTT premiere was far from smooth. Almost immediately after its release, fans unleashed a torrent of criticism directed at both the filmmakers and the streaming giant. A significant portion of the audience expressed frustration over the muted cuss words in this 'A' rated film, questioning the necessity of such censorship for a mature audience.
Furthermore, viewers were quick to notice and condemn the film's mysterious 9-minute shorter runtime compared to its theatrical version. Social media platforms became inundated with complaints, as disappointed fans also highlighted issues with the film's colour grading, which many described as a noticeable downgrade from the vibrant and crisp theatrical print.
Netflix's Surprising Quality Upgrade
In a remarkable and unexpected turnaround, those who tuned in to watch the film on Sunday reported a significant improvement. Netflix had allegedly updated a new version of the film, addressing some of the glaring technical flaws. Enthusiastic fans took to Twitter to celebrate this development, noting that the makers seemed to have upgraded the film to a substantially higher bitrate and markedly improved the colour grading.
A viral tweet enthusiastically noted, "Netflix has released a new #Dhurandhar version with 12.56 mbps of bitrate (AV1 Codec). The initial version was 1.79 mbps. This is 6 times more Data for better quality. I haven't seen flix giving this high of a bitrate for AV1 codec EVER." Another user corroborated this, adding that the film now had "Much better colour grading."
Unresolved Issues: Runtime and Censorship
Despite this welcome upgrade in streaming quality, several critical concerns remain unaddressed. There is still no official clarification regarding the shorter runtime and the ongoing censorship allegations. Currently, the runtime of the film on Netflix stands at 3 hours and 25 minutes, which is estimated to be approximately 9 minutes shorter than the original theatrical duration of 3 hours and 34 minutes.
It was widely reported that the film's runtime was reduced after the makers were instructed to mute "two words and one dialogue in reference to Baloch". A revised version, incorporating these changes, began playing in cinemas from January 1st. According to the updated censor certificate for 'Dhurandhar', the new official runtime is 3 hours, 28 minutes, and 56 seconds. This adjustment narrows the discrepancy between the theatrical and OTT versions to roughly 4 minutes, though the exact reasons for the remaining difference on Netflix remain unexplained.
Looking Ahead to the Sequel
The OTT release of 'Dhurandhar' strategically arrives just one month before its eagerly awaited sequel is scheduled to hit the big screens on March 19. This digital premiere serves as both a recap for fans and a potential catalyst to build even greater anticipation for the next chapter in this blockbuster franchise. The mixed reception of the streaming debut highlights the evolving challenges and audience expectations in the digital distribution of major cinematic releases.
