Hard Disk Discovered: Lal Salaam Set to Premiere on OTT!
Picture Credits: Reddit
By Pavethran Batmanathen
The latest buzz around the OTT release of Aishwarya Rajinikanth’s film Lal Salaam is spreading rapidly online. Aishwarya, the eldest daughter of superstar Rajinikanth, made her Tamil directorial debut with the film 3, which starred her then-husband Dhanush in the lead role and marked Anirudh’s debut as a music composer. The film was highly anticipated, primarily due to the song “Why This Kolaveri Di,” which became a global sensation. Despite this, 3 failed at the box office, partly due to its weak screenplay, and Aishwarya controversially blamed the hype surrounding the music for the film’s failure.
Following the disappointment of 3, Aishwarya directed Vai Raja Vai, featuring Karthik and Gautham Karthik. The film, centered around gambling and featuring Dhanush in a guest role, also struggled at the box office. This led Aishwarya to step away from filmmaking for several years. In 2022, after her divorce from Dhanush, she announced her return to cinema with Lal Salaam, a cricket-themed film starring Vishnu Vishal and Vikrant, with a cameo by Rajinikanth. Despite high expectations, Lal Salaam, released in theaters last February, was another flop due to a poor screenplay, grossing only Rs. 30 crores.
Adding to the film’s troubles, Aishwarya revealed in an interview that a hard disk containing crucial scenes from *Lal Salaam* went missing, complicating its OTT release. The OTT platform has reportedly insisted on having the missing scenes before the film can be released.
In a recent update, Aishwarya shared that Lal Salaam will be released on OTT as a director’s cut, offering a version distinct from the theatrical release. She has managed to recover some of the lost scenes and reintroduced them into the film. Notably, music composer AR Rahman has agreed to contribute additional background music for the director’s cut without a fee. Aishwarya hinted that Lal Salaam might be available on OTT around Diwali, promising a fresh and enhanced viewing experience.
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