'Suriya 46' OTT rights sold for a whopping Rs 85 crore even before shoot begins: Report

'Suriya 46', the upcoming film starring Suriya and directed by 'Lucky Bhaskar' fame Venky Atluri is already creating waves even before going on floors. The film, currently tentatively titled 'Suriya 46', marks the first collaboration between the National Award-winning actor and the director known for his emotional storytelling. With high expectations riding on this project, it promises to be a unique blend of strong performances and engaging narrative, likely exploring a heartfelt theme in Venky Atluri's signature style. The official announcement regarding 'Suriya 46' was made by the makers a few days ago, and they unveiled pictures from the muhurat puja to launch the film.A record OTT dealAccording to Filmibeat, in a massive pre-release deal, Netflix has reportedly acquired the post-theatrical OTT streaming rights of the film for a staggering Rs 85 crore. This is one of the biggest digital deals for a South Indian film, underlining Suriya’s growing popularity among global streaming audiences. The deal signals Netflix’s confidence in the film’s pan-Indian appeal and strong content, despite the project not having begun shooting yet. It also reinforces the trend of OTT platforms investing heavily in high-profile films with strong lead actors.Shooting to begin in MayThe shooting of 'Suriya 46' is scheduled to begin on May 30, with pre-production nearing completion. The team is reportedly planning a large-scale production with an emotional core that has become a hallmark of Venky Atluri’s films. While the rest of the cast and technical crew details are expected to be announced soon, the OTT deal has already given the project a major head start in terms of publicity and market value.'Retro' storms the box officeMeanwhile, Suriya's recent release 'Retro', which is directed by Karthik Subbaraj, has been performing impressively at the box office. Released on May 1, the film opened to strong occupancy across major centers, particularly in Tamil Nadu, and has maintained steady collections through the week. 'Retro' reportedly crossed Rs 210 crore globally, fueled by Suriya’s star power, the film’s nostalgic theme, and positive word-of-mouth from audiences. The film's commercial success highlights its strong theatrical pull, proving that audience reception can often outweigh critical reception.