‘Deool Band 2’ streams on OTT: How Shah Rukh Khan’s Rs 42 lakh waiver helped save the Rs 100 crore Marathi hit | Hindi Movie News
Marathi film ‘Deool Band 2’, after enjoying a successful run in theatres, is now streaming on OTT. The Pravin Tarde directorial, which crossed the Rs 100 crore mark at the box office, has landed on OTT, giving audiences who missed its theatrical release a chance to finally watch it. A sequel to the 2015 hit ‘Deool Band’, the film continues to explore devotion to Swami Samarth while also shedding light on the struggles faced by farmers across Maharashtra.
Deool Band 2’s Pravin Tarde urges audiences to watch
Announcing the OTT release on social media, Pravin Tarde encouraged those who had not yet watched the film in theatres to do so, while urging those who had already seen it to revisit it. He wrote in Marathi, “Jyanni ajunahi aajahi pahila nahi tyanni nakki bagha, jyanni pahilay tyanni punha punha bagha… karan kitihi vela pahila tari pot bharnaar nahi ani dolyatla paanihi thambnaar nahi…”‘Deool Band 2’ first hit theatres on May 21 and has now made its digital debut on Prime Video, capping off a successful theatrical run.
Deool Band 2’s Shah Rukh Khan connection
Interestingly, ‘Deool Band 2’ also has a Shah Rukh Khan connection. Ahead of its theatrical release, the makers had approached Red Chillies Entertainment for the film’s Digital Cinema Package (DCP), an essential requirement for theatrical screenings. Pravin Tarde later revealed that although the team had initially set aside around Rs 12 lakh for the process, the actual cost came to nearly Rs 42 lakh – an expense the makers found difficult to manage.
Shah Rukh Khan waived the bill
Tarde revealed that once the matter came to Shah Rukh Khan’s attention, the superstar instructed his company to waive the bill entirely and hand over the DCP to the film’s team. Recalling his words, Tarde quoted him as saying, “Waive off their bill. It’s a Marathi film. Give them the DCP. We can sort out the payments later. If it’s a good film, give them the DCP.”The filmmaker has since repeatedly acknowledged the gesture, crediting it with helping ‘Deool Band 2’ make it to theatres at a crucial juncture.
Deool Band 2’s cast and crew
Written and directed by Pravin Tarde, ‘Deool Band 2’ features Snehal Tarde and Mohan Joshi in key roles, with Joshi’s portrayal of Swami Samarth earning particular praise. The film’s ensemble cast also includes Mahesh Manjrekar, Mangesh Desai, Om Bhutkar and Prasad Oak.
