According to Forbes, Dhanush’s Idli Kadai has become the second most-watched non-English film on Netflix worldwide for the week ending November 2, recording 12.5 million watch-hours and 5.2 million views globally after its October 29 digital release. The film dominated streaming in five countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Maldives, following its successful $9 million theatrical run that began October 1. Meanwhile, Pawan Kalyan’s They Call Him OG also made Netflix’s global top ten with 5.2 million watch-hours, while Lokah Chapter 1 Chandra became India’s most-watched film across all platforms with 3.8 million views. Kantara Chapter 1, despite still running in theaters, landed as India’s second most-streamed film with 3.5 million views on Prime Video, continuing its massive $100 million box office performance.
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The Indian cinema global moment
Here’s what’s really interesting about these numbers. We’re not just talking about Indian films doing well in India – that’s expected. But Idli Kadai ranking second globally on Netflix? That’s huge. The film hit top ten in fifteen different countries, which suggests something bigger is happening. Indian regional cinema is finding international audiences in ways we haven’t seen before.
And it’s not just one film carrying the torch. You’ve got Tamil cinema with Idli Kadai, Telugu with They Call Him OG, Malayalam with Lokah Chapter 1, and Kannada with Kantara Chapter 1 all making waves simultaneously. That diversity is crucial. It shows that global audiences are developing tastes for different regional flavors rather than just Bollywood. The streaming numbers prove there’s genuine international appetite.
The theatrical to streaming pipeline
What’s fascinating is how these films are managing both theatrical and streaming success without cannibalizing each other. Kantara Chapter 1 is still pulling in theater revenue while becoming the second most-streamed film in India. That’s pretty remarkable when you think about it.
The timing between theatrical release and digital debut seems to be getting optimized. Idli Kadai had about a month between its October 1 theatrical release and October 29 streaming debut. They Call Him OG had a similar gap from September 25 theaters to early October streaming. Studios are clearly finding that sweet spot where they maximize box office without killing streaming momentum.
Beyond the hype
Now, let’s be real for a second. The Forbes piece mentions that Idli Kadai has a “very predictable storyline” with characters that are “all too starkly positive or negative.” That’s worth noting because it suggests these streaming successes aren’t necessarily about groundbreaking cinema. Sometimes, familiar stories told well can travel better than we expect.
There’s also the question of whether this is sustainable or just a temporary boom. Remember when Korean dramas suddenly became massive worldwide? That wasn’t a fluke – it was backed by years of strategic content development and distribution. Indian studios need to think long-term about how to maintain this momentum rather than just riding the current wave.
The other thing that stands out? The production values. Look at Lokah Chapter 1 Chandra – a female superhero film that’s rewriting box office records for Malayalam cinema. That level of ambition in regional filmmaking is relatively new, and it’s clearly paying off both financially and in terms of audience engagement.
What this means going forward
Basically, we’re witnessing a fundamental shift in how Indian content is consumed globally. Streaming platforms are becoming the primary gateway for international audiences to discover regional Indian cinema. And the data doesn’t lie – when you have multiple films from different regions simultaneously charting globally, that’s a trend, not an anomaly.
The real test will be whether this leads to more international co-productions, better distribution deals, and sustained investment in regional content. If studios play this right, we could be looking at Indian cinema’s true global breakout moment. But they’ll need to keep delivering quality rather than just riding the cultural wave.
