Lagaan Completes 25 Years Curious Case Of The Aamir Khan Classic Missing From Ott Netflix India Theatrical Re Release

Ashutosh Gowariker’s 2001 classic Lagaan was re-released in theatres on June 12 to celebrate 25 years of its release. The film, starring Aamir Khan in the lead role, tapped into the country’s love for cricket and cinema in a way never seen before. But curiously, a cursory search reveals that a film as celebrated as this cannot be streamed on any OTT platform in India.

Lagaan was initially released in theatres on June 15, 2001. And to celebrate its 25th anniversary, the film was re-released in theatres this year on June 12. While the film was initially supposed to run only till June 14, the makers extended its limited theatrical release till June 18. According to Bollywood Hungama, the film earned ₹4.47 lakh in four days over nine cities as new and old audiences watched the 3-hour 44-minute film, which was even nominated in the Best International Feature Film category at the Oscars. It eventually lost to No Man’s Land.

Netflix explained why TV shows and movies leave the streaming platform. The note on their website reads: “Netflix licenses TV shows and movies from studios around the world. Though we strive to keep the titles you want to watch, some titles do leave Netflix because of licensing agreements. Whenever a TV show or movie license is expiring, we consider things such as: If the rights to the title are still available. How popular it is in a region, and how much it costs to license. If a TV show or movie is renewed, it remains on Netflix for you to enjoy. If a title isn't renewed, we'll give you a heads up when it's about to leave.”

Despite having a Master's degree in Journalism and over a decade of experience in print and digital media as a field reporter and sub-editor at organisations such as The Times of India and Reader's Digest, Neeshita Nyayapati remains a movie buff first and a Chief Content Producer second. She fell in love with movies in childhood and believes nothing matches the magic of watching a good film that moves you with a warm tub of popcorn in hand. Her love for writing about cinema follows that. Come Friday, you'll find her at her happy place, the movies, catching the latest rom-com or masala offering, for reviews or otherwise. As for the rest of the week, she's here reporting the juiciest news in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi or bringing out the best of celebs in interviews. While her niche is Telugu cinema, Neeshita likes to dabble in a little bit of everything to stay up to date. From film announcements to scandals and hard news angles, she has explored it all. A good book, a comforting cup of hot chocolate, puppy kisses and a stunning beach view are all she needs to unwind. Her passion for biking and travelling has taken her to various places across the country. She has found peace in everything from the frozen lakes of Gangtok to the coffee plantations of Coorg and the dense forests of Bandipur, to the monasteries of Darjeeling. But no matter where she goes, Neeshita loves coming across inspiring and moving stories.Read More