It took one negative role in Nenu Local to change the course of Naveen Chandra’s career, which wasn’t heading anywhere despite an impressive debut like Andaala Rakshasi. Offers came to him from all corners after the film and it gave a window for the actor to revive his career as a solo lead too. Even during the lockdown when most actors were dillydallying between theatrical and OTT releases, Naveen Chandra’s three projects Bhanumathi and Ramakrishna, Miss India and Super Over released directly on streaming platforms.
Bhanumathi and Ramakrishna, in particular, also reasserted Naveen’s capabilities as a performer. Now, he’s getting ready for another digital release, Ardha Shathabdham, on Aha on March 26. He and C/O Kancharapalem fame Karthik Rathnam play leads in the film directed by Rawindra Pulle, where Sai Kumar also essays a key role. The direct-to-OTT decision is a practical one after all, given this year’s packed release calendar in Telugu cinema.
Several big-ticket releases from all the major actors are due to hit theatres in the coming months and there’s very little chance for small/medium budget projects to find space. Ardha Shathabdham’s online release also means that it’ll get widespread viewership, which may not have been possible in the case of a theatrical release with mostly new faces and a young technical team. Seems like a win-win situation for team Ardha Shathabdham!