Is SS Rajamouli Being Blackmailed?

Reports are circulating in a section of the Tamil media suggesting that Netflix now holds immense power over Indian cinema.

According to these reports, directors must pitch their stories to the platform, and get approval, and only then can they proceed with shooting, particularly if Netflix is involved in the OTT rights.

It’s even rumored that SS Rajamouli recently visited Netflix’s Mumbai office to narrate his story for an hour. Allegedly, the much-anticipated project with Mahesh Babu will only move forward if Netflix gives the green light.

However, these reports sound utterly absurd. It’s hard to believe that a director of Rajamouli’s caliber—who delivered the biggest blockbuster Baahubali and whose last film, RRR, not only won an Oscar but also significantly boosted Netflix’s global reach—would be subjected to such arm-twisting by the same platform.

The idea that one of the most sought-after directors in the world, SS Rjamouli, with studios and production companies lining up to collaborate with him, would be at the mercy of an OTT platform is beyond belief and absolutely ridiculous.

This scenario might apply to up-and-coming directors, but it’s highly unlikely that Rajamouli, with his track record, would need to convince anyone for an hour to get approval for his next film.