While films like Biker and RaKaSa released in theatres last week, a significant section of the audience chose to stay indoors during the Good Friday weekend. Instead, many turned to OTT platforms, and interestingly, a recently released film which didn’t do too well at the box office became one of the top choices.
Sree Vishnu’s Mrithyunjay, which began streaming on Netflix from April 3, had earlier released in theatres on March 6, 2026, but failed to perform at the box office, reportedly collecting under Rs. 4 crores despite receiving somewhat decent reviews. The appreciation simply did not translate into footfalls.
On OTT, the film has found some traction, as content-driven projects often get a second life. However, the response remains average. Many viewers feel the story is too basic and lacks the depth or engagement needed to stand out. The hero vs villain track fizzles out soon, and even the ending is not anything hard hitting. The general consensus is that it is an okay one-time watch, but not something that generates strong recommendations.
At the same time, the film has entered controversy over a particular scene featuring PM Narendra Modi, alongside references to a bank scam, despite having no clear connection to the main narrative.
This has triggered backlash online, with many calling it an unnecessary and forced inclusion. Viewers argue that the reference feels misplaced and adds no real value to the story.
Supporters of the BJP and followers of the Prime Minister have expressed strong objection, with some demanding that the scene be removed from the OTT version. They claim it creates a negative impression without proper context or relevance.
The Telugu film #Mrithyunjay sneaks in a political jab by showing a news board cutting of PM Modi with “Bank Fraud” and “looting” captions -even though it has nothing to do with the actual plot.
This is a textbook case of surreptitious propaganda. If the story isn’t even about… pic.twitter.com/uduG7DGjqn
— Harsh Tyagi (@StrategistHarsh) April 5, 2026
