Hattrick Hero Delivers OTT Shocker: Trolls Turn Fans?

Pradeep Ranganathan’s film Dude, directed by debutant Keerthiswaran, released in theatres on October 17th as a Diwali special. The film received mixed responses from both audiences and critics. Even with the divided talk, the buzz stayed steady across the first week.

Pradeep Ranganathan’s growing star power helped Dude collect ₹100 crores at the box office. With this film, he became the first South Indian actor to score a hat-trick of ₹100 crore grossers in his initial films. The milestone brought strong attention to his rising career.

After its theatrical run, Dude started streaming on Netflix from November 14th with a four-week window. It arrived in five languages—Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi. The OTT release widened the film’s reach and drew fresh interest.

Before its digital launch, many expected the film to become a troll target because of its overly progressive plot. Instead, the response turned positive. Viewers praised Pradeep Ranganathan’s mannerisms and said he has the potential to enter Kollywood’s top tier soon.

Some viewers even regretted skipping the theatrical release. They called Dude the best breezy entertainer in recent times with humour, emotions, and a strong message. The film’s light tone and relatable storytelling seem to be working well on OTT.

Reports state that Dude began trending on Netflix soon after release. It reached the first position in India and entered the Top 5 trending movies in several other countries. The performance shows clear audience interest across regions.

Overall, Dude is receiving highly positive reactions on OTT. Viewers are appreciating the film far more than they did in theatres. The coming days will show whether it becomes a major digital blockbuster and strengthens Pradeep Ranganathan’s rapid rise.