The first Indian film to navigate a hybrid theatrical and digital release
In short: When the pandemic shuttered cinemas, a high-stakes action thriller broke the mold. Radhe became a landmark for the industry's economy, proving that a film could survive—and succeed—by pivoting to a multi-platform strategy. But while it broke records for viewership, it faced a brutal critical backlash.
Radhe, a 2021 Hindi-language action thriller directed by Prabhu Deva and produced by Salman Khan, serves as a significant case study in modern film distribution. Originally slated for a May 2020 theatrical release, the COVID-19 pandemic forced an indefinite postponement. It eventually premiered on May 13, 2021, as a hybrid release—the first of its kind in India. This model combined a limited theatrical run in cities like Mumbai and Delhi with premium video on demand via Zee Plex and ZEE5, as well as international streaming on Apple TV.
The film's production was marked by significant logistical shifts. Principal photography began in November 2019, but a planned schedule in Thailand was cancelled due to the outbreak. The makers eventually spent ₹7.5 crore on visual effects for the climax. Despite these efforts, the film's commercial journey was complex. While it became the most-watched OTT film on its release day, it grossed approximately ₹18.33 crore (US$1.9 million). The distribution rights were a point of high-stakes negotiation, with Khan initially selling the rights for ₹230 crore before renegotiating to ₹190 crore in May 2021 due to the pandemic's impact.
Critically, the film was largely panned. Reviewers from outlets like The Indian Express and The Quint labeled it a 'cringefest' and one of the worst films of 2021. Critics highlighted several recurring issues: a lack of originality in the screenplay, the promotion of police brutality, and 'suffocating toxic masculinity.' Furthermore, the portrayal of the female lead, Diya, was criticized by some as being 'acutely offensive' and treating her as a possession rather than an equal. Despite these reviews, the film's hybrid release was hailed by trade analysts as a potential turning point for the Indian cinema economy.
Inspired by actual conflicts involving Chinese-Korean mobs in Seoul, the story recreates the 2017 South Korean motion picture The Outlaws. The plot follows an undercover officer, Radhe, who infiltrates the Mumbai underworld to dismantle a drug cartel led by a ruthless gangster named Rana. The film also features a unique musical legacy: the title track was the final composition of Wajid Khan before his death in June 2020, making it the first solo album for his partner, Sajid Khan.
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