Streaming release of Indian sports drama Toofan delayed

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The release of Indian sports drama Toofan on Amazon Prime Video has been postponed to mid-July due to the devastating Covid-19 pandemic currently sweeping India.

Amazon announced in March that it had acquired global streaming rights to the film, directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and starring Farhan Akhtar. Produced by Akhtar’s Excel Entertainment in association with ROMP Pictures, the film had initially been scheduled to premiere exclusively on Amazon across 240 countries and territories from May 21, 2021. 

Akhtar plays a boxer in the film, which also stars Mrunal Thakur, Paresh Rawal, Supriya Pathak Kapur and Hussain Dalal. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra previously collaborated with the actor on Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013), a biopic of Indian sprinter Milkha Singh. 

Vijay Subramaniam, Amazon Prime Video India director and content head, described Toofan as “an engaging and inspiring tale of the power of perseverance and following one’s passions against all odds.”

Several big-budget Indian films opted for digital premieres when cinemas closed due to the pandemic last year, and also since they re-opened at 50% capacity in October 2020. However, since cinemas had been allowed to open at full capacity from February 1, more films had been holding out for a theatrical release. Those plans were put on ice when a devastating second wave of Covid hit India in late March/early April.