India’s Suriya Talks Amazon Deal, ‘Jai Bhim,’ Future Projects (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Naman Ramachandran Top Indian actor and producer Suriya is all set to continue his existing deal with Amazon Prime Video India.Suriya’s production and distribution company 2D Entertainment specializes in Tamil-language films.

In May 2020, at the height of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, when cinemas were shuttered, 2D bowed J. J. Federick’s “Ponmagal Vandhal,” starring Suriya’s wife Jyothika, also a leading actor in Tamil cinema, directly on Amazon.

Sudha Kongara’s “Soorarai Pottru,” starring Suriya, bowed on the service in Nov. 2020.In Aug. 2021, 2D signed a multi-film direct-to-digital deal for several upcoming Tamil-language films with Amazon.

When the pandemic hit, 2D had six films in production and, given that a typical Indian film directly or indirectly employs 600-800 people, Suriya says that he didn’t want to pause so many people’s sole means of livelihood. “This was the best thing which happened to all the films – we got a wonderful audience, we crossed borders, the language barrier, we’ve been able to release in five languages.