Eighteen months after Sadhu Kokila, president of the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy, announced the launch of Karnataka’s own Over The Top (OTT) platform, the site is likely to become operational by the last week of January 2026, when the curtains go up for the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes).
Namma Karnataka
In June 2024, during the inauguration of Karnataka Film Producers’ Association (KFPA), Sadhu had announced the launch of Namma Karnataka, a regional OTT platform. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who was present at the event, lauded the idea that ensured regional films received attention and appreciation.
Sadhu clarified this platform would be dedicated to visual content created in Kannada, Tulu, Kodava Byari and other languages in the State. Namma Chalanachitra, a website would be launched to create awareness about Namma Karnataka which would also feature movie posters, trailers and other promotional content.
In an exclusive conversation with The Hindu, Mehboob Pasha, chairman of Sree Kanteerava Studios, which has undertaken the Namma Karnataka initiative, said, “Karnataka’s own OTT platform will be launched by the last week of January. The Government of Karnataka has taken steps to develop this region-specific OTT platform and reserved ₹5 crore for the purpose in the budget presented in March 2025.”
A 10-member panel was tasked with preparing an outline for the OTT platform. Headed by the Commissioner of the Department of Information and Public Relations, it included the likes of Sadhu Kokila, film producer KP Srikanth, Rockline Venkatesh, actor Duniya Vijay and Mehboob among others. The panel which studied the functioning of similar sites, submitted comprehensive reports on the development of the OTT platform to the government.
COVID-19 and the rise of OTT platforms
Mehboob, who proposed the idea to the State government, says he has his reasons for championing the cause of an exclusive OTT platform for Kannada content. “As many as 20 OTT platforms based out of Mumbai and Noida were launched during the pandemic; they reshaped the entertainment industry by providing consumers with unprecedented control and flexibility in content consumption.”
Mehboob Pasha
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Special Arrangement
“However, regional language content was overlooked. To break this monopoly, a few State governments had taken it upon themselves to launch their own streaming platforms to level the playing grounds; I thought I would do the same for Karnataka,” he says.
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Due to multiple challenges, Kannada big-budget cinema still prioritises theatrical release over OTT with the latter being perceived as a secondary option. Existing platforms such as Nammaflix, Cinebazar, Voot Kannada, Talkies App and Localwood, face stiff competition from established OTT majors, a lack of funding, a barebones catalogue and a patchy user interface. According to entertainment expert Chetan Nadig, “Growth in diaspora demand, especially in the USA, Australia and Gulf countries, could drive investment in a State government-owned OTT platform”.
The Kerala government, in partnership with the Kerala State Film Development Corporation, launched India’s first-ever government-owned OTT streaming service last March. Named CSpace, the platform operates on a pay-per-view basis, with users paying ₹75 to watch a film.
Taking a cue from Kerala, Meghalaya launched its government-sponsored OTT platform Hello Meghalaya last July to promote young talent.
However, unlike CSpace, Mehboob says Namma Karnataka will follow a subscription model. “There will also be a ticketed model for new releases. This platform will not only release Kannada movies, but also screen documentaries and works on art and culture.”
A content examining committee will vet the movies, and once cleared, a mutual agreement on revenue sharing will be signed with the producer before it is released on the platform. “The revenue will be shared with producers based on viewership, ensuring that filmmakers, artistes, technicians and new talent benefit,” adds Mehboob.
“We are planning to produce films and web-series at Kanteerava Studio, which has the required equipment so we can manage the production cost; this will benefit independent filmmakers greatly. There are a repository of films in the archives which we plan to screen based on demand,” says Mehboob.
Needless to say, having a State-owned OTT platform, will generate employment to thousands of people in the entertainment industry, he adds.
Published – December 17, 2025 06:45 pm IST
