Amazon Prime snags Bollywood premiers as coronavirus pandemic closes theatres

Amazon Prime Video, Amazon’s streaming service, said it will screen several new Indian films that were originally meant for theatrical release on its platform, starting later this month.

The move marks a significant shift for the India’s film industry, which relies heavily on box office revenue, and comes as lockdown measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus wreak havoc with film launches.

Seven films, including two Bollywood films starring A-listers such as Amitabh Bachchan and Vidya Balan will stream directly on Amazon Prime Video, the company said in a statement on Friday.

Gulabo Sitabo, a family comedy with Bachchan and Ayushmann Khurrana, which was to release in April, will now stream directly on Amazon Prime Video in June, as will Shankuntala Devi, a biopic on the Indian mathematician of the same name.