Sony has acquired the digital and satellite rights to Hanuman Ansh for Rs 63 crore, a source told Bollywood Hungama. The deal lands more than three-and-a-half months after the devotional film reached cinemas, a window that stretched far beyond the usual eight-week theatrical-to-OTT cycle because the film kept selling tickets.
How a slow start became a rights jackpot
Hanuman Ansh opened on August 7 and initially struggled to pull footfalls. The picture turned in its third week, exploded in the fourth and fifth, and ultimately crossed Rs 300 crore at the box office despite competition from Toxic and Mirzapur The Movie. That late surge is the core of the deal: Sony is not buying a film on opening-weekend heat; it is buying a title with proven all-India longevity.
According to the source, “Sony has picked up the digital and television rights of Hanuman Ansh for a price of Rs. 63 crores.” The film premieres on Sony LIV on November 27 and will then move to Sony MAX.
- Released August 7; crossed Rs 300 crore at the box office.
- Sony paid Rs 63 crore for digital and satellite rights, per the report.
- Sony LIV premiere is set for November 27.
- Sony MAX television premiere follows soon after.
- The team plans a satvik success bash in Mumbai over the weekend.
The rights math for media planners
For platform and media executives, the interesting part is the justification. The source says the film drew audiences “from single screens to multiplexes, from megacities to the smallest of villages.” That breadth matters in post-theatrical pricing: Sony is pricing in first-time viewers who missed the theatrical run and repeat viewers who want ownership of a faith-led title.
It is also a reminder that the devotional/faith audience often behaves differently from opening-weekend urban audiences. Its value shows up later, across smaller markets and in long-tail viewing. A buyer that maps only week-one numbers would have priced this asset very differently.
What to watch after November 27
The Sony LIV premiere is the first public test of whether Rs 63 crore was a sensible acquisition. If the film drives strong streaming hours and a solid Sony MAX rating, the deal becomes a benchmark for post-theatrical rights. If it under-delivers, it will be a warning that even a Rs 300-crore theatrical hit does not automatically transfer to streaming and TV.
The upcoming success party is a nice signal about talent relationships, but the real data will come from the viewership reports that follow the premiere.
Source: bollywoodHungama.com
