The first Friday of October brings a varied line-up of films and series to OTT platforms, ranging from crime dramas and romantic comedies to martial arts action and mountaineering documentaries. Among the week’s notable releases are Mrunal Thakur and Huma Qureshi-starrer ‘Pooja Meri Jaan’, Nivin Pauly’s ‘Bethlehem Kudumba Unit’, Aishwarya Lekshmi and Arjun Das’ ‘#Love’, and the documentary ‘The Last First: Winter K2’. Here’s a look at what you can stream from October 2.
‘Pooja Meri Jaan’
ZEE5 has confirmed that ‘Pooja Meri Jaan’ will begin streaming on October 2. The Navjot Gulati-directed crime drama stars Mrunal Thakur, Huma Qureshi, Vikram Singh Chauhan, Vijay Raaz and Chaitanya Vyas. The film follows Pooja, whose life takes a disturbing turn after her friend Aniket dies by suicide following her rejection of his marriage proposal. She subsequently finds herself facing allegations connected to his death and turns to lawyer Sana for help.As the case progresses, conflicting accounts and questions surrounding Aniket’s death make it increasingly difficult to separate fact from accusation. The film explores obsession, rejection, blame and the consequences that can follow an unreciprocated relationship.
‘#Love’
Netflix’s Tamil romantic-comedy series ‘#Love’ premieres on October 2. Created around the modern dating-app ecosystem, the show stars Aishwarya Lekshmi and Arjun Das as Tara and Matthew, rival founders whose respective platforms are built around opposing theories of love — compatibility and chemistry.The professional rivalry takes a personal turn when the two agree to a 60-day dating challenge. As they spend more time together, their carefully constructed ideas about relationships begin to collide with their own emotions. Directed by Balaji Mohan and showrun and produced by Soundarya Rajinikanth, the series will be available in Tamil along with dubbed versions in Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.
‘Ip Man: Kung Fu Legend’
Lionsgate Play’s ‘Ip Man: Kung Fu’ Legend also arrives on October 2. Starring Dennis To, the martial arts action film is set in 1950s Hong Kong and follows Wing Chun master Ip Man after he leaves the police force and establishes a martial arts school.His new chapter is disrupted when a Western boxing gym begins encroaching on properties associated with the local martial arts community. Ip Man is consequently drawn into a conflict that tests his principles while placing the future of the martial arts tradition around him at stake. The film is directed by Li Liming and also features Philip Condron and Steven Dasz.
‘Doing Life’
Tyler Perry’s ‘Doing Life’ premieres on Netflix on October 2. The drama stars Naomi Baker as Anika, a single mother and former prison guard, and Jay Reeves as Carousel, a reformed convict with whom she develops an unexpected bond. Netflix describes the film as a story about redemption, hope and love against difficult circumstances.The story begins after Carousel saves Anika during a prison riot. Their connection grows through letters, eventually developing into a relationship that faces opposition from Anika’s family because of Carousel’s past. Tyler Perry has written, directed and produced the film.
‘Bethlehem Kudumba Unit’
Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju-starrer ‘Bethlehem Kudumba Unit’ starts streaming on JioHotstar on October 2. The Malayalam family romantic comedy is directed by Girish A D, with the screenplay written by Girish A D and Kiran Josey.The film centres on Justin, a bachelor and caterer, and Ashley, a young woman who moves into the neighbourhood with her family. Their relationship develops quietly, but family expectations and the circumstances around them make their romance increasingly complicated.The cast also includes Sangeeth Prathap, Shyam Mohan, Suresh Krishna, Vinay Forrt, Srinda, Bindu Panicker, Meenakshi Raveendran, Vettukili Prakash and Roshan Shanavas. The film will stream in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi.
‘The Last First: Winter K2’
Amir Bar-Lev’s mountaineering documentary The Last First: Winter K2 premieres globally on Apple TV on October 2. The film follows a 2021 expedition involving Icelandic climber John Snorri Sigurjónsson and Pakistani father-son mountaineers Ali and Sajid Sadpara as they attempt to become the first team to summit K2 during winter.Rather than focusing only on the physical challenge of climbing one of the world’s most dangerous mountains, the documentary examines the changing culture of extreme mountaineering. It also explores questions of ambition, money, power and competition as different groups converge on the mountain. Bar-Lev directs the film, which has a runtime of 97 minutes.