Bandook OTT Release Date
Bandook is set to release on OTT on 16 January 2026, giving the Kannada crime thriller a second life after its modest theatrical run. The film, which originally hit cinemas on 25 July 2025 and slipped under the radar thanks to a clash with a more broadly marketed comedy, now arrives on streaming with a bit of a “hidden gem” tag attached to it.
@Shrikrishna_13 shared on X that the film Bandook (2025) will have its digital premiere on January 16 on Lionsgate Play India.
For viewers who enjoy slower, atmospheric rural thrillers and missed it in theatres – which, going by the box office, is almost everyone – this OTT release date is effectively the film’s real launch.
Where to Watch Bandook OTT?
Bandook will stream on Lionsgate Play from 16 January 2026, and will also be accessible via OTTplay Premium, which aggregates multiple services under one subscription.
This makes Bandook the first original Kannada film picked up by Lionsgate Play for digital rights, after earlier dabbling in the language with a different acquisition last year.
For practical purposes, that means: if an existing Lionsgate Play subscription is active (directly or through a bundle like OTTplay Premium), Bandook can be watched at no extra rental fee once it drops in the “new arrivals” carousel.
The runtime sits at around 2 hours 36 minutes, and the film will be available in its original Kannada audio with subtitles, which is par for the course with this platform’s regional slate.
Bandook Cast
Bandook features Partha in the lead, with a strong supporting cast that includes Gopalkrishna Deshpande, Balaji Manohar, Shwetha Prasad, Shankar Ashwat,h and Harish Roy.
The ensemble is familiar to anyone who follows contemporary Kannada cinema: Deshpande and Balaji Manohar, in particular, have become go‑to faces for intense, morally grey characters in recent crime dramas.
Behind the camera, the film is written and directed by debutant Mahesh Ravikumar, with cinematography by Rohith Kumaar HY, editing by Vasanth Kumar K, and music by M.S. Prasanna Kumar.
Reviews out of the theatrical run consistently praised the performances and the central idea, even when they criticised the execution in the latter portions, which is exactly the kind of balance that tends to find a more forgiving audience on OTT.
About Gundook
Bandook is a Kannada‑language psychological crime drama set in a remote riverside region, where a series of brutal murders rattles a small community and dredges up an old trauma in a young man.
The story runs on two parallel tracks: one follows the investigation into the killings, the other digs into the protagonist’s childhood incident and his simmering desire for revenge, with the “bandook” (gun) serving as both a literal weapon and a symbol of how violence passes from one hand – and generation – to another.
The film leans heavily on atmosphere: foggy riverbanks, half‑lit interiors, and long stretches where characters speak more with their silences than with dialogue.
Critics pointed out that the third act stumbles and some subplots feel undercooked, but they also noted that fans of moody, rural crime stories – the kind who don’t mind a slightly uneven ride as long as the world feels textured – will probably find plenty to chew on once Bandook hits OTT on 16 January 2026.
Disclaimer
Bandook OTT release date, platform details, and availability are based on current promotional and media reports and may change due to distributor or platform decisions. Viewers should confirm the final streaming date, language options, and subscription requirements directly on the concerned OTT platform before planning to watch the film.
