Kingston OTT Release: GV Prakash’s Sea Horror Film Premieres on ZEE5 After Box Office Disappointment
Key Highlights:
Chennai, April 13, 2025 – After a lukewarm performance at the box office, GV Prakash Kumar and Divyabharathi starrer Kingston has finally made its way to OTT and TV screens. The sea horror fantasy adventure film, directed by Kamal Prakash, premiered today at 12 PM on ZEE5 in both Tamil and Telugu.
While theatrical expectations weren’t met, producers are now hoping for a revival in audience engagement via its digital release and satellite premiere.
Theatrical Journey: From March 7 Release to OTT Within a Month
Kingston hit theaters in Tamil and Telugu on March 7, 2025. Despite a promising premise that blended sea monsters, horror, and survival thriller, the movie failed to generate significant buzz at the box office.
Industry sources report that Kingston grossed less than ₹3 crore globally, falling short of its production expectations. Reviews cited inconsistent pacing, an overambitious screenplay, and underwhelming VFX, though GV Prakash’s music and background score received some praise.
ZEE5 Premiere: A Second Chance at Success?
As confirmed by ZEE5, Kingston began streaming at 12 PM today, April 13, in:
- Tamil (original)
- Telugu (dubbed)
The TV premiere on ZEE Tamil also aired simultaneously, while the Telugu TV broadcast has been postponed to a later date, yet to be announced.
This follows ZEE5’s recent release pattern, where films are premiered on both OTT and TV around midday, as seen with Venkatesh’s Sankranthiki Vasthunnam.
Kingston OTT Release: Key Highlights
- Platform: ZEE5 (Tamil & Telugu)
- Time: April 13, 2025, at 12 PM IST
- Simultaneous TV Premiere: Yes (ZEE Tamil)
- Telugu Satellite Premiere: Delayed (Date TBA)
- Streaming Languages: Tamil, Telugu
- Genres: Sea horror, fantasy, survival adventure
Plot Summary: Sea Horror Meets Survival Thriller
Kingston follows a group of ocean researchers who encounter a mysterious, abandoned vessel named “Kingston” off the coast. When they board it to investigate, unimaginable sea horrors are unleashed — from paranormal phenomena to ancient aquatic predators.
Amid rising tides, isolation, and hallucinations, the team must survive a supernatural force tied to an ancient curse.
“We wanted to explore untapped territory in Indian horror cinema — the deep sea,” said director Kamal Prakash in an earlier interview.
Cast and Crew of Kingston
Lead Actors
- GV Prakash Kumar – Also co-producer and music composer
- Divyabharathi – Plays a marine biologist and the film’s female lead
Supporting Cast
- Chetan
- Azhagam Perumal
- Elango Kumaravel
- Sabumon Abdusamad
- Antony
- Arunachaleswaran
- Rajesh Balachandiran
Crew
- Director: Kamal Prakash
- Music: GV Prakash Kumar
- Production: Parallel Universe, Umesh K R Bansal
GV Prakash on Dual Role: Composer and Actor
While his acting career has seen mixed results, GV Prakash Kumar continues to make waves as a music director. In Kingston, he returns to dual duties, playing the male lead and scoring the soundtrack.
“Music plays a major role in horror — especially when you’re dealing with silence, water, and suspense,” he said in a pre-release media interaction.
His compositions for Kingston received positive listener feedback, with tracks like “Samudra Rahasya” and “Depths Unknown” trending briefly on Tamil streaming platforms.
Audience Reception on OTT: Mixed But Hopeful
Early viewer responses on social media have been mixed. Some have praised the cinematography and underwater visuals, while others feel the film lacked scriptural depth and scares.
Sample Reactions:
“Not your usual horror film, but had some good eerie moments.” – @cinebuff_tamil
“Could have been tighter, but the concept is fresh. Worth a watch for GV Prakash fans.” – @VijayFanatic_86
ZEE5’s viewer metrics for the film are expected to be released later this week.
The Rise of Sea Horror in Indian Cinema
While horror films are abundant in Indian cinema, “sea horror” or aquatic thrillers remain a rarity. Kingston attempted to fill this void, drawing inspiration from Hollywood classics like The Meg, Deep Rising, and Ghost Ship, but localized with Indian folklore undertones.
“It’s a genre with massive visual and conceptual scope, but rarely explored here,” said film critic Sujatha Menon.
Box Office vs. OTT: The New Battleground
The transition from box office disappointment to OTT discovery is becoming increasingly common in Indian cinema. Kingston joins a growing list of films that hope to find their audience digitally after struggling theatrically.
In recent months:
- Thangalaan performed modestly in cinemas but surged on Netflix
- HanuMan gained cult popularity after its Amazon Prime release
- Kingston now aims to do the same on ZEE5
What’s Next for GV Prakash and Divyabharathi?
GV Prakash Kumar will next be seen in:
- Idimuzhakkam, a socio-political thriller
- Rebel, where he teams up with director Nikesh RS
Divyabharathi, who gained acclaim for her role in Bachelor, is reportedly in talks for a pan-India suspense drama with a leading Telugu filmmaker.
Will Kingston Rise Again Through Digital Waves?
Kingston may not have made a splash at the box office, but its OTT debut on ZEE5 offers it a second tide of opportunity. With GV Prakash’s dedicated fan base and the intrigue of sea-based horror, the film has all the ingredients for a sleeper digital success.
Whether Kingston becomes a cult classic or vanishes like a sunken ship remains to be seen — but it certainly marks a brave attempt at genre experimentation in Tamil and Telugu cinema.
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