Vishwanath and Sons Gets Trolled After OTT Release
Another scene being discussed is the sequence in which Vishwanath’s stepmother gives him advice about a girl’s true love.
Following its successful theatrical run in the Telugu states, Vishwanath and Sons began streaming on Netflix from September 11 with a four-week OTT window. While those who missed the film in theatres had been eagerly waiting for its digital release, the initial response from OTT viewers appears to be far more mixed than expected.
Ahead of the OTT premiere, there was considerable optimism that the film could find a wider audience on the streaming platform and gain a stronger pan-Indian reach. The general expectation was that its feel-good family drama would work well with OTT audiences.
However, the response so far has been surprisingly divided, with several viewers taking to social media to criticize and troll certain portions of the film.
A section of viewers has described Vishwanath and Sons as “plastic,” arguing that many of its emotional sequences come across as artificial rather than organic. The film's emotional moments, which were expected to be one of its biggest strengths, have therefore become a major point of discussion online.
Radhika’s death sequence has particularly attracted trolling. Her character’s decision to die with a smile on her face has left some viewers unconvinced, with netizens comparing the scene to the iconic death sequence of Chandramohan’s character from an earlier film. Memes based on the comparison have also been circulating on social media.
Another scene being discussed is the sequence in which Vishwanath’s stepmother gives him advice about a girl’s true love. Some viewers feel that director Venky Atluri appears to be trying hard to justify the stepmother’s character through the scene, but the lack of stronger character development makes the advice feel awkward and unconvincing.
While the film managed to establish a certain goodwill during its theatrical run, the OTT release has opened it up to a much larger and more vocal audience. With several scenes now becoming targets of online criticism and memes, Vishwanath and Sons is facing a considerably more challenging reception on digital platforms than many had anticipated.
