9 a.m. Release Date: Disney+ Hotstar Sets June 2 Premiere for Next Hotstar Special

The 9 a.m. release date has passed. Disney+ Hotstar has announced that the Telugu-language Hotstar special will air on June 2. The streaming platform shared a poster, while announcing the same on Twitter. The new 9 o’clock poster features a character with his back to us, so naturally we don’t see his face. However, we take a look at some of the other characters. Niranjan Kaushik, who has already directed commercials, and Jacob Verghese (Prithvi IAS) are producers on 9 Hours. Krish Jagarlamudi, director of films such as Gautamiputra Satakarni and NTR: Kathanayakudu, is credited as showrunner on 9 Hours.

Starring Taraka Ratna, Ajay, Vinod Kumar, Madhu Shalini and Ravi Varma, the 9am cast has Preethi Asrani, Ankith Koyya, Jwala Koti and Monica Reddy in supporting roles. While Ratna is best known for playing the antagonist in the 2009 thriller AmaravathiShalini has acted in films such as Hindi language actor Department and the 2015 release Thoongaavanam.

9 a.m. revolves around three prisoners who escape to commit a robbery. Their big challenge, however, is not the theft itself, but the fact that they have to be back before the next prison roll call. These plans go awry when they land in a bank and the police get involved. 9 Hours is produced by Rajeev Reddy Y. and Sai Babu Jagarlamudi under their First Frame Entertainments banner.

The new Hotstar Specials series comes at a time when the Telugu film industry is trying to produce more original content for subscription streaming services in India, colloquially known as OTT platforms. The 2021 Netflix anthology Pitta Kathalu was seen as a game changer for the industry on this front, as it brought together filmmakers such as Nag Ashwin, Nandini Reddy, Tharun Bhascker Dhaassyam and Sankalp Reddy. Aha, backed by Allu Aravind, is making similar efforts, with titles including the thriller series 11th Hour, the sci-fi thriller Kudi Yedamaithe and the adult comedy 3 Roses.

The eight 9-hour episodes will be released June 2 at 12 p.m. on Disney+ Hotstar.

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