For the first time in the history of Indian Cinema, a Bollywood film is all set to release on YouTube, the popular video sharing website. ‘Striker’ starring Siddharth Narayan of Rang De Basanti Fame, will be releasing on the 5^th of February.

This has been made possible due to a strategic distribution alliance between the Indian Film Company and YouTube. The partnership will see Striker as the first Indian film to premier on YouTube on the same date as its release. Striker will be premiered internationally on YouTube, while it will release in Indian theatres on the same date, i.e. 5^th of February.

Online audiences can access the premier on the Studio 18 Channel on YouTube, www.youtube.com/studio18. Indian Film Company hopes to provide a new platform to such parallel movies. Movies like Striker usually do not get an international theatrical release due to its unconventional star cast.

The availability of a legalized online platform can curb online and CD piracy. Audiences will instead be provided with quality and in demand option for viewing newly released movies. The movie will however not be made available for the site traffic originating from India. This move has been taken in order to maximize the revenues via the theatrical release in India.

Striker will be available for rent in the US. However, viewers from other countries can view the movie for free. Revenue will be earned via an advertising-share model in this approach.

Whether this online strategy pays off will be known only after the release of the film.