After a successful theatrical run, Kannada romantic thriller Elumale is headed to streaming. ZEE5 has set October 17 as the digital premiere date for the film, directed by Punit Rangaswamy and produced by Tharun Sudhir and Atlanta Nagendra.

The film, which was released in theatres on September 5, stars Raanna, Priyanka Achar, Jagapathi Babu, Kishore and TS Nagabharana. A breakout success at the box office, Elumale drew strong reviews for its performances and layered storytelling, and now aims to find a wider audience on OTT.

Set along the Karnataka–Tamil Nadu border, the story follows Harish (Raanna), a cab driver from Chamarajanagar, who falls in love with Revathi (Priyanka Achar), a wealthy young woman from Salem. What begins as a cross-border romance soon spirals into a tense, high-stakes thriller involving smugglers, political forces and law enforcement. Inspired by real-life events, the film blends grounded emotion with edge-of-the-seat drama.

“Harish is a simple, everyday man, and playing him was a very personal experience,” Raanna said in a statement. “From adapting his local slang to understanding his emotional layers, the role pushed me as an actor. Elumale was made with a lot of heart, and I’m thrilled it’s now reaching more viewers through ZEE5. If Harish’s story stays with audiences after watching it, that’s all the reward I need.”

Backed by Tharun Sudhir Kreatiivez who previously produced the hit Guru Sishyaru, Elumale marks another entry in the growing slate of Kannada films making their mark on digital platforms. The 2-hour-13-minute feature is expected to premiere first on ZEE Kannada before its streaming debut.