Rajkummar Rao starrer Shahid (2013), which was not available for streaming for nearly 13 years despite receiving critical acclaim, finally had its OTT premiere on Prime Video on Monday evening. The Hansal Mehta directorial also won two National Awards, and yet remained away from streaming platforms all these years. Apurva Asrani, who wrote the script for the film, penned a long note on the occasion, sparking a conversation about the changing national mood that possibly got the film a streaming release.
Taking to his X page, Apurva Asrani wrote, “I’ve often wondered why Shahid remained without a streaming platform for so long. Then came a political climate in which dissenters, activists, journalists and those defending the rights of the accused increasingly found themselves under suspicion. In that same period, people like Umar Khalid have spent years in prison awaiting trial."
Speculating whether Shahid's OTT release signals a shift in political climate, the writer added, "Many of us either struggled to get such ideas made or were co-opted by the system into telling “kosher” stories that won national awards thanks to their political conformity and despite their mediocrity. So why now? Why does a film like Shahid finally find a streaming platform in 2026? Has the mood changed? Is there growing resistance to the politics of fear?”
On a concluding note, Apurva expressed his pride in the film, crediting it for establishing him as a co-writer, adding, “It brought me back to the kind of cinema I believe in. Watch it if you haven’t. Watch it again if you have. This film, made by a wonderful team, is a reminder of the kind of courageous cinema we used to make and celebrate.”
Based on a true story, Shahid revolved around Shahid Azmi, a lawyer who defended people accused under terror laws and fought for due process, in a climate prejudiced against Muslims, and was eventually murdered for that courage.
Rajkummar Rao and Hansal Mehta collaborated again for Citylights (2014), Omerta (2017) and Chhalaang (2020).
